Introduction to Molecular Embryology

ISBN-13: 9783540169680 / Angielski / Miękka / 1986 / 229 str.

Jean Brachet; Henri Alexandre

Opis

Nearly 10 years have elapsed since I finished writing the first edition of Intro duction to Molecular Embryology. During this period, molecular embryology has made great strides forward, but without undergoing a major revolution; there fore, the general philosophy and outline of the book have remained almost un changed. However, all the chapters had to be almost completely rewritten in or der to introduce new facts and to eliminate findings which have lost interest or have been disproved. There was a major gap in the first edition of this book: very little was said about mammalian eggs despite their obvious interest for mankind. Research on mammalian eggs and embryos is so active today that this important topic deserves a full chapter in a book concerned with molecular embryology. Therefore, I am very thankful to my colleague Dr. Henri Alexandre, who has written a chapter on mammalian embryology (Chap. 9) and has prepared all the illustrations for this book."

Spis treści

I From Descriptive to Molecular Embryology.- II How Genes Direct the Synthesis of Specific Proteins in Living Cells.- III How Eggs and Embryos Are Made.- 1 Theories of Embryonic Differentiation.- 1.1 Summary of Descriptive Observations.- 1.2 A Few Important Experimental Facts.- 1.3 Genetic Theories of Morphogenesis.- IV Gametogenesis and Maturation: The Formation of Eggs and Spermatozoa.- 1 Oogenesis.- 1.1 Cytoplasm.- 1.2 The Nucleus (Germinal Vesicle: GV).- 1.2.1 The Nuclear Membrane.- 1.2.2 Chromosomes.- 1.2.3 Nucleoli.- 1.2.4 Nuclear Sap (Nucleoplasm).- 1.2.5 Xenopus Oocytes as Test-Tubes.- 2 Maturation of Xenopus Oocytes.- 3 Spermatogenesis.- V Fertilization: How the Sleeping Egg Awakes.- 1 General Outlook.- 2 The Fertilizin Problem.- 3 Physical and Chemical Changes at Fertilization.- 3.1 Early Changes.- 3.2 Later Biochemical Changes.- 3.2.1 Oxygen Consumption.- 3.2.2 Carbohydrate Metabolism.- 3.2.3 Protein Metabolism.- 3.2.4 Lipid Metabolism.- 4 Nucleic Acid and Protein Synthesis.- 4.1 DNA Synthesis.- 4.2 RNA Synthesis.- 4.3 Protein Synthesis.- 5 Parthenogenetic Activation.- 6 Molecular Embryology and Classical Theories of Fertilization.- VI Egg Cleavage: A Story of Cell Division.- 1 General Outlook.- 2 The Biochemistry of Cleavage.- 2.1 Energy Production.- 2.2 Chemical Nature of the Mitotic Apparatus.- 2.3 DNA Replication During Cleavage.- 2.4 RNA Synthesis During Cleavage.- 2.5 Protein Synthesis During Cleavage.- 2.6 Furrow Formation.- VII Molecular Embryology of Invertebrate Eggs.- 1 Chaetopterus Eggs.- 2 Mollusk Eggs.- 3 Tunicate (Ascidian) Eggs.- 4 Insect Eggs.- 5 Sea Urchins.- VIII Molecular Embryology of Amphibian Eggs.- 1 Respiration of the Amphibian Gastrula and Neurula.- 2 The Nature of the Inducing Substance.- 3 RNA Localization and Synthesis.- 4 The Links Between RNA Synthesis and Morphogenesis.- 5 Size and Mode of Action of the Inducing Agent.- 6 Molecular Basis of Cell Movements.- IX Molecular Embryology of Mammals.- 1 The Biology of Mammalian Sperm.- 1.1 Male Sex Determination in Mammals.- 1.2 Mammalian Spermatozoa from Testis to Fertilization.- 2 Molecular Embryology of Mammalian Eggs.- 2.1 Oogenesis.- 2.2 Maturation (Resumption of Meiosis).- 2.3 Preimplantation Period.- 3 Experimental Embryology of the Preimplantation Stages.- 4 Early Postimplantation Stages.- 4.1 Trophectoderm Differentiation.- 4.2 ICM Development.- 4.3 X Chromosome Inactivation.- 5 Interspecific Hybrids and Chimaeras.- X Biochemical Interactions Between the Nucleus and the Cytoplasm During Morphogenesis.- 1 Biology and Biochemistry of the Alga Acetabularia.- 1.1 Biological Cycle. Regeneration.- 1.2 Morphology of the Cytoplasm and the Nucleus.- 1.3 Biochemical Studies.- 1.3.1 Morphogenetic Substances and mRNAs: Experiments with Inhibitors.- 1.3.2 Energy Production.- 1.3.3 Protein Synthesis.- 1.3.4 RNA Synthesis.- 1.3.5 DNA Synthesis. Relative Autonomy of the Chloroplasts.- 1.3.6 Complexity of Nucleocytoplasmic Interactions.- 2 Biochemistry of Anucleate Fragments of Eggs.- 2.1 Amphibian Eggs.- 2.2 Sea Urchin Eggs.- 2.2.1 Biological Observations.- 2.2.2 Biochemical Studies.- 3 The Importance of the Nucleus for Embryonic Development.- 3.1 General Background.- 3.2 Lethal Hybrids.- 3.2.1 Biological Observations.- 3.2.2 Biochemical Studies on Lethal Hybrids.- 3.2.2.1 Respiration.- 3.2.2.2 Nucleic Acid and Protein Synthesis.- 4 Biochemistry of Early Developmental Mutants.- 5 “Transgenic” Mice and Teratocarcinoma.- 6 Conclusions.- XI How Cells Differentiate.- 1 General Introduction.- 2 Specific Properties of Cell Membranes.- 3 Effects of Tissue Extracts on Cell Differentiation.- 4 Immunological Studies on Embryonic Differentiation.- 5 Enzyme Synthesis and Embryonic Differentiation.- 6 Differentiation of Cultured Embryonic Cells.- 6.1 A Brief Description of a Few Biological Systems.- 6.2 Experimental Analysis of Cell Differentiation in Culture.- 6.2.1 Cell Fusion.- 6.2.2 Effects of Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUr) on Cell Differentiation.- 6.2.3 Effects of Phorbol Esters and Retinoids.- 6.2.4 Other Inducers and Inhibitors of Cell Differentiation.- 7 Embryonic Differentiation and Cancer.- 8 The Future of Molecular Embryology.- References.- Further Reading.- Author and Subject Index.