Evidence for changes in nuclear permeability during different physiological states.
It was found that the nuclei of well-fed amoebae accumulate colloidal gold from the cytoplasm at a significantly greater rate than the nuclei of cells starved for five or nine days. The results are most likely due to a decrease in the permeability of the nuclear envelope during starvation. Evidence was obtained indicating that the permeability decrease is caused by a change in the functional properties of the pores, rather than a change in either pore size or number. These findings are consistent with the view that the nuclear pores are involved in regulating cellular activity.
Feldherr
C M
CM
Department of Anatomical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.