Ultrastructural analysis in yeast reveals a meiosis-specific actin-containing nuclear bundle

Abstract

AbstractActin polymerises to form filaments/cables for motility, transport, and the structural framework in a cell. Recent studies show that actin polymers are present not only in the cytoplasm but also in the nuclei of vertebrate cells. Here, we show, by electron microscopic observation with rapid freezing and high-pressure freezing, a unique bundled structure containing actin in the nuclei of budding yeast cells undergoing meiosis. The nuclear bundle during meiosis consists of multiple filaments with a rectangular lattice arrangement, often showing a feather-like appearance. The bundle was immunolabelled with an anti-actin antibody and was sensitive to an actin-depolymerising drug. Similar to cytoplasmic bundles, nuclear bundles are rarely seen in premeiotic cells and spores and are induced during meiotic prophase-I. The formation of the nuclear bundle is independent of DNA double-stranded breaks. We speculate that nuclear bundles containing actin play a role in nuclear events during meiotic prophase I.