title: Asymmetric distribution of metals in the Xenopus laevis oocyte: a synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe study.
abstract: The asymmetric distribution of many components of the Xenopus oocyte, including RNA, proteins, and pigment, provides a framework for cellular specialization during development. During maturation, Xenopus oocytes also acquire metals needed for development, but apart from zinc, little is known about their distribution. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe was used to map iron, copper, and zinc and the metalloid selenium in a whole oocyte. Iron, zinc, and copper were asymmetrically distributed in the cytoplasm, while selenium and copper were more abundant in the nucleus. A zone of high copper and zinc was seen in the animal pole cytoplasm. Iron was also concentrated in the animal pole but did not colocalize with zinc, copper, or pigment accumulations. This asymmetry of metal deposition may be important for normal development. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe will be a useful tool to examine how metals accumulate and redistribute during fertilization and embryonic development.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada.
authors: Bogdan Florin Gh
authors: BF
authors: Popescu
authors: Zachery R
authors: ZR
authors: Belak
authors: Konstantin
authors: K
authors: Ignatyev
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Ovsenek
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Nichol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D020527:Microscopy, Scanning Probe; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc