The nucleolus: an organelle formed by the act of building a ribosome

doi:10.1016/0955-0674(95)80085-9

Current Opinion in Cell Biology

Volume 7, Issue 3, 1995, Pages 319-324

https://doi.org/10.1016/0955-0674(95)80085-9 Get rights and content

Abstract

Recent evidence corroborates the idea that the structure of the nucleolus need not be strictly maintained for proper function, suggesting that the organelle is composed of supramolecular assemblies formed during rRNA synthesis. More controversial is whether the nucleolus exists in the absence of rRNA synthesis and whether it interacts with the nuclear scaffold. The simultaneous and highly integrative nature of building a ribosome is reflected in the numerous observations showing that proteins involved in all aspects of ribosomal biogenesis affect pre-rRNA processing. The identification of several new nucleolar proteins without an obvious role in pre-rRNA metabolism may provide the field with long sought after assembly factors that might be key players in eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis.

References (51)

JR Warner
The nucleolus and ribosome formation
Curr Opin Cell Biol
(1990)
U Scheer et al.
The nucleolus
Curr Opin Cell Biol
(1994)
MJ Fournier et al.
The nucleolar snRNAs: catching up with the spliceosomal snRNAs
Trends Biochem Sci
(1993)
Z Xue et al.
Nucleolar proteins that bind NLSs: a role in nuclear import or ribosome biogenesis?
Trends Cell Biol
(1994)
U Scheer et al.
Structure, function and assembly of the nucleolus
Trends Cell Biol
(1993)
GH Karpen et al.
A Drosophila rRNA gene located in euchromatin is active in transcription and nucleolus formation
Genes Dev
(1988)
R Yano et al.
Cloning and characterization of SRP1, a suppressor of temperature-sensitive RNA polymerase I mutations, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Mol Cell Biol
(1992)
L Creancier et al.
Determination of the functional domains involved in nucleolar targeting of nucleolin
Mol Biol Cell
(1993)
Y Henry et al.
The 5′ end of yeast 5.8S rRNA is generated by exonucleases from an upstream cleavage site
EMBO J
(1994)
IW Mattaj et al.
Small nuclear RNAs in messenger RNA and ribosomal RNA processing
FASEB J
(1993)

S Kass et al.

The first pre-rRNA-processing event occurs in a large complex: analysis by gel retardation, sedimentation, and UV crosslinking

Mol Cell Biol

(1990)

JR Warner et al.

Ribosomal proteins and the assembly of ribosomes in eukaryotes

Biochem Soc Symp

(1973)

T Kadowaki et al.

Isolation and characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mRNA transport-defective (mtr) mutants

J Cell Biol

(1994)

MS Moore et al.

The two steps of nuclear import, targeting to the nuclear envelope and translocation through the nuclear pore, require different cytosolic factors

Cell

(1992)

M Oakes et al.

Structural alterations of the nucleolus in mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in RNA polymerase I

Mol Cell Biol

(1993)

F Puvion-Dutilleul et al.

Alterations of nucleolar ultrastructure and ribosome biogenesis by actinomycin D. Implications for U3 snRNP function

Eur J Cell Biol

(1992)

M Carmo-Fonseca et al.

Mammalian nuclei contain foci which are highly enriched in components of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery

EMBO J

(1991)

JP Aris et al.

Identification and characterization of a yeast nucleolar protein that is similar to a rat liver nucleolar protein

J Cell Biol

(1988)

P Bell et al.

In vitro assembly of prenucleolar bodies in Xenopus egg extract

J Cell Biol

(1992)

MA Garcia-Blanco et al.

Nuclear spreads: I. Visualization of bipartite ribosomal RNA domains

J Cell Biol

(1995)

B Sollner-Webb et al.

Ribosomal RNA processing in eukaryotes

CA Bourgeois et al.

Spatial relationship between the nucleolus and the nuclear envelope; structural aspects and functional significance

Int Rev Cytol

(1988)

KD Belanger et al.

Genetic and physical interactions between Srp1p and nuclear pore complex proteins Nup1p and Nup2p

J Cell Biol

(1994)

R Yano et al.

Yeast Srp1p has homology to armadillo/plakoglobin/β-catenin and participates in apparently multiple nuclear functions including the maintenance of the nucleolar structure

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA

(1994)

D Gorlich et al.

Isolation of a protein that is essential for the first step of nuclear protein import

Cell

(1994)

Cited by (243)

Simultaneous mapping of 3D structure and nascent RNAs argues against nuclear compartments that preclude transcription
2022, Cell Reports
Mammalian genomes are organized into three-dimensional DNA structures called A/B compartments that are associated with transcriptional activity/inactivity. However, whether these structures are simply correlated with gene expression or are permissive/impermissible to transcription has remained largely unknown because we lack methods to measure DNA organization and transcription simultaneously. Recently, we developed RNA & DNA (RD)-SPRITE, which enables genome-wide measurements of the spatial organization of RNA and DNA. Here we show that RD-SPRITE measures genomic structure surrounding nascent pre-mRNAs and maps their spatial contacts. We find that transcription occurs within B compartments—with multiple active genes simultaneously colocalizing within the same B compartment—and at genes proximal to nucleoli. These results suggest that localization near or within nuclear structures thought to be inactive does not preclude transcription and that active transcription can occur throughout the nucleus. In general, we anticipate RD-SPRITE will be a powerful tool for exploring relationships between genome structure and transcription.
The Nucleolus
2022, Encyclopedia of Cell Biology: Volume 1-6, Second Edition
The nucleolus is a prominent structure within the interphase nucleus that is visible by conventional light microscopy. Nucleoli are highly dynamic, polymorphic structures. Nucleolar function and architecture are temporally and developmentally regulated in response to changing cellular and environmental conditions. The function of the nucleolus was first identified as being essential in coordinating ribosomal subunit biogenesis. However, more recent advances in nucleolar research have revealed it to have additional important roles in other aspects of cell biology and in human disease. These results have shaped the current view of the “multifunctional” or “plurifunctional” nucleolus. This article will provide an overview of nucleolar architecture, its many functions, and its dynamic behavior.
A two-photon fluorescent probe based on link-anthocyanin for detecting cysteine in nucleoli and lysosomes
2021, Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical
Link-anthocyanin as a novel fluorophore, is formed by addition a restriction group to anthocyanin, which lead the good two-photon performance and excellent water solubility of link-anthocyanin. The probe (Probe) which based on link-anthocyanin was designed and synthesized by a simple 2-step procedure. Probe has high emission wavelength (620 nm), low LOD of cysteine (Cys) (243 nM) and great two-photon excitation properties. Under physiological conditions, Probe shows high selectivity to cysteine above other kinds biothiols and unartificial amino acids due to the test group acrylate moiety. This Probe can perform fluorescence imaging with low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility to Cys in Hela cells. As one of probe which can locate Cys in lysosomes and nucleoli, Probe become the first fluorescence sensor to recognize nucleoli through Cys in vivo. Hence, Probe has potential to screen related diseases through the changes of Cys concentration in organelles.
The Diabetes Gene JAZF1 Is Essential for the Homeostatic Control of Ribosome Biogenesis and Function in Metabolic Stress
2020, Cell Reports
The ability of pancreatic β-cells to respond to increased demands for insulin during metabolic stress critically depends on proper ribosome homeostasis and function. Excessive and long-lasting stimulation of insulin secretion can elicit endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, unfolded protein response, and β-cell apoptosis. Here we show that the diabetes susceptibility gene JAZF1 is a key transcriptional regulator of ribosome biogenesis, global protein, and insulin translation. JAZF1 is excluded from the nucleus, and its expression levels are reduced upon metabolic stress and in diabetes. Genetic deletion of Jazf1 results in global impairment of protein synthesis that is mediated by defects in ribosomal protein synthesis, ribosomal RNA processing, and aminoacyl-synthetase expression, thereby inducing ER stress and increasing β-cell susceptibility to apoptosis. Importantly, JAZF1 function and its pleiotropic actions are impaired in islets of murine T2D and in human islets exposed to metabolic stress. Our study identifies JAZF1 as a central mediator of metabolic stress in β-cells.
Nucleolus: The Consummate Nuclear Body
2017, Nuclear Architecture and Dynamics
The eukaryotic cell nucleus has a highly organized three-dimensional architecture that starts with the packaging of chromatin and culminates in the self-ordered assembly of several membrane-free organelles or “nuclear bodies” that concentrate factors involved in specific molecular pathways. Of these, the nucleolus has been studied in the greatest detail, due both to its prominence and ease of isolation and to increased appreciation of its essential contribution to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Although best known for its originally described role as the site of ribosome production, this plurifunctional organelle has since been shown to play additional roles in the regulation of growth and cell cycle progression, DNA damage sensing and repair, telomere metabolism, RNA processing, biogenesis of ribonucleoprotein particles, and coordination of cellular stress response. While the specifics of its formation, composition, structure/function relationships, and dynamic properties have been delineated and refined over decades of research through the application of increasingly more powerful and innovative technologies, several fundamental questions remain, and there is still much to learn about the full range of biological processes that occur within, or involve, this organelle. This chapter focuses on our current understanding of the formation and maintenance of the nucleolus and highlights recent studies that are providing insight into these dynamic processes.
Hyper-recombination in ribosomal DNA is driven by resection-independent RAD51 loading
2023, Research Square

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

The nucleolus: an organelle formed by the act of building a ribosome

Abstract

Curr Opin Cell Biol

Curr Opin Cell Biol

Trends Biochem Sci

Trends Cell Biol

Trends Cell Biol

Genes Dev

Mol Cell Biol

Mol Biol Cell

EMBO J

FASEB J

Mol Cell Biol

Ribosomal proteins and the assembly of ribosomes in eukaryotes

Biochem Soc Symp

Isolation and characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mRNA transport-defective (mtr) mutants

J Cell Biol

The two steps of nuclear import, targeting to the nuclear envelope and translocation through the nuclear pore, require different cytosolic factors

Cell

Structural alterations of the nucleolus in mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in RNA polymerase I

Mol Cell Biol

Alterations of nucleolar ultrastructure and ribosome biogenesis by actinomycin D. Implications for U3 snRNP function

Eur J Cell Biol

Mammalian nuclei contain foci which are highly enriched in components of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery

EMBO J

Identification and characterization of a yeast nucleolar protein that is similar to a rat liver nucleolar protein

J Cell Biol

In vitro assembly of prenucleolar bodies in Xenopus egg extract

J Cell Biol

Nuclear spreads: I. Visualization of bipartite ribosomal RNA domains

J Cell Biol

Ribosomal RNA processing in eukaryotes

Spatial relationship between the nucleolus and the nuclear envelope; structural aspects and functional significance

Int Rev Cytol

Genetic and physical interactions between Srp1p and nuclear pore complex proteins Nup1p and Nup2p

J Cell Biol

Yeast Srp1p has homology to armadillo/plakoglobin/β-catenin and participates in apparently multiple nuclear functions including the maintenance of the nucleolar structure

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA

Isolation of a protein that is essential for the first step of nuclear protein import

Cell