Abstract
Erythrocytes of bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) infected with frog erythrocytic virus are spheroid and their nucleus is displaced. In contrast, uninfected cells are ellipsoid and have a centralized nucleus. Fluorescent staining revealed that these changes are correlated with alterations to components of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton. Uninfected erythrocytes contained a broad, continuous marginal band of microtubules, which appeared thinner and interrupted in infected cells. The described disruption of microtubules was associated with an inability to polymerize the tubulin pool with the addition of 12 microM taxol. The arrangement of submembranous microfilaments in uninfected erythrocytes was not significantly altered in infected cells. Vimentin filaments were distributed throughout the cytoplasm and around the nucleus of uninfected cells, and concentrated at the cell and nuclear peripheries. Cytoplasmic pockets that did not contain vimentin filaments were associated with the viral assembly site(s) in infected cells. These data suggest that the distortion of viral-infected erythrocytes could be due, in part, to an irreversible depolymerization of microtubules of the marginal band and a reorganization of the vimentin filament network.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Biochemistry and cell biology = Biochimie et biologie cellulaire
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
