Co-clustering of Golgi complex and other cytoplasmic organelles to crescentic region of half-moon nuclei during apoptosis.
Early apoptosis is defined by stereotypic morphological changes, especially evident in the nucleus, where chromatin condenses and compacts, and assumes a globular, half-moon or crescent-shaped morphology. Accumulating evidence suggests that cytoplasmic organelles such as mitochondria and the Golgi complex are major sites of integration of pro-apoptotic signaling. In this study, cytoplasmic organelles including Golgi complex, mitochondria, endosomes, lysosomes, and peroxisomes were shown to condense at the same unique region adjacent to the crescentic nucleus during a relatively early stage of apoptosis induced by staurosporine or other agents. The co-clustering phenomenon may be caused by shrinkage of cytoplasm during apoptosis although cytoskeletal markers actin and tubulin were not condensed and appeared excluded. These data suggest the co-clustering of cytoplasmic organelles plays an interesting role during the progression of the apoptotic process. It is possible that modification of pro-apoptotic proteins may arise as a result of the interplay of these cytoplasmic organelles.
Nozawa
Kazuhisa
K
Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Juntendo University Urayasu hospital, Institute for Environment and Gender Specific Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan. kazunozawa@juntendo-urayasu.jp
Fritzler
Marvin J
MJ
Takasaki
Yoshinari
Y
Wood
Malcolm R
MR
Chan
Edward K L
EK
D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015388:Organelles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology
D019311:Staurosporine