Nuclear membrane modifications in polytene nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster: serial reconstruction and cytochemistry

The nuclear envelope of polytene nuclei of salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster displays modifications consisting of nuclear envelope invaginations (NEI) and evaginations (NEE). Ultrastructural analyses combined with three-dimensional reconstruction and cytochemistry show that NEI are bounded by a single membrane and that they may arise as invaginations of the inner nuclear membrane. NEI extend deeply into the nucleus. The lumens of NEI may collapse resulting in membranous sheets which may combine with those arising from adjacent NEI to form intranuclear structures resembling annulate lamellae. All NEI are associated with NEE. In contrast to NEI, NEE are enclosed in a double membrane morphologically identical to the nuclear envelope. While NEI and NEE share wheat germ agglutinin binding properties with the nuclear envelope, they differ in their ability to localize lanthanum. Pore annuli of NEI display complete lack of lanthanum binding, while those of NEE exhibit minor deposition of this cation. In contrast, pore annuli of the nuclear envelope are specifically and significantly decorated by lanthanum. A conceptual model based on the results obtained suggests that NEI are formed by invaginations of the inner nuclear membrane, together with accompanying modifications of pore complexes.