ALUMINUM CAN INDUCE THREE NUCLEOLAR PROTEINS MIGRATED FROM NUCLEOLUS TO CYTOPLASM IN ROOT TIPS OF HORDEUM VULGARE L.

Al induced a nucleolus and some nucleolar material containing argyrophilic proteins extruded from the nucleus into the cytoplasm of root tip cells of some plants exposed to excessive Al. However, limited information has been available about cytological effects of Al on nucleolus and nucleolar proteins in cereal crops. For a better understanding of the toxic effects of Al on nucleolus and nucleolar proteins, effects of Al on nucleolus in root tips of Hordeum vulgare L. were examined. The results obtained by silver-staining showed that some small nucleolar particles containing argyrophilic proteins were distributed in nucleoplasm and cytoplasm. Data from indirect immuno-fluorescent technique confirmed that these proteins were nucleophosmin (B23), nucleolin (C23) and fibrillarin, which were both in nucleoplasm and cytoplasm. Western immuno-blot analysis revealed that the contents of the three major nucleolar proteins increased significantly when compared with control.