title: Amyloids assemble as part of recognizable structures during oogenesis in Xenopus.
abstract: A hallmark of Alzheimer's, Huntington's and similar diseases is the assembly of proteins into amyloids rather than folding into their native state. There is an increasing appreciation that amyloids, under specific conditions, may be non-pathogenic. Here we show that amyloids form as a normal part of Xenopus oocyte development. Amyloids are detectable in the cytosol and the nucleus using an amyloid binding dye and antibodies that recognize amyloid structure. In the cytosol, yolk platelets are amyloid reactive, as are a number of yet to be characterized particles. In the nucleus, we find particles associated with transcription by RNA polymerase I, II and III and RNA processing contain amyloids. Nuclear amyloids remain intact for hours following isolation; however, RNase treatment rapidly disrupts nuclear amyloids.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Medical Scientist Training Program, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Medical Scientist Training Program, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA daniel-weeks@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4977-2410
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Weeks
keywords: Amyloid; Germinal vesicle; Nuclear particles; Oogenesis; Xenopus