Journal of Cell Science, Vol 37, Issue 1 97-107, Copyright © 1979 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Transfer of mouse nuclear envelope specific proteins to nuclei of chick erythrocytes during reactivation in heterokaryons with mouse A9 cells

E Jost, A d'Arcy and S Ely

When chick erythrocyte nuclei are introduced into the cytoplasm of mouse A9 cells by cell fusion, proteins present in a fraction of the mouse nuclear envelope begin to appear in the envelope of the chick erythrocyte. The protein uptake was examined using antisera raised in chickens against the 3 major polypeptides of the nuclear pore complex-fibrous lamina fraction from rat liver nuclei. In indirect immunofluorescence studies these antisera give a strong envelope-specific staining with various mammalian but not chicken cells. Eighteen hours after cell fusion the first murine antigens can be observed in the erythrocyte nucleus. Two days after cell fusion the vast majority of the erythrocyte nuclei in cell hybrids contain some antigen and by 3 days the fluorescence of the reactivated erythrocyte nuclei reaches a level comparable to that of the mouse A9 nuclei. The rate of appearance of fluorescence in the chick nuclei depends upon the ratio of A9 cytoplasm to chick nuclei. Antigen uptake by the erythrocyte envelope is inhibited when protein synthesis is blocked suggesting that synthesis of mouse antigen, rather than a redistribution, determines the velocity or erythrocyte envelope reactivation. The early uptake of nucleospecific protein into the reactivating chick erythrocyte may not require any alteration in the nuclear envelope.