Pronuclear fusion failure: an alternate conjugational pathway in Tetrahymena thermophila, induced by vinblastine

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Genetics; (United States)

OSTI ID:6956062

Hamilton, E P; Suhr-Jessen, P B; Orias, E

Vinblastine is shown to induce pronuclear fusion failure in conjugating Tetrahymena thermophila. In this alternate conjugational pathway gametic pronuclei are exchanged between conjugants but do not fuse. Each pronucleus undergoes one mitotic division to produce a new macro- and micronucleus. Genetic consequences of pronuclear fusion failure include the following: (1) the progeny are whole genome homozygotes with nuclei derived from single meiotic products, and (2) half of the progeny are heterokaryons with micro- and macronuclei of different genetic origins. These facts make this process extremely useful in strain construction and mutant isolation. The induction of pronuclear fusion failure by vinblastine suggests that microtubules play an essential role in pronuclear fusion. In this paper the authors present autoradiographic and genetic evidence that vinblastine induces pronuclear fusion failure in T. thermophila.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Santa Barbara (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6956062
• Journal Information: Genetics; (United States), Journal Name: Genetics; (United States) Vol. 118:4; ISSN GENTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550401 -- Genetics-- Tracer Techniques
550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ALKALOIDS
ANIMALS
ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS
AROMATICS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
AZAARENES
AZOLES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CILIATA
DRUGS
GENETIC EFFECTS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INDOLES
INVERTEBRATES
MATING
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PROTOZOA
PYRROLES
TETRAHYMENA
VINBLASTINE