Ultrastructural localization of DNA and RNA in Allium porrum interphase cells by means of nuclease-gold complexes.

Nucleic acids have been localized in Allium porrum interphase meristematic cells by means of labelling with nuclease-gold complexes, a technique which provides high resolution and improved specificity. DNase-gold labelling was observed over dense chromatin and to a lesser extent over dispersed chromatin. Nucleolar labelling was restricted to the dense fibrillar component, very few particles being located over the fibrillar centres. Labelling by the RNase-gold complex was present over both the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm. Cytoplasm labelling was intense over the rough endoplasmic reticulum but absent over vacuoles. In the nucleoplasm many gold particles were located at the border between the condensed and the dispersed chromatin. Nucleolar labelling was intense over the granular zones but many gold particles were also seen over the dense fibrillar component. Fibrillar centres showed, however, no labelling with the RNase-gold complex. These results are consistent with previous autoradiographic and cytochemical observations carried out on the same plant material.