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The nucleolinus: a disappearing, forgotten, and (maybe) misnamed organelle
Author(s) -
Alliegro Mark Collin
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.201.1
Subject(s) - nucleolus , biology , organelle , compartment (ship) , microbiology and biotechnology , cell division , evolutionary biology , nucleus , genetics , cell , history , ancient history
Many of the cell components we study today were discovered more than a century ago. Some have been renamed due to a newer understanding of their physiology or composition, and the old terminology abandoned. It is unusual, however, to find a structure that has not been renamed but simply forgotten. This appears to be the case for the nucleolinus (NLi), discovered at least 150 years ago and studied by Agassiz, Haekel, Montgomery, and others until it virtually disappeared from the literature in the early 1970s. The NLi is an RNA‐rich compartment, closely apposed to or embedded within the nucleolus. It has been identified in invertebrate oocytes, mammalian and amphibian epithelial cells, neurons, and several transformed cell lines. The NLi was thought to have a role in cell division, but with so little knowledge of its composition and no molecular markers available for its study, it has been difficult to address this hypothesis. Recently, a method has been developed to isolate NLi from oocytes of the surf clam, Spisula solidissima. This has allowed for biochemical analysis and the generation of specific probes. The dynamics and macromolecular composition of the NLi reveal a unique cellular compartment with functional links to the nucleolus on one hand, and the cell division apparatus on the other. Although the NLi may be a forgotten organelle, these new observations suggest it deserves renewed attention.