Olins' Lab

Ada and Donald Olins
Ada L. Olins Donald E. Olins
Biology Department
6500 College Station
Bowdoin College
Brunswick,ME 04011
tel. 1 207 725 3113 (lab)
fax. 1 207 725 3405
email for Ada: aolins@bowdoin.edu
email for Don: dolins@bowdoin.edu

CHROMATIN AND NUCLEAR STRUCTURE

A fanciful view of chromatin structure
A fanciful view of chromatin structure. "Le pont des planetes" in J. J. Grandville’s Un Autre Monde (1844). Paris: H. Fournier

Research Interests.

Our laboratory is focused on understanding the structural organization of chromatin and chromosomes within the interphase nucleus. Over the years we have studied a variety of eukaryotic cells that possess advantages for the analysis of structure, employing microscopy (light and electron), biochemical and immunochemical techniques. Our initial description of the fundamental repeating chromatin subunit (nucleosome) was performed principally on nuclei from avian erythrocytes, which contain large amounts of transcriptionally inactive chromatin. Later we devoted considerable study to the 3-D architecture of the Balbiani Ring, the enlarged transcriptionally active region of polytene chromosomes in the salivary gland of the midge Chironomus tentans. Simultaneously we performed investigations of the Replication Band (the migrating factory of DNA and chromatin replication) within the macronucleus of the ciliated protozoan Euplotes eurystomus. Recently we have turned our attention to the development of the lobulated nuclear shape of neutrophil granulocytes in the blood of mouse and man. We have demonstrated that changes in the composition of the nuclear envelope during granulopoiesis, particularly the presence of sufficient lamin B receptor (LBR), are necessary for the acquisition of the normal lobulated nuclear shape. The goals of our present studies are to understand the mechanism of nuclear lobulation, the roles of LBR and lamins and the influence of cytoskeletal elements on nuclear shape. In the long-term, we hope to understand the consequences of nuclear architecture to the variety of chromosomal functions.

Nucleosomes: the chromatin subunits.

A darkfield electron micrograph of chromatin spilling out of a chicken erythrocyte nucleus in a low ionic strength buffer
A darkfield electron micrograph of chromatin spilling out of a chicken erythrocyte nucleus in a low ionic strength buffer. Stained with uranyl acetate.

Selected Publications.

Peter Gaines, Chiung Wen Tien, Ada L. Olins, Donald E. Olins, Leonard D. Shultz, Lisa Carny and Nancy Berliner. (2008)  Mouse neutrophils lacking lamin B receptor expression exhibit aberrant development and lack critical functional responses. Exp. Hem.  (Submitted)
Monika Zwerger, Harald Herrmann, Peter Gaines, Ada L. Olins, and Donald E.Olins. (2008) Granulocytic nuclear differentiation of lamin B receptor-deficient mouse EPRO cells.  Exp. Hem.  (In Press)
Ada L. Olins, Monika Zwerger, Harald Herrmann, Hanswalter Zentgraf, Amos J. Simon, Marc Monestier, Donald E. Olins.  (2008)  The Human Granulocyte Nucleus: Unusual Nuclear Envelope and Heterochromatin Composition. Eur. J. Cell Biol.  (In Press)
Katrin Hoffmann, Karl Sperling, Ada L. Olins and Donald E. Olins. (2007)  The granulocyte nucleus and lamin B receptor: avoiding the ovoid. Chromosoma 116:227-235. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Donald E. Olins and Ada L.Olins. (2005) Granulocyte Heterochromatin: Defining the Epigenome. BMC Cell Biology 2005, 6:39. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Ada L. Olins and Donald E. Olins. (2005) The mechanism of granulocyte nuclear shape determination: possible involvement of the centrosome. Eur J Cell Biol 84: 181–188. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Ada L. Olins and Donald E. Olins. (2004) Cytoskeletal influences on nuclear shape in granulocytic HL-60 cells. BMC Cell Biology 5:30. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Donald E. Olins and Ada L. Olins. (2003) Chromatin history: our view from the bridge. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 4: 809-14. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Leonard D. Shultz, Bonnie L. Lyons, Lisa M. Burzenski, Bruce Gott , Rebecca Samuels, Peter A.Schweitzer, Christine Dreger, Harald Herrmann, Vera Kalscheuer, Ada L. Olins, Donald E. Olins, Karl Sperling and Katrin Hoffman. (2003) Mutations at the Murine Ichthyosis Locus are within the Lamin B Receptor Gene: A Single Gene Model for Human Pelger-Huët Anomaly. Hum Mol Genet 12: 61-69. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Hoffmann K, Dreger C, Olins AL, Olins DE, Shultz LD, Lucke B, Karl H, Kaps R, Mueller D, Vaya A, Aznar J, Ware R, Cruz NS, Lindner TH, Herrmann H, Reis A, Sperling K. (2002) Mutations in the Lamin B receptor gene produce an altered granulocyte nuclear morphology in humans (Pelger Huet Anomaly). Nature Genet 31: 410-414. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Olins, A. L., Herrmann, H., Lichter, P., Kratzmeier, M., Doeneck, D., and Olins, D. E., (2001) Nuclear envelope and chromatin compositional differences comparing undifferentiated and retinoic acid- and phorbol ester-treated HL-60 cells. Exp Cell Res 268: 115-127. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Olins, A. L., Herrmann, H., Lichter, P., and Olins, D. E., (2000) Retinoic Acid Differentiation of HL-60 Cells Promotes Cytoskeletal Polarization. Exp Cell Res , 254: 130-142. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Olins, A. L., Buendia, B., Herrmann, H., Lichter, P., and Olins, D. E., (1998) Retinoic Acid Induction of Nuclear Envelope-limited Chromatin Sheets in HL-60. Exp Cell Res , 245: 91-104. (FULL TEXT pdf)
Shuster, M., Dhar, M. S., Olins, A. L., Olins, D. E., Howell, C., Gollin, S. M., and Chaillet, J. R., (1998) Parental Alleles of an Imprinted Mouse Transgene Replicate Synchronously. Dev Genet, 23: 275-284.
Olins, D. E., and Olins, A. L. (1994) The replication of ciliated protozoa. Int. Rev. Cytol., 153: 137-170.
Hauser, L. J., Treat, M. L., and Olins, D. E., (1993) Cloning and analysis of the macronuclear gene for histone H1 from Euplotes eurystomus. Nucleic Acids Res, 21: 3586.
Olins, D. E., and Olins,A. L., (1993) Inhibition of DNA synthesis in the macronuclear replication band of euplotes eurystomus. J. Eukaryotic Microbiol. 40: 459-467.
Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, and D. P. Bazett-Jones (1992) Balbiani ring hnRNP substructure visualized by selective staining and electron spectroscopic imaging. J. Cell. Biol. 117, 483-491.
Olins, A.L., B. A. Moyer, S.-H. Kim, and D. P. Allison (1989) A modified synthesis of a more stable osmium ammine, electron dense DNA stain. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 37, 395-39.
Colliex, C., C. Mory, A. L. Olins, D. E. Olins, and M. Tence (1989) Energy filtered STEM imaging of thick biological sections. J. Microsc. 153, 1-21.
Olins, D. E., and Olins,A. L., (1987) In vitro DNA synthesis in the macronuclear replication band of Euplotes eurystomus. J. Cell Biol. 104, 1125-1132, cover.
Olins, D. E., A. L. Olins, H. A. Levy, R. C. Durfee, S. M. Margle, E. P. Tinnel, and S. D. Dover (1983) Electron microscope tomography: Transcription in 3-D. Science 220, 498-500, cover.
Uberbacher, E. C., Mardian, J. K., Rossi, R. M., Olins, D. E., and Bunick, G. J., (1982) Neutron scattering studies and modeling of high mobility group 14 core nucleosome complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 79: 5258-62.
Mardian, J. K. W., A.E. Paton, G. J. Bunick, and D.E.Olins (1980) Nucleosome Cores have Two Specific Binding Sites for Nonhistone Chromosomal Proteins HMG 14 ans HMG 17. Science 209: 1534-1536.
Gordon, V. C., Knobler, C. M., Olins, D.E., and Schumaker, V. N., (1978) Conformational changes of the chromatin subunit. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 75: 660-3.
Thomas GJ Jr, Prescott B. and Olins, D.E. (1977) Secondary structure of histones and DNA in chromatin. Science 197: 385-8.
Senior, M. B., Olins, A. L. and Olins, D. E., (1975) Chromatin fragments resembling nu bodies. Science 187, 173-175.

PUBLICATIONS

Lipopolysaccahride 

 

Olins, A. L., and R. C. Warner (1967) Physicochemical studies on a lipopolysaccharide from the cell wall of Azotobacter vinlandii.  J. Biol. Chem. 242, 4994-5001. (pdf)

 

Olins, D. E., A. L. Olins, and P. H. von Hippel (1967) Model nucleoprotein complexes:  Studies on the interaction of cationic homopolypeptides with DNA.  J. Mol. Biol. 24, 151-176.

 

Olins, D. E., A. L. Olins, and P. H. von Hippel (1968) On the structure and stability of DNA-protamine and DNA-polypeptide complexes.  J. Mol. Biol. 33, 265-281.

 

Olins, D. E., and A. L. Olins (1971) Model nucleohistones:  The interaction of F1 and F2a1 histones with native T7 DNA.  J. Mol. Biol. 57, 437-455.

 

Olins, D. E., and A. L. Olins (1972) Physical studies of isolated eucaryotic nuclei.  J. Cell Biol. 53, 715-736.

 

Olins, A. L., and D. E. Olins (1974) Spheroid chromatin units (nu bodies). Science 183, 330-332.

 

Senior, M. B., A. L. Olins, and D. E. Olins (1975) Chromatin fragments resembling nu bodies. Science 187, 173-175.

 

Olins, A. L., R. D. Carlson, and D. E. Olins (1975) Visualization of chromatin substructure - nu bodies.  J. Cell Biol. 64, 528-537.

 

Carlson, R. D., A. L. Olins, and D. E. Olins (1975) Urea denaturation of chromatin periodic structure.  Biochemistry 14, 3122-3125.

 

Olins, A. L., M. B. Senior, and D. E. Olins (1976) Ultrastructural features of chromatin nu bodies. J. Cell Biol. 68, 787-792.

 

Howze, G. B., A. W. Hsie, and A. L. Olins (1976) Nu bodies in mitotic chromatin.  Exp. Cell Res.        100, 424-428.

 

Olins, A. L., R. D. Carlson, E. B. Wright, and D. E. Olins (1976) Chromatin nu bodies:  Isolation,         subfractionation and physical characterization.  Nucleic Acids Res. 3, 3271-3291.

 

Olins, A. L., J. P. Breillat, R. D. Carlson, M. B. Senior, E. B. Wright, and D. E. Olins (1977) On nu models for chromatin structure.  In:  The Molecular Biology of the Mammalian Genetic Apparatus,        Part A. (P. O. P. Tso, ed.), Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, pp. 211-237.

 

Olins, D. E., P. N. Bryan, R. E. Harrington, W. E. Hill, and A. L. Olins (1977) Conformational states of chromatin nu bodies induced by urea.  Nucleic Acid Res. 4, 1911-1931.

 

Olins, A. L. (1978) Nu-bodies are close-packed in chromatin.  Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. XLII, 325-329.

 

Zama, M., P. N. Bryan, R. E. Harrington, A. L. Olins, and D. E. Olins (1978) Conformational states of chromatin.  Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. XLII, 31-41.

 

Olins, A. L. (1978) Visualization of chromatin nu bodies.  In:  Methods in Cell Biology, Vol. 18 (G. Stein, J. Stein, and L. Kleinsmith, eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 61-68.

 

Bryan, P. N., E. B. Wright, M. H. Hsie, A. L. Olins, and D. E. Olins (1978) Physical properties of          innerhistone-DNA complexes.  Nucleic Acid Res. 5, 3603-3617.

 

Olins, D. E., and A. L. Olins (1978) Nucleosomes:  The structural quantum in chromosomes. American Scientist 66, 704-711.

Zama, M., D. E. Olins, E. Wilkinson-Singley, and A. L. Olins (1978) Reversibility of nucleosome         conformation perturbed by urea.  Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 85, 1446-1451.

 

Olins, A. L. (1979) Electron microscopy:  A tool for visualizing chromatin.  In:  Chromatin Structure and Function, Part A:  Molecular and Cellular Biophysical Methods (as Vol. 21a in the NATO Advanced Study Institutes Life Science Series) (C. A. Nicolini, ed.).  Plenum Publishing Corp., pp.31-40.

 

Olins, A. L., and D. E. Olins (1979) Stereo electron microscopy of the 25-mm chromatin fibers in isolated nuclei.  J. Cell Biol. 81, 260-265.

 

Olins, A. L., E. Wilkinson-Singley, J. Bentley, and D. E. Olins (1979) Stereo-electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of avian reticulocytes.  Eur. J. Cell Biol. 19, 239-249.

 

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, and W. W. Franke (1980) Stereo-electron microscopy of nucleoli, Balbiani rings and endoplasmic reticulum in Chironomus salivary gland cells.  Eur. J. Cell Biol. 22, 714‑723.

 

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, H. Zentgraf, and W. W. Franke (1980) Visualization of nucleosomes in thin sections by stereo-electron microscopy.  J. Cell Biol. 87, 833-836.

 

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, W. W. Franke, H. J. Lipps, and D. M. Prescott (1981) Stereo-electron microscopy of nuclear structure and replication in ciliated protozoa (Hypotricha).  Eur. J. Cell Biol. 25, 120-130.

 

Olins, A. L. (1982) Chromosomal and Nonchromosomal DNA:  A Summary and Perspective.  In: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, (J. F. .Lemontt and W. M. Generoso, eds.), Plenum Press, New York.

 

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, and M. Lezzi (1982) Ultrastructural studies of Chironomus salivary gland cells in different states of Balbiani ring activity.  Eur. J. Cell Biol. 27, 161-169.

 

Laughlin, T. J., E. Wilkinson-Singley, D. E. Olins, and A. L. Olins (1982) Stereo-electron microscope studies of mitotic chromosomes from Chinese hamster ovary cells.  Eur. J. Cell Biol. 27, 170-176.

 

Olins, D. E., A. L. Olins, H. A. Levy, R. C. Durfee, S. M. Margle, E. P. Tinnel, and S. D. Dover (1983) Electron microscope tomography:  Transcription in 3-D.  Science 220, 498-500, cover.

 

Olins, A. L., and D. E. Olins (1983) This Week's Citation Classic.  Current Contents, March 7, p. 25.

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, H. A. Levy, R. C. Durfee, S. M. Margle, E. P. Tinnel, B. E. Hingerty,

S. D. Dover, and H. Fuchs (1984) Modeling Balbiani Ring gene transcription with electron microscope tomography.  Eur. J. Cell Biol. 35, 129-142, cover 37.

 

Allen, R. L., A. L. Olins, J. M. Harp, and D. E. Olins (1985) Isolation and characterization of chromatin replication bands and macronuclei from Euplotes eurystomus.  Eur. J. Cell Biol. 39, 217-223.

 

Allen, R. L., S. J. Kennel, L. Cacheiro, A. L. Olins, and D. E. Olins (1986) Characterization of the macronuclear replication band in Euplotes eurystomus with monoclonal antibodies.  J. Cell Biol. 102, 131-136.

 

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, H. A. Levy, R. C. Durfee, S. M. Margle, and E. P. Tinnel (1986) DNA compaction during intense transcription measured by electron microscope tomography.  Eur. J. Cell Biol. 40, 105-110.

 

Cadilla, C. L., J. Harp, J. M. Flanagan, A. L. Olins, and D. E. Olins (1986) Preparation and characterization of soluble macronuclear chromatin from the hypotrich Euplotes eurystomus. Nucleic Acids Res. 14, 823-841.

 

Cadilla, C. L., A. E. Roberson, J. Harp, A. L. Olins, and D. E. Olins (1987) Subfractionation of soluble macronuclear chromatin and enrichment of specific genes as chromatin from Euplotes eurystomus.  Nucleic Acids Res. 14, 8501-8512.

 

Levy, H. A., S. M. Margle, E. P. Tinnel, R. C. Durfee, D. E. Olins, and A. L. Olins (1987) The varifocal mirror for 3-D display of electron microscope tomography.  J. Microsc. 145, 179‑190.

 

Olins, D. E., and A. L. Olins (1987) In vitro DNA synthesis in the macronuclear replication band of Euplotes eurystomus.  J. Cell Biol. 104, 1125-1132, cover.

 

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, M. Derenzini, D. Hernandez-Verdun, P. Gounon, M. Robert-Nicoud, and T. M. Jovin (1988) Replication bands and nucleoli in the macronucleus of Euplotes eurystomus -An ultrastructural and cytochemical study.  Biol. of the Cell 62, 83-93.

 

Olins, D. E., A. L. Olins, A.-P. Seve, C. A. Bourgeois, J. Hubert and M. Monsigny (1988) Lectin-like components in the macronuclear replication bands of Euplotes eurystomus.  Biol. of the Cell 62, 95-98, cover.

 

Colliex, C., C. Mory, A. L. Olins, D. E. Olins, and M. Tence (1989) Energy filtered STEM imaging of thick biological sections.  J. Microsc. 153, 1-21.

 

Olins, A.L., B. A. Moyer, S.-H. Kim, and D. P. Allison (1989) A modified synthesis of a more stable osmium ammine, electron dense DNA stain.  J. Histochem. Cytochem. 37, 395-398.

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, H. A. Levy, S. M. Margle, E. P. Tinnel, and R. C. Durfee (1989) Tomographic reconstruction from energy filtered images of thick biological sections.  J. Microsc. 154, 257-265.

 

Olins, D. E., A. L. Olins, M. Robert-Nicoud, T. M. Jovin, J. Wehland and K. Weber (1989) Differential distribution of a-tubulin isotypes in Euplotes eurystomus determined by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy.  Biol. of the Cell 66, 235-246.

 

Olins, D. E., A. L. Olins, L. H. Cacheiro and E. M. Tan (1989) PCNA/cyclin in the ciliate Euplotes eurystomus:  localization in the replication band and in micronuclei.  J. Cell Biol. 109, 1399‑1410.

 

Kim, S.-H., B. A. Moyer, S. Azan, G. M.  Brown, A. L.  Olins  and D. P. Allison (1989) Preparation and properties of the nitrido-bridged osmium(IV) binuclear complexes   [OsIV2N(NH3)10-nCln]Cl5-n 

(n = 2,3).  Inorg. Chem. 28, 4648-4650.

 

Olins, A. L. and D. E. Olins (1990) Regular 10 nm filaments in the macronucleus of Euplotes eurystomus.  Chromosoma 99, 205-211.

 

Yeh, E., R. Driscoll, M. Coltrera, A. Olins, and K. Bloom (1991) A dynamin-like protein encoded by the yeast sporulation gene SPO15.  Nature 349, 713-715.

 

Olins, D. E., Olins, A. L., Herrmann, A., Lin, R., Allis, C. D., and Robert-Nicoud, M.  (1991)  Localization of acetylated histone H4 in the macronucleus of Euplotes.  Chromosoma 100, 377-385.

 

Levy, H. A., A. L. Olins, and D. E. Olins (1992) Distribution of projection angles for single-axis-tilt electron microscope tomography of extended thin planar specimens.  J. Microsc., 165, 325-330

 

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, and D. P. Bazett-Jones (1992) Balbiani ring hnRNP substructure visualized by selective staining and electron spectroscopic imaging. J. Cell. Biol. 117, 483-491.

 

Olins, A. L., D. E. Olins, H. A. Levy, M. B. Shah, and D. P. Bazett-Jones (1993) Electron microscope tomography of balbiani ring hnRNP substructure. Chromosoma, 102, 137-144.

 

Olins, D. E., and A. L. Olins (1993) Inhibition of DNA synthesis in the macronuclear replication band of euplotes eurystomus.  J. Eukaryotic Mico. 40, 459-467.

 

Olins, A. L. (1993) Application of a DNA Specific Stain, Osmium Ammine B, to Cellular Specimens. In:  Procedures in Electron Microscopy (A. W. Robards and A. J. Wilson, eds.), John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, England.

 

Olins, A. L., and Olins, D. E.  (1993)  Stereo-electron microscopy of DNA-stained mitotic chromosomes from Dictyostelium discoideum, Cell Biol. International, 17, 941-944.

 

Olins, A. L., Cacheiro, L. H., Herrmann, A. L.  Dhar, M. S., and Olins, D. E.  (1993)  Inaccessibility of the Euplotes Telomere Binding Protein, Chromosoma, 102: 700-711.

 

Olins, A. L., Olins, D. E., Olman, V., Levy, H. A., and Bazett-Jones D. P. (1994)  Modeling the 3-D RNA distribution in the Balbiani Ring granule. Chromosoma, 103: 302-310.

 

Olins, D. E., and Olins, A. L. (1994) The replication of ciliated protozoa.  Int. Rev. Cytol., 153: 137-170.

Olins, A. L., Olins, D. E., and Bazett-Jones D. P. (1996) Osmium Ammine-B and Electron Spectroscopic Imaging of Ribonuclear Proteins: Correlation of Stain and Phosphorus.  Biol Cell  87: 143-147.

 

Shuster, M., Dhar, M. S., Olins, A. L., Olins, D. E., Howell, C., Gollin, S. M., and Chaillet, J. R., (1998) Parental Alleles of an Imprinted Mouse Transgene Replicate Synchronously.  Dev Genet,  23: 275-284.

 

Olins, A. L., Buendia, B.,Herrmann, H., Lichter, P., and Olins, D. E., (1998) Retinoic Acid Induction of Nuclear Envelope-limited Chromatin Sheets in HL-60. Exp Cell Res , 245: 91-104.

 

Olins, A. L., Herrmann, H., Lichter, P., and Olins, D. E., (2000) Retinoic Acid Differentiation of HL-60 Cells Promotes Cytoskeletal Polarization. Exp Cell Res , 254: 130-142.

 

Olins, A. L., Herrmann, H., Lichter, P., Kratzmeier, M., Doeneck, D., and Olins, D. E., (2001) Nuclear envelope and chromatin compositional differences comparing undifferentiated and retinoic acid- and phorbol ester-treated HL-60 cells. Exp Cell Res 268: 115-127.

 

Hoffmann K, Dreger C, Olins AL, Olins DE, Shultz LD, Lucke B, Karl H, Kaps R, Mueller D, Vaya A, Aznar J, Ware R, Cruz NS, Lindner TH, Herrmann H, Reis A, Sperling K. (2002) Mutations in the Lamin B receptor gene produce an altered granulocyte nuclear morphology in humans (Pelger Huet Anomaly).  Nature Genet 31: 410-414.

Leonard D. Shultz, Bonnie L. Lyons, Lisa M. Burzenski, Bruce Gott ,  Rebecca Samuels,  Peter A.Schweitzer,  Christine Dreger, Harald Herrmann, Vera Kalscheuer, Ada L. Olins, Donald E. Olins, Karl Sperling and Katrin Hoffman.  (2003) Mutations at the Murine Ichthyosis Locus are within the Lamin B Receptor Gene:  A Single Gene Model for Human Pelger-Huët Anomaly.  Hum Mol Gene 12: 61-69.

Olins DE, and Olins AL, (2003) Chromatin history: our view from the bridge.  Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol  4: 809-814.

 

Olins, A. L., and D. E. Olins (1974) Spheroid chromatin units (nu bodies). Science 183, 330-332.