Assembly of RNP granules in stressed and aging oocytes requires nucleoporins and is coordinated with nuclear membrane blebbing.

ABSTRACT: Protective cellular responses to stress and aging in the germline are essential for perpetuation of a species; however, relatively few studies have focused on how germ cells respond to stress and aging. We have previously shown that large ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes assemble in oocytes of Caenorhabditis during extended meiotic arrest or after environmental stress. Here we explore the regulation of these dynamic RNPs and demonstrate their assembly is coordinated with dramatic, nuclear membrane blebbing in oocytes. Our ultrastructural analyses reveal distinct changes in the endoplasmic reticulum, and the first evidence for the assembly of stacked annulate lamellae in Caenorhabditis. We further show several nucleoporins are required for the complete assembly of RNP granules, and a disru

SUBMITTER: Patterson JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3096477 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature