In mouse oocytes the mitochondrion-originated germinal body-like structures accumulate mouse Vasa homologue (MVH) protein.
Mouse Vasa homologue (MVH) antibodies were applied to mouse Graafian oocytes to clarify if mitochondrion-originated germinal body-like structures, described previously by conventional electron microscopy, were associated with the germ plasm. It was found that both the mitochondrion-like structures with cristae and the germinal body-like structures that lacked any signs of cristae were labelled specifically by the anti-MVH antibody. Moreover, some granules were MVH-positive ultrastructural hybrids of the mitochondria and germinal body-like structures, the presence of which clearly supported the idea of a mitochondrial origin for the germinal body-like structures. This finding is the first evidence that mitochondrion-originated germinal body-like granules represent mouse germ plasm.
Laboratory of Cell Differentiation,Paltchevsky st.-17,A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology,Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences,690041 Vladivostok,Russia.
Arkadiy A
AA
Reunov
A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology FEB RAS,Laboratory of Cell Differentiation,Paltchevsky st.-17,Vladivostok 690041,Russia.
Yulia A
YA
Reunova
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
C090864:Ddx4 protein, mouse; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases
Germ plasm; Germinal body-like structures; MVH protein; Mouse; Oocytes