Biomaterial Database

Modeling the 3-D RNA distribution in the Balbiani ring granule. 1994

A L Olins, and D E Olins, and V Olman, and H A Levy, and D P Bazett-Jones

University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 37831-8077.

Mature Balbiani Ring (BR) granules in situ were stained with the nucleic acid specific stain, osmium ammine-B, recorded by electron spectroscopic imaging and reconstructed by electron microscope tomography to examine the three-dimensional (3-D) distribution of BR heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA). The BR2 granules contain ca. 37 kb of mRNA. Reconstructed BR granules were selected to emphasize one of the prevalent conformations seen in the sectioned salivary glands, the en face or "pin-wheel" conformation. A variety of image processing and volume-rendering operations were applied to the set of reconstructed BR granules. Some of the conclusions of this study are the following: (1) RNA distribution is not uniform throughout the granule; (2) RNA is condensed into about ten particles per granule, which all appear to possess approximately the same RNA stain density; (3) heterogeneity exists in the positions and sizes of particles within the various BR granules. These data argue for the folding of a beaded ribbon, consisting of connected particulate condensations of BR mRNA, possessing considerable 3-D flexibility, even in the packaged state. A comparison of this beaded-ribbon model and a prior folded hnRNP fiber model is also presented.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007091	Image Processing, Computer-Assisted	A technique of inputting two-dimensional or three-dimensional images into a computer and then enhancing or analyzing the imagery into a form that is more useful to the human observer.	Biomedical Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Processing,Digital Image Processing,Image Analysis, Computer-Assisted,Image Reconstruction,Medical Image Processing,Analysis, Computer-Assisted Image,Computer-Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Analysis,Computer Assisted Image Processing,Computer-Assisted Image Analyses,Image Analyses, Computer-Assisted,Image Analysis, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Biomedical,Image Processing, Computer Assisted,Image Processing, Digital,Image Processing, Medical,Image Processings, Medical,Image Reconstructions,Medical Image Processings,Processing, Biomedical Image,Processing, Digital Image,Processing, Medical Image,Processings, Digital Image,Processings, Medical Image,Reconstruction, Image,Reconstructions, Image
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
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D002683	Chironomidae	A family of nonbiting midges, in the order DIPTERA. Salivary glands of the genus Chironomus are used in studies of cellular genetics and biochemistry.	Chironomus,Midges, Nonbiting,Midge, Nonbiting,Nonbiting Midge,Nonbiting Midges
D002875	Chromosomes	In a prokaryotic cell or in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, a structure consisting of or containing DNA which carries the genetic information essential to the cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Chromosome
D003198	Computer Simulation	Computer-based representation of physical systems and phenomena such as chemical processes.	Computational Modeling,Computational Modelling,Computer Models,In silico Modeling,In silico Models,In silico Simulation,Models, Computer,Computerized Models,Computer Model,Computer Simulations,Computerized Model,In silico Model,Model, Computer,Model, Computerized,Model, In silico,Modeling, Computational,Modeling, In silico,Modelling, Computational,Simulation, Computer,Simulation, In silico,Simulations, Computer
D004396	Coloring Agents	Chemicals and substances that impart color including soluble dyes and insoluble pigments. They are used in INKS; PAINTS; and as INDICATORS AND REAGENTS.	Coloring Agent,Dye,Dyes,Organic Pigment,Stain,Stains,Tissue Stain,Tissue Stains,Organic Pigments,Pigments, Inorganic,Agent, Coloring,Inorganic Pigments,Pigment, Organic,Pigments, Organic,Stain, Tissue,Stains, Tissue
D000644	Quaternary Ammonium Compounds	Derivatives of ammonium compounds, NH4+ Y-, in which all four of the hydrogens bonded to nitrogen have been replaced with hydrocarbyl groups. These are distinguished from IMINES which are RN	Quaternary Ammonium Compound,Ammonium Compound, Quaternary,Ammonium Compounds, Quaternary,Compound, Quaternary Ammonium
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
D012332	RNA, Heterogeneous Nuclear	Nuclear nonribosomal RNA larger than about 1000 nucleotides, the mass of which is rapidly synthesized and degraded within the cell nucleus. Some heterogeneous nuclear RNA may be a precursor to mRNA. However, the great bulk of total hnRNA hybridizes with nuclear DNA rather than with mRNA.	Heterogeneous Nuclear RNA,hnRNA,Nuclear RNA, Heterogeneous