Chromosome distribution between two restitution nuclei in a cell following colchicine treatment

Abstract

1983. Chromo\ome distribution between two restitution nuclei in a cell following colchicine treatment. Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 25: 437 -445. Roots of Zea maj.s L., ,Secwle c-ereale I,., Vicin jirba, L . , Alliutn c.ep(r L . , and Hordeum ~lirlgrrre L, were treated with colchicine. C-metaphases were observed in cells which had chromosomes present in two distinct groups. not the typical single group. Chromosome distribution into two groups was not followed by chromatid segregation: instead, the chromosomes underwent restitution and binucleate-interphase cells were formed. The distribution of chromosomes into two groups is functionally equivalent to chromosome nondisjunction. In some cases, the two groups contained different numbers of chromosomes; these gave rise to aneuploid nuclei. The results support the view that the pattern of chromosome distribution into two groups is not random: it may reflect chromosome position in the interphase or prophase nucleus. The results are related to ( i ) the formation of genotypic and phenotypic mosaics produced by treatment with other microtubule inhibiting drugs or in response to cell division mutants and ( i i ) the spatial distribution of chromosomes within the nucleus. DAV1r)sON. D., E. PERTENS et J.-P. ZHAO. 1983. Chromosome distribution between two restitution nuclei in a cell following colchicine treatment. Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 25: 437-445. Des racines de Zea n7rry.s L.. Secwle cererrle L.. Vicirr firhtr L.. Alli141?7 cep(r L. et Hordeutn \'ulgc~re L. ont ete traitkes ii la colchicine.Des metaphases de cellules traitees ont kt6 observCes. dans lesquelles les chromosomes Ctaient rCpartis en deux groupes distincts au lieu de constituer un groupe unique typique. La distribution des chromosomes en deux groupes n'etait pas suivie d'une segregation des chromatides: elle etait plut6t suivie d'une restitution des chromoson~es et de la formation de cellules binuclkees en interphase. La distribution des chromosomes en deux groupes est fonctionnellement equivalente r' t la nondisjonction des chromosomes. Dans certains cas, les deux groupes contenaient des nombres differents de chromosomes; ceux-ci donn~ient lieu h des noyaux aneuplo'ides. Ces resultats appuient le point de vue que le mode de distribution des chromosomes en deux groupes ne se fait pas au hasard; cette distribution pourrait reflkter la position des chromosomes dans le noyau soit a l'interphase, soit i la prophase. Les prksents resultats sont reliCs: ( i ) h la formation de mosa'iques gCnotypiques et phknotypiques produites par traitement avec d'autres drogues inhibitrices des microtubles ou en reponse a des mutants pour la division cellulaire, et ( i i ) i la distribution spatiale des chromosomes a l'intcrieur des noyaux.[Traduit par le journal]

Morphological and genetic effects of benomyl on polyploid brewing yeasts: isolation of auxotrophic mutants

“…Another microtubule and mitotic inhibitor, colchicine, is known to cause binucleate cell formation in plant cells as a result of distributive cmitoses, which allocate chromosomes into two groups in the apparent absence of a functional mitotic spindle apparatus (4, 13). Davidson et al (4) demonstrated that such anomalous mitoses can result in aneuploidy, thereby having genetic consequences similar to those of benzimidazole compounds, including benomyl and its active hydrolysis product, MBC. Hence, the morphological and genetic effects of benomyl on polyploid brewing yeast cells reported in this study appear similar to the reported effects of colchicine on plant cells.…”

The maintenance of colchicine‐arrested metaphases in plants requires protein synthesis

“…When studying the meristems treated by colchicine for a long period of time, it could be observed that some cells presented irregularly shaped polyploid nuclei in interphase, never seen in meristems untreated with colchicine. These polyploid nuclei were named restitution nuclei (Davidson, Pertens & Zhao, 1983). They are derived from the c-mitoses, after the decondensation of their high condensed chromosomes and the reformation of the nuclear envelope (Nagl, Pohl & Radler, 1985).…”