The Trypanosoma cruzi nucleolus: A morphometrical analysis of cultured epimastigotes in the exponential and stationary phases
Por:
Nepomuceno-Mejia, T, Lara-Martinez, R, Cevallos, AM, Lopez-Villasenor, I, Jimenez-Garcia, LF, Hernandez, R
Publicada:
1 dic 2010
Resumen:
Our group is interested in rRNA and ribosome biogenesis in the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Epimastigotes represent an extracellular replicative stage of T. cruzi and can be cultured in axenic media. The growth curve of epimastigotes allows assessment of potential differences in the nucleoli of cells undergoing growth-rate transitions. To establish cellular parameters for studying ribosome biogenesis in T. cruzi, a morphometric analysis of the nucleoli of cultured cells in the exponential and stationary phases was conducted. Electron micrograph-based measurements of nuclear sections from independent cells demonstrated that the nucleolar area is over twofold higher in exponentially growing cells, as compared with epimastigotes in the stationary phase. The granular component of the nucleoli of actively growing cells was the main structural element. Cycloheximide moderately reduced the apparent size of the nucleoli without an apparent disruption of their architecture. Our results provide a firm basis for the establishment of an experimental model to study the organization of the nucleolus during the growth and development of T. cruzi. © 2010 Federation of European Microbiological Societies.
Filiaciones:
Nepomuceno-Mejia, T:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Dept Biol Mol & Biotecnol, Inst Invest Biomed, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Lara-Martinez, R:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Ciencias, Dept Biol Celular, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Cevallos, AM:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Dept Biol Mol & Biotecnol, Inst Invest Biomed, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Lopez-Villasenor, I:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Dept Biol Mol & Biotecnol, Inst Invest Biomed, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Jimenez-Garcia, LF:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Ciencias, Dept Biol Celular, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Hernandez, R:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Dept Biol Mol & Biotecnol, Inst Invest Biomed, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
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