DOI

Transcriptionally active lampbrush chromosomes and numerous of different intranuclear structures make nuclei of birds’ growing oocytes a working model for investigation of nuclear structure and function. Studies of nucleus content were already made for chicken (Gallus gallus), quail (Coturnix japonica), chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and rock pigeon (Columbia livia). Here, we examine the organization of zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) oocyte nucleus and look at intranuclear structures. Zebra finch is a singing bird of Estrildidae family that belongs to Passeriformes. This bird is a well-known model object of neurobiology. To implement our idea we combine the methods of nuclei isolation, confocal microscopy and immunocy-tochemistry. We found out that there are a lot of (~ 40) small bodies (less than 0,5 μm) on the nucleus periphery. Intranuclear bodies of 5 μm in size contain RNA (RiboGreen), coilin (R288) and FLASH. They are attached to chromosomes. The presence of coilin suggests these structures are some kind of Cajal bodies. However FLASH protein is a marker of histone locus bodies. At the same time zebra finch oocyte nucleus do not contain ‘protein bodies’ which are common for chaffinch. The lampbrush chromosomes lie in the center of nucleus and do not contact inner nuclear membrane. The most peculiar one is germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) which is the biggest chromosome in karyotype. It is actively transcribed but presents only in gametes. Lampbrush form of this chromosome have obvious condensed ‘belts’. There are small coilin positive bodies attached to this ‘belts’. We see, that even members of the same order but different families have various intranuclear structures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)241-242
Number of pages2
JournalBiopolymers and Cell
Volume35
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2019

    Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

ID: 50485965