A microtubule meshwork associated with gametic pronucleus transfer across a cell-cell junction.
In conjugating Tetrahymena, a cellular assembly composed of a microtubule meshwork appears to be required for the transfer of gametic pronuclei across the junction that separates the conjugating cells. This assembly is suggestive of a gametogenic cell division in ancient predecessors of ciliates, with Tetrahymena retaining only the associated nuclear division and export.
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D005306:Fertilization; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*; D008938:Mitosis; D013768:Tetrahymena / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure