Formation of a micronuclei‐like structure induced by colchicine treatment in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Minute nuclei named “smaller nuclei” were generated when the cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were treated with colchicine. The formation of “smaller nuclei” seemed to be related to nuclear division because those nuclei were only produced under conditions suitable for nuclear division. The fact that the average DNA content of “smaller nuclei” was almost one tenth of that of the isolated normal diploid nuclei showed that the “smaller nuclei” are not condensed nuclei but aneuploid nuclei like micronuclei in animal cells. It appeared therefore likely that a micronuclei-like structure could be produced by colchicine treatment in S. cerevisiae.