nucleolus

American  

[noo-klee-uh-luhs, nyoo-] / nuˈkli ə ləs, nyu- /

noun

Cell Biology.

plural

nucleoli

1. a conspicuous, rounded body within the nucleus of a cell.

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nucleolus British  

/ ˌnjuːklɪˈəʊləs /

noun

1. Also called: nucleole.  a small rounded body within a resting nucleus that contains RNA and proteins and is involved in the production of ribosomes

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nucleolus Scientific  

/ no̅o̅-klē′ə-ləs /

plural

nucleoli

1. A small, typically spherical granular body located in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, composed largely of protein and RNA. When the cell is not undergoing division, loops of DNA from one or more chromosomes extend into the nucleolus and direct the synthesis of ribosomal RNA and the formation of ribosomes. The ribosomes are eventually transferred out of the nucleus via pores in the nuclear envelope into the cytoplasm.

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Other Word Forms

• nucleolar adjective

Etymology

Origin of nucleolus

1835–45; < Late Latin: small kernel, equivalent to nucle ( us ) kernel ( nucleus ) + -olus -ole ¹

Example Sentences

"I was excited that we could connect the structure of the nucleolus with the repair process in a way that could be conserved from yeast to humans," said Dr. Gutierrez.

From Science Daily

This caused RAG1 to get trapped within cell nucleoli instead of facilitating the gene rearrangements that build immune diversity.

From Science Daily

The community of molecules that come together enables emergent properties in the condensates, like internal pH in nucleoli.

From Science Daily

All of these stubby arms huddle together to form a structure called the nucleolus, in which DNA is transcribed into ribosomal RNA, which then folds into the ribosomal machinery that makes proteins.

From Science Daily

All eukaryotes have the exact same set of organelles familiar to anyone who has studied cell biology: nucleus, nucleolus, ribosomes, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, cytoskeleton, lysosome and centriole.

From Scientific American