Abstract
Three-dimensional (3-D) reconstructions, by electron microscope tomography, of selectively stained, contrast enhanced Balbiani Ring (BR) hnRNP granules reveal a complex spatial arrangement of RNA-rich domains. This particulate substructure was examined by volume rendering computer graphics. Modeling the arrangement of RNA-rich domains is made difficult by apparent structural flexibility and/or heterogeneity of composition. Formulation of a consensus 3-D arrangement of RNA-rich domains will require an expanded data base of reconstructed BR granules and the development of new image manipulation and analysis techniques. This study demonstrates the potential for ultra-structural cell biology of combining several new techniques: selective nucleic acid staining, electron spectroscopic imaging to enhance contrast, electron microscope tomography and volume rendering computer graphics.
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Abbreviations
- BR:
-
Balbiani Ring
- EMT:
-
electron microscope tomography
- ESI:
-
electron spectroscopic imaging
- hnRNP:
-
heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein
- OA-B:
-
osmium ammine-B
- kb:
-
kilobases
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by P.B. Moens
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Olins, A.L., Olins, D.E., Levy, H.A. et al. Electron microscope tomography of Balbiani Ring hnRNP substructure. Chromosoma 102, 137–144 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00356031
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00356031