Biomaterial Database

Electron microscopic analysis of replicating DNA of sea urchin embryos. 1978

C T Baldari, and F Amaldi, and M Buongiorno-Nardelli

DNA was extracted from Paracentrotus lividus embryos at the third S phase afer fertilization and analyzed with the electron microscope. The most relevant structures observed in this actively replicating DNA are clusters of short, closely spaced microbubbles (about 0.1 micron long on the average), partially or entirely single-stranded molecules and few linear forks. Unexpectedly, no long eye forms were observed. The analysis of DNA purified from gastrulae and from adult somatic tissues has revealed the same structures, although at a low frequency. A quantitative analysis has been carried out to determine the size distribution and spacing of microbubbles. A number of control experiments have been performed to characterize these structures better. Various possiblities are discussed to account for the presence of the observed forms and the absence of larger eyes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D002453	Cell Cycle	The complex series of phenomena, occurring between the end of one CELL DIVISION and the end of the next, by which cellular material is duplicated and then divided between two daughter cells. The cell cycle includes INTERPHASE, which includes G0 PHASE; G1 PHASE; S PHASE; and G2 PHASE, and CELL DIVISION PHASE.	Cell Division Cycle,Cell Cycles,Cell Division Cycles,Cycle, Cell,Cycle, Cell Division,Cycles, Cell,Cycles, Cell Division,Division Cycle, Cell,Division Cycles, Cell
D002455	Cell Division	The fission of a CELL. It includes CYTOKINESIS, when the CYTOPLASM of a cell is divided, and CELL NUCLEUS DIVISION.	M Phase,Cell Division Phase,Cell Divisions,Division Phase, Cell,Division, Cell,Divisions, Cell,M Phases,Phase, Cell Division,Phase, M,Phases, M
D004261	DNA Replication	The process by which a DNA molecule is duplicated.	Autonomous Replication,Replication, Autonomous,Autonomous Replications,DNA Replications,Replication, DNA,Replications, Autonomous,Replications, DNA
D004277	DNA, Single-Stranded	A single chain of deoxyribonucleotides that occurs in some bacteria and viruses. It usually exists as a covalently closed circle.	Single-Stranded DNA,DNA, Single Stranded,Single Stranded DNA
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012617	Sea Urchins	Somewhat flattened, globular echinoderms, having thin, brittle shells of calcareous plates. They are useful models for studying FERTILIZATION and EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT.	Echinoidea,Sand-Dollar,Clypeasteroida,Sand Dollars,Clypeasteroidas,Dollar, Sand,Dollars, Sand,Echinoideas,Sand Dollar,Sand-Dollars,Sea Urchin,Urchin, Sea,Urchins, Sea