Specific features of microsporogenesis in the Siberian larch growing under the conditions of technogenic load

Studies of microsporogenesis in the Siberian larch growing in Krasnoyarsk and its suburbs have shown that meiosis starts in October. Microsporocytes winter at prophase I (leptoneme, diploneme). Reduction divisions in male generative buds are resumed and terminated in spring, in March. However, in the case of thaws during the autumn-winter period, meiotic division proceeds in the larch buds and this leads to the formation of degrading tetrads and pollen. Hence, the organic quiescence is absent in the larch in winter. It was shown that in the larch growing in the city, meiosis proceed more asynchronously than in the background tree stands. An increase of chromosomal aberrations during the reduction division was noted under the conditions of technogenic pollution.__________Translated from Ontogenez, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005, pp. 128–134.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Romanova, Tretyakova.     

Evolutionary history of contagious asexuality in Daphnia pulex

Asexual taxa are short-lived, suggesting that transitions to asexuality represent evolutionary dead-ends. However, with high rates of clonal origin and coexistence of asexuals and sexuals via selective asymmetries, asexuality may persist in the long term as a result of a dynamic equilibrium between clonal origin and extinction. Few such systems have been studied in detail. Here, we investigate the evolutionary history of asexual lineages of Daphnia pulex, which are derived from sexual relatives via the inheritance of a dominant female-limited meiosis-suppressing locus and inhabit ponds throughout northeastern North America (NA). Our extensive sampling and subsequent phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial sequence data reveals a young and genetically diverse asexual assemblage, reflecting high rates of clonal origin due to the contagious nature of asexuality. Yet, asexuality is restricted to two phylogroups (B and C) with historical and/or present associations with northeastern NA and is absent from a northwestern phylogroup (A), supporting a recent northeastern origin of asexuality in this species. Furthermore, macrogeographic patterns of genetic variability indicate that phylogroups B and C recolonized northeastern NA from opposite directions, yet their presently overlapping geographic distributions are similarly divided into an eastern asexual and a western sexual region. We attribute these patterns to a recent contagious spread of asexuality from a northeastern source. If environment-mediated selective asymmetries play no significant role in determining the outcome of competitive interactions between sexuals and asexuals, regions of contact may be setting the stage for continued asexual conquests.     

Flavanols in somatic cell division and male meiosis of tea (Camellia sinensis) anthers

Young anthers excised from closed tea flower buds ( Camellia sinensis L.) were stained as fresh tissues with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde reagent to localize flavanols associated with nuclei and chromosomes, apart from those flavanols stored in vacuoles. This staining reagent yields a blue colour for flavanols. In the nonsporogenic somatic cells of developing anthers, flavanols were found to be attached to chromosomes at all mitotic stages. Male meiosis started at a bud size of about 3.5 mm in diameter in pollen mother cells which displayed generally more or less pronounced blue nuclei and cytoplasm. The meiotic divisions from prophase I to telophase II were characterized by blue stained nuclei and chromosomes, but within the cytoplasm there was, if any, a random and very poor reaction for flavanols. Metaphase and telophase of meiotic divisions showed maximally condensed chromosomes staining dark blue. Early in telophase II, the cytoplasm was again stained blue; this faded at late tetrad stage. Flavanols of young mitotic and older non-mitotic anthers were determined using high pressure liquid chromatography--chemical reaction detection (HPLC-CRD). Catechin, epicatechin, B2, and epigallocatechin were minor compounds, whereas epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate were found in higher amounts. The major flavanol compound of the anthers, epicatechin gallate, exhibited a significant affinity to histone sulphate, as shown by UV-VIS spectroscopic titration.     

Cytogenetic Analysis of Experimental Hybrids in Species of Triatominae (Hemiptera-Reduviidae)

A cytogenetic analysis was performed in experimental hybrids between species of Chagas disease transmitting bugs with remarkable differences in the amount and distribution of heterochromatin. Using C-banding technique, we identified the parental species chromosomes and analysed the meiotic behaviour in the male hybrids between Triatoma platensis and T. infestans, T. platensis and T. delpontei, and T. infestans and T. rubrovaria. The two former hybrids have an entirely normal meiotic behaviour despite the extensive differences in C-banded karyotypes observed in the parental species, indicating that heterochromatin differences between homeologous chromosomes are not a barrier that influences meiotic synapsis and recombination. On the contrary, the experimental hybrids between T. infestans and T. rubrovaria show failures in pairing of homeologous chromosomes that lead to the production of abnormal spermatids and hybrid sterility. Our data suggest that karyotypic repatterning within triatomines has involved at least two different pathways. Among closely related species, chromosomal changes have largely involved addition or deletion of heterochromatic regions. In more distant species, chromosomal rearrangements (i.e. inversions and translocations) have also arisen. Hybridisation data also allow to hypothesize about the origin and divergence of this taxonomic group, as well as the mechanisms that maintain species isolation.     

Achiasmatic Male Meiosis in Tenagobia (Fuscagobia) fuscata (Stål) (Heteroptera, Corixoidea, Micronectidae)

Male karyotype and meiosis of Tenagobia fuscata (Corixoidea, Micronectidae) are studied. The species possesses a male diploid chromosome number 2n = 28 + XY, holokinetic chromosomes, absence of m chromosomes and an achiasmatic male meiosis. Autosomes divide pre-reductionally while the sex chromosomes do so post-reductionally. Banding techniques (C, DAPI and CMA) show that large heterochromatic AT-GC rich bands are generally terminally located, although some interstitial bands are also detected. Many bivalents are heteromorphic for heterochromatin amount and location. This is the first report of a species with achiasmatic male meiosis within the Nepomorpha. These cytogenetic features markedly differ from all previous reports for 26 species of the superfamily Corixoidea. T. fuscata occurs in permanent shallow water bodies, and most known individuals are brachypterous. Their dispersion depends on occasional floodings of the water bodies they occupy. Since achiasmatic meiosis maintains groups of co-adapted genes, this feature could be an adaptive strategy of the species to the particular type of habitat and ecological niche it occupies.     

Unique genomic configuration revealed by microsatellite DNA in polyploid dogroses, Rosa sect. Caninae

An allopolyploid complex with high genomic integrity has been studied. Dogroses transmit only seven chromosomes (from seven bivalents) through the pollen, whereas 21, 28 or 35 chromosomes (from seven bivalents and 14, 21 or 28 univalents) come from the egg cells. Seedlings derived from two interspecific crosses were analysed with flow cytometry and molecular markers to determine ploidy level, mode of reproduction and genomic constitution. Evidence was obtained for the formation of unreduced male and female gametes, which can take part in fertilization (producing seedlings with higher ploidy than the parental plants) or in apomictic reproduction. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite analyses indicated that three seedlings (5%) were derived through apomixis, whereas the other 49 were hybrids. Bivalent formation appears to involve chromosomes that consistently share the same microsatellite alleles. Allele-sharing between the maternally transmitted and highly conserved univalent-forming chromosomes reflected the taxonomic distance between different genotypes. The frequently recombining bivalent-forming chromosomes were taxonomically less informative.     

Chromosome or chromatin condensation leads to meiosis or apoptosis in stationary yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells

When starved of essential nutrients, yeast cells cease mitotic division and enter an alternative state called the 'stationary phase'. In this paper, we report that stationary cells enter two major pathways: meiosis and apoptosis. Using transmission electron microscopy, five types of cell were identified in the stationary phase: (1) cells with chromosome condensed nuclei; (2) cells with normal, homogeneously stained nuclei; (3) sporulated cells; (4) apoptotic cells, in which chromatin, but not individual chromosomes, was condensed; and (5) dead cells, in which nuclei and cytoplasm were degraded. Further evidence using live cell imaging and mutation analysis suggested that cells with condensed chromosomes underwent meiosis, whereas chromatin condensed cells underwent apoptotic cell death. Cells with homogeneous nuclei are believed to be in the true resting state and undergo cell death when starvation continues. Chromosome or chromatin condensation may serve as a hallmark of life or death for stationary cells.     

天麻减数分裂观察及染色体构型分析

目的:观察天麻花粉母细胞减数分裂过程中的细胞学特征并分析天麻花粉育性情况。方法:采用压片法,绘制天麻减数分裂图谱,对乌天麻、黄天麻、绿天麻三种变型进行比较。结果:天麻小孢子的形成过程正常,三个变型基本一样。天麻的18个二价体中终变期构型以棒状的最多,占总二价体的77.04%;环状的次之,占18.15%;十字构型形的最少,占4.81%。通过碘-碘化钾染色,天麻花粉的发育正常,92.8%可育。结论:麻减数分裂过程基本正常,这与天麻具有正常的种子繁殖能力是相符的。乌天麻与绿天麻杂交品系的产生,也说明天麻在繁殖能力上是正常的。     

黄芩的花粉母细胞减数分裂及核型分析

采用压片法,对黄芩花粉母细胞减数分裂及核型进行了研究。结果表明:黄芩的大多数花粉母细胞减数分裂中染色体的行为正常,在终变期同源染色体配对后可形成9个二价体,后期Ⅰ染色体以9∶9的方式向细胞两极分离,其减数分裂为同时型;在少数花粉母细胞减数分裂中观察到落后染色体、染色体桥等异常行为;其花粉粒育性为76.49%。黄芩的染色体数目为2n=2X=18,核型公式为K(2n)=2X=18=16m+2 sm,染色体相对长度组成为2n=1 s+4M1+3M2+1L,其核型为"1A"型。