Autoradiographic study of 3H colchicine binding in synchronously dividing cells of antheridial filaments of Chara vulgaris L. during successive stages of development

Abstract

The intensity of ³H colchicine binding was investigated autoradiographically as a marker of an amount of the microtubule subunits during interphase and mitosis in synchronously dividing 4-, 8-, 16- and 32-celled antheridial filaments of Chora vulgaris. These cells were incubated with 3H colchicine in vivo or after fixation. The radioactivity of cells in the successive generations of antheridial filaments diminishes, similarly as the surface of cytoplasm and intensity of protein synthesis. During interphase the intensity of ³H colchicine binding is proportional to the increase of cytoplasmic surface; the highest increase of radioactivity occurs in G₂. During mitosis the increase of radioactivity continues in prophase; the highest radioactivity was found in prophase and telophase cells, the lowest in anaphase cells; a comparatively pronounced radioactivity is visible in metaphase. Radioactivity in posttelophase, as estimated per one daughter cell, is approximately one half of that of the mother cells in telophase of the previous generation suggesting the reutilization of microtubule proteins in the next mitotic cycle.