title: Cytoskeleton and Cytoskeleton-Bound RNA Visualization in Frog and Insect Oocytes.
abstract: The majority of oocyte functions involves and depends on the cytoskeletal elements, which include microtubules and actin and cytokeratin filaments. Various structures and molecules are temporarily or permanently bound to the cytoskeletal elements and their functions rely on cytoskeleton integrity and its timely assembly. Thus the accurate visualization of cytoskeleton is often crucial for studies and analyses of oocyte structure and functions. Here we describe several reliable methods for microtubule and/or microfilaments preservation and visualization in Xenopus oocyte extracts, and in situ in live and fixed insect and frog (Xenopus) oocytes. In addition, we describe visualization of cytoskeleton-bound RNAs using molecular beacons in live Xenopus oocytes.
authors.affiliation: The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA. mkloc@Houstonmethodist.org.|The Houston Methodist Hospital, Department of Surgery, 6550 Fannin St., Houston, TX, 77030, USA. mkloc@Houstonmethodist.org.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kloc
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Szczepan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bilinski
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 6290, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, Cell Cycle Group, IFR 140 GFAS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rennes 1, 35 043, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Jacek Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Kubiak
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007313:Insecta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D012313:RNA
keywords: Actin; Cell-free extract; Cytokeratin; Cytoskeleton; Localized RNA; Mitotic spindle; Molecular beacon; Oocyte; Tubulin; Xenopus