title: Nuclear architecture of rod photoreceptor cells adapts to vision in mammalian evolution.
abstract: We show that the nuclear architecture of rod photoreceptor cells differs fundamentally in nocturnal and diurnal mammals. The rods of diurnal retinas possess the conventional architecture found in nearly all eukaryotic cells, with most heterochromatin situated at the nuclear periphery and euchromatin residing toward the nuclear interior. The rods of nocturnal retinas have a unique inverted pattern, where heterochromatin localizes in the nuclear center, whereas euchromatin, as well as nascent transcripts and splicing machinery, line the nuclear border. The inverted pattern forms by remodeling of the conventional one during terminal differentiation of rods. The inverted rod nuclei act as collecting lenses, and computer simulations indicate that columns of such nuclei channel light efficiently toward the light-sensing rod outer segments. Comparison of the two patterns suggests that the conventional architecture prevails in eukaryotic nuclei because it results in more flexible chromosome arrangements, facilitating positional regulation of nuclear functions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Biocenter, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Grosshadernerstrasse 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Solovei
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreysing
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lanctôt
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kösem
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peichl
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guck
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joffe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics*; D022041:Euchromatin; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008322:Mammals; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D022041:Euchromatin; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones