The Journal of Cell Biology, Vol 117, 483-491, Copyright © 1992 by The Rockefeller University Press

ARTICLES

Balbiani ring hnRNP substructure visualized by selective staining and electron spectroscopic imaging

AL Olins, DE Olins and DP Bazett-Jones
University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Biology Division 37831-8077.

The Balbiani Rings (BR) in the polytene chromosomes of Chironomus salivary glands are intense sites of transcription. The nascent RNPs fold during transcription into 40-50-nm granules, containing in the mature transcript approximately 37-kb RNA. Using a new nucleic acid specific stain, osmium ammine B on Lowicryl sections, in combination with electron energy filtered imaging of sections containing BR granules, we demonstrate a RNA-rich particulate substructure (10-nm particle diameter; 10-12 particles per BR granule). Elemental imaging supports that these particles are enriched in phosphorus. The possible relationship of these RNA-rich particles to ribonucleosomes is discussed, as well as models for their arrangement in the mature BR granules.
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