Cj. Staiger et Wz. Cande, THE DOMINANT MEIOTIC MUTATION, MEI025, UNCOUPLES THE MICROTUBULE CYCLE FROM THE CHROMOSOME CYCLE, Maydica, 38(2), 1993, pp. 121-126
Microsporocytes isolated from plants expressing the dominant meiotic m
utation, Mei025, were examined cytologically by immunofluorescence sta
ining of microtubules and by DAPI staining of chromatin. Previously, t
his mutation was shown to cause chromatin hypercondensation and aggreg
ation starting at either pachytene of prophase I or at metaphase I. Th
is result has been confirmed and the analysis extended to cytoskeletal
organization during abnormal meiosis. We observed that, while the chr
omosome cycle was blocked or delayed from further progression at metap
hase I, spatial and temporal changes in microtubule distribution conti
nued. This observation demonstrates that the microtubule cycle can be
uncoupled from the meiotic chromosome cycle.