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The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
The Nucleus01:32

The Nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle that acts as a control center in a eukaryotic cell. It contains chromosomal DNA, which controls gene expression and precisely regulates the production of proteins within the cell. In contrast, the DNA inside the mitochondria and chloroplast only carries out functions that are specific to those organelles.
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
The Nucleus01:25

The Nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle that acts as a control center in a eukaryotic cell. It contains chromosomal DNA, which controls gene expression and precisely regulates the production of proteins within the cell. In contrast, the DNA inside the mitochondria and chloroplast only carries out functions that are specific to those organelles.
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
The Nucleus01:25

The Nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle that acts as a control center in a eukaryotic cell. It contains chromosomal DNA, which controls gene expression and precisely regulates the production of proteins within the cell. In contrast, the DNA inside the mitochondria and chloroplast only carries out functions that are specific to those organelles.
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
Additional Subnuclear Structures02:10

Additional Subnuclear Structures

The eukaryotic nucleus is a double membrane-bound organelle that contains nearly all of the cell’s genetic material in the form of chromosomes. It is rightly called the “brain” of the cell as it shoulders the responsibility of responding to various physiological processes, stress, altered metabolic conditions, and other cellular signals. 
The nucleus contains many membrane-less subnuclear organelles or nuclear bodies, such as nucleoli, Cajal bodies, speckles, paraspeckles, etc. These nuclear...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Analyzing and Building Nucleic Acid Structures with 3DNA
16:24

Analyzing and Building Nucleic Acid Structures with 3DNA

Published on: April 26, 2013

The nucleolus: when 2 became 3.

Marc Thiry1, Françoise Lamaye, Denis L J Lafontaine

  • 1Cellular Biology Unit, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liège, C.H.U. Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium. mthiry@ulg.ac.be

Nucleus (Austin, Tex.)
|September 24, 2011
PubMed
Summary

The nucleolus, crucial for ribosome biogenesis, presents two main organizations. Reptiles exhibit both, with turtles having two components and lizards/crocodiles/snakes having three, revealing evolutionary insights.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The nucleolus is a key cellular domain primarily responsible for ribosome biogenesis.
  • Two main types of nucleolar organization exist: a three-component structure in amniotes and a two-component structure in other eukaryotes.
  • Previous research established these distinct nucleolar organizations across eukaryotic life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diversity of nucleolar organization within living reptiles.
  • To determine if reptiles exhibit both bipartite and tripartite nucleolar structures.
  • To correlate nucleolar organization with reptilian evolutionary history and amniote emergence.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrastructural analysis of nucleoli across various reptile species and tissues.

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  • Comparative examination of nucleolar morphology during different developmental stages.
  • Histological and electron microscopy techniques to visualize nucleolar components.

    • Main Results:

    • Living reptiles display both bipartite and tripartite nucleolar organizations.
    • Turtles possess a bicompartmentalized nucleolus, while lizards, crocodiles, and snakes have a tricompartmentalized nucleolus.
    • This organization is consistent across species, tissues, and developmental stages within these groups.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings support the hypothesis that the transition to a tripartite nucleolus occurred with the emergence of amniotes within Reptilia.
    • The presence of a bicompartmentalized nucleolus in turtles suggests they represent a more primitive reptilian lineage.
    • The evolution of a third nucleolar compartment may have provided enhanced regulatory functions and adaptability for ribosome synthesis in amniotes, contributing to their evolutionary success.