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Intracellular pH in one-cell mouse embryo differs between subcellular compartments and between interphase and mitosis
C Amirand1, P Mentré, S van de Geijn
1Laboratoire de physicochimie biomoléculaire et cellulaire, ESA 7033 CNRS, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Paris, France.
Biology of the Cell
|January 2, 2001
Summary
This study measured intracellular pH (pHi) in early mouse embryos during their first cell cycle. Researchers found pHi changes correlated with mitosis, but not with replication or transcription onset.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Intracellular pH (pHi) is a critical regulator of cellular processes.
- Understanding pHi dynamics in early embryonic development is essential for deciphering cell cycle progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure pHi in subcellular and subnuclear compartments of early mouse embryos.
- To correlate pHi changes with key cellular events like replication, transcription, and mitosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the pH-sensitive dual-emission fluorophore SNARF-1.
- Employed laser confocal microspectrofluorimetry for precise pHi measurements.
- Analyzed naturally fertilized mouse embryos throughout the first cell cycle.
Main Results:
- Significant pHi differences observed between cytoplasm, pronuclei, and nucleolus precursor bodies (lower pHi).
- No significant pHi changes detected during replication or zygotic transcription initiation.
- A notable pHi increase occurred in cytoplasm and chromatin regions preceding mitosis.
Conclusions:
- Embryonic pHi exhibits distinct compartmentalization.
- Mitosis onset in early mouse embryos is associated with a specific increase in intracellular pH.
- pHi does not appear to be a primary regulator of replication or transcription initiation in this model.