Characterization of a Mutation in Yeast Causing Nonrandom Chromosome Loss during Mitosis

Diploid strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae homozygous for a recessive chromosome loss mutation (chl) exhibit a high degree of mitotic instability. Cells become monosomic for chromosome III at a frequency of approximately one percent of all cell divisions. Chromosome loss at this high frequency is also found for chromosome I, and at lesser frequencies for chromosomes VIII and XVI. In contrast, little or no chromosome loss is found for six other linkage groups tested (II, V, VI, VII, XI and XVII). The chl mutation also induces a ten-fold increase in both intergenic and intragenic mitotic recombination on all ten linkage groups tested. The chl mutation does not cause an increase in spontaneous mutations, nor are mutant strains sensitive to UV or γ irradiation. The effects of chl during meiosis are observed primarily in reduced spore viability. A decrease in chromosome III linkage relationships is also found.     

Formation and Expression of Pseudogenes on the B Chromosome of Rye

B chromosomes (Bs) are dispensable components of the genomes of numerous species. In contrast with the prevalent view that Bs do not harbor genes, our recent sequence analysis revealed that Bs of rye (Secale cereale) are rich in gene-derived sequences. We compared these gene-like fragments of the rye B with their ancestral A-located counterparts and confirmed an A chromosomal origin and the pseudogenization of B-located gene-like fragments. About 15% of the pseudogene-like fragments on Bs are transcribed in a tissue-type and genotype-specific manner. In addition, B-located sequences can cause in trans down- or upregulation of A chromosome–encoded genic fragments. Phenotypes and effects associated with the presence of Bs might be explained by the activity of B-located pseudogenes. We propose a model for the evolution of B-located pseudogenes.     

B Chromosome Behavior in Maize Pollen as Determined by a Molecular Probe

The B chromosomes of maize typically undergo nondisjunction during the second microspore division (generative cell division). When the microspore nucleus contains only one B chromosome, two kinds of sperm result, one with two B chromosomes and one with no B chromosomes. The sperm with the B chromosomes preferentially fertilizes the egg cell. Previous studies of these phenomena have been limited to genetic analysis and chromosome spreads. In this study we show that a B chromosome-specific probe can be used with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis to detect the presence, location, and frequency of B chromosomes in intact interphase nuclei within mature pollen of maize. Using genetic line TB-10L18, our results indicate that nondisjunction of the B centromere occurs at an average frequency of 56.6%, based on four plants and 1306 pollen grains analyzed. This is consistent with the results of genetic studies using the same B-A translocation. In addition, our results suggest that B chromosome nondisjunction can occur during the first microspore division. Spatial distribution of the B chromosome-specific probe appears to be largely confined to one tip of the sperm nucleus, and a DNA fragment found outside the pollen nuclei often hybridizes to the B chromosome-specific probe.     

黑麦6R染色体在小麦背景中的传递

带有６Ｒ的配子传递率普通显著下降。６Ｒ通过雌配子的传递率为８．８％,通过雄配子的传递率为１０．３％,通过花药培养的传递率较高,为２３．３％,但均低于理论值。进一步分析各种配子经花药离体培养的传递率,发现附加型提高最多,正常型次之,缺失型减少最多,代换型次之,说明离体培养对各种配子具有选择作用。另外,还观察到６Ｒ单体附加,６Ｒ＾Ｌ端体单附加和６Ｒ＾Ｌ等臂单附加自交传递率差异不显著。对于影响传递率的各     

Genotypes Suppressing Meiotic Drive of a B Chromosome in the Mealybug, PSEUDOCOCCUS OBSCURUS

The rate of transmission (k) of a supernumerary B chromosome in male mealybugs is shown to depend strongly on the chromosome set of maternal origin. When both parents came from an isofemale line in which the frequency of the B chromosome increased rapidly and stabilized at a mean of more than 4.0 B chromosomes per individual, k was 0.92 and 0.95 in two series of crosses. However, when the female parent came from one of two isofemale lines in which the frequency of the B chromosome decreased from 2.0 to 0 in a few generations, k ranged from 0.53 to 0.78. The high ks, which represent a strong meiotic drive, are apparently responsible for the observed increase in the frequency of the B chromosome in several lines from a mean of about 0.5 to more than 4.0 in about 20 generations. The rapid loss of the B chromosome in other lines is attributed to genetic factors which caused the reduction in the rate of transmission of the B chromosome.     

黑麦6R染色体在小麦背景中的减数分裂行为

减数分裂既是高等生物染色体变异的敏感期,又是变异得以顺利传递给子代的关键期。以黑麦６Ｒ染色体为例,观察其在小麦背景中的减数分裂行为,先是发现６Ｒ抑制小麦同源染色体正常配对,造成单价体数量的增加;同时注意到６Ｒ与其部分同源的小麦染色体６Ｄ几乎不能发生配对。其次是观察到单价体在减数分裂期容易产生断裂的现象,特别是首次发现单价体碎裂,对进一步深入研究异源染色体臂间易位和小片段易位的形成具有借鉴价值。     

The Genomic Quality of Rye B Chromosomes

DNA preparations from rye plants containing 0 and 6B chromosomeswere very similar when assessed by analytical ultraoentrifugation,renaturation kinetics and thermal denaturation. There was asuggestion that B chromosome DNA was slightly richer in sequencesof high cytosine and guanine content than that of the A complement.In situ hybridization showed that the DNA of the rye B chromosomeswas not all highly repetitious. The DNA of these B chromosomesis therefore concluded to be representative of a broad spectrumof DNA similar to the normal genome from which it was presumablyderived.     

Meiotic Nondisjunction and Recombination of Chromosome III and Homologous Fragments in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

A yeast strain, in which nondisjunction of chromosome III at the first-meiotic division could be assayed, was constructed. Using chromosome fragmentation plasmids, chromosomal fragments (CFs) were derived in isogenic strains from six sites along chromosome III and one site on chromosome VII. Whereas the presence of the CFs derived from chromosome III increased considerably the meiosis I nondisjunction of that chromosome, the CF derived from chromosome VII had no effect on chromosome III segregation. The effects of the chromosome III-derived fragments were not linearly related to fragment length. Two regions, one of 12 kb in size located at the left end of the chromosome, and the other of 5 kb, located at the center of the right arm, were found to have profound effects on chromosome III nondisjunction. Most disomics arising from meioses in strains containing chromosome III CFs did not contain the CF; thus it appears that the two chromosome III homologs had segregated away from the CF. Among the disomics, recombination between the homologous chromosomes III was lower than expected from the genetic distance, while recombination between one of the chromosomes III and the fragment was frequent. We suggest that there are sites along the chromosome that are more involved than others in the pairing of homologous chromosomes and that the pairing between fragment and homologs involves recombination among these latter elements.     

Nondisjunction: localization of the controlling site in the maize B chromosome

Nondisjunction of the B chromosome in maize has been considered to be controlled by heterochromatin in its long arm. Experiments reported here indicate that the control site actually lies in a short, relatively euchromatic segment distal to the major heterochromatin of the long arm.     

Dynamic Changes in Nuclear Architecture during Mitosis: On the Role of Protein Phosphorylation in Spindle Assembly and Chromosome Segregation

During mitosis, the vertebrate cell nucleus undergoes profound changes in architecture. At the onset of mitosis, the nuclear envelope breaks down, the nuclear lamina is depolymerized, and interphase chromatin is condensed to chromosomes. Concomitantly, cytoplasmic microtubules are reorganized into a mitotic spindle apparatus, a highly dynamic structure required for the segregation of sister chromatids. Many of the above events are controlled by reversible phosphorylation. Hence, our laboratory is interested in characterizing the kinases involved in promoting progression through mitosis and in identifying their relevant substrates. Prominent among the kinases responsible for regulating entry into mitosis is the Cdc2 kinase, the first member of the cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk) family. Recently, we found that Cdc2 phosphorylates HsEg5, a human kinesin-related motor protein associated with centrosomes and the spindle apparatus. Our results indicate that phosphorylation regulates the association of HsEg5 with the mitotic spindle and that the function of this plus-end directed motor is essential for centrosome separation and bipolar spindle formation. Another kinase implicated in regulating progression through mitosis is Plk1 (polo-like kinase 1), the human homologue of theDrosophilagene product “polo.” By antibody microinjection we have found that Plk1 is required for the functional maturation of centrosomes and hence for entry into mitosis. Furthermore, we found that microinjected anti-Plk1 antibodies caused a more severe block to cell cycle progression in diploid fibroblasts than in immortalized tumor cells. This observation hints at the existence of a checkpoint linking Cdc2 activation to the presence of functional centrosomes.     

Different Pollen Deposition Mechanism in Forest: a Simple Model

Pollen deposition is dependent on the pollen production of the nearest trees and on the structure of the canopy. It continues after flowering, and great quantities of pollen are deposited also during winter time and early spring. Therefore a "deposition year" is proposed as a basis for calculation of annual deposition. The deposition year in the forest can be divided in one floral and two post-floral deposition periods, each deposition having a characteristic trend. The flowering period is characterized by a sharp peak, the canopy cleaning deposition by a decreasing curve immediately after the flowering; the litter deposition peaks are more or less randomly distributed through the rest of the year. Part of the litter deposition is the pollen on leaves which are shed in the autum, another part is the pollen on seeds, twigs, etc. Large amounts of such pollen are deposited even in wintertime.     

一个小麦/黑麦小片段染色体易位系的创制和鉴定

从来源于组合中国春×M27(1R/1D代换系)的8个花粉植株中,分离获得1个小麦/黑麦小片段染色体易位系WER-1-2。C-分带和荧光原位杂交结果显示,衍生出易位系WER-1-2的原始麦穗含有1条完整的1R染色体和1条长臂端部发生缺失的1R染色体,所缺失部分易位到1条小麦染色体上。推断该易位是在花药离体培养过程中经异常有丝分裂产生的,而非异常减数分裂的产物。表明花药培养是一条实现异源染色体小片段(基因)向小麦转移的快速而有效的途径。     

The Fructose Transport Mechanism in Microsomal Membrane Vesicles from Rye Roots

In a fructose-containing medium in which rye root-microsomal membrane vesicles had reached the equilibrium of uptake of fructose, the presence of both Mg²⁺ and ATP caused the efflux of fructose from the vesicles. Among nucleotides examined, ATP caused the largest efflux of fructose. The efflux of fructose dependent on Mg²⁺ and ATP was quite insensitive to a protonophore, carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), which actually abolished MgATP-dependent proton accumulation in the vesicles, while it was largely inhibited by vanadate, which inhibits ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABCTs). The Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) of the efflux of fructose was 0.4 mM. It was observed that fructose stimulated the ATPase activity of the vesicles and that vanadate markedly decreased the fructose-stimulated ATPase activity. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mitosis: MCAK under the aura of Aurora B

Two new studies show that phosphorylation by Aurora B kinase controls the centromere localization and catalytic activity of the microtubule depolymerase MCAK. Physical tension from microtubule attachment may influence access of MCAK to Aurora B kinase and its opposing phosphatases.     

黑麦6R抗白粉病基因向小麦的渗进与鉴定

为了将黑麦６Ｒ染色体上抗小麦白粉病的基因导入小麦,选用了一个６Ｒ／６Ｄ代换系Ｍ２４为亲本之一,分别与小麦栽培品种和第６部分同源群缺体系杂交,杂种出现６Ｒ或／或６Ａ,６Ｂ,６Ｄ单,双或三单体等各种情况,取其花药进行培养,共获得２４１个再生植株,对其中３２个抗白粉病的花粉植株经染色体计数,Ｃ－分带,基因组原位杂交,同工酶等电聚焦电泳和或／ＲＦＬＰ分子标记检测,发现有６株仍保持为６Ｒ／６Ｄ代换系,有１０     

The P Body Protein Dcp1a Is Hyper-phosphorylated during Mitosis

Processing bodies (PBs) are non-membranous cytoplasmic structures found in all eukaryotes. Many of their components such as the Dcp1 and Dcp2 proteins are highly conserved. Using live-cell imaging we found that PB structures disassembled as cells prepared for cell division, and then began to reassemble during the late stages of cytokinesis. During the cell cycle and as cells passed through S phase, PB numbers increased. However, there was no memory of PB numbers between mother and daughter cells. Examination of hDcp1a and hDcp1b proteins by electrophoresis in mitotic cell extracts showed a pronounced slower migrating band, which was caused by hyper-phosphorylation of the protein. We found that hDcp1a is a phospho-protein during interphase that becomes hyper-phosphorylated in mitotic cells. Using truncations of hDcp1a we localized the region important for hyper-phosphorylation to the center of the protein. Mutational analysis demonstrated the importance of serine 315 in the hyper-phosphorylation process, while other serine residues tested had a minor affect. Live-cell imaging demonstrated that serine mutations in other regions of the protein affected the dynamics of hDcp1a association with the PB structure. Our work demonstrates the control of PB dynamics during the cell cycle via phosphorylation.     

The Irradiation of Dividing Cells: Changes in Sensitivity to X-Rays during Mitosis

Roots of Vicia faba were given combined X-ray and colchicinetreatments. Breaks were not visible immediately after irradiation,even at metaphase. Breaks and reunions were, therefore, scoredlater in 2x nuclei, and in the 4x nuclei derived from 2x nucleiafter colchicine treatment. It was shown that metaphase is themost sensitive stage of mitosis Breaks per chromosome are less frequent in 4x nuclei than in2x nuclei after irradiation of resting stage. This apparentphysiological difference between the two types of nuclei mayaffect either the frequency of breakage or of restitution. Afterthe irradiation of prophase, metaphase, or telophase cells,however, breaks per chromosome are more frequent in the 4x nucleithan they are in 2x nuclei in the same sample owing to the factthat the 2x, unlike the 4x nuclei, are not accurately timed.They must include cells irradiated during the less sensitiveresting stage. Chromosome reunion occurred, probably at telophase. Chromatidreunion and sister reunion did not occur frequently. Chromatidbreaks, like chromatid reunions, were infrequent except afterirradiation of resting stage cells. The evidence indicates thatthe chromosome, at metaphase just as at resting stage, reactsto X-rays as a single functional unit.     

黑麦1R染色体微克隆文库的构建与分析

通过玻璃针分离法 ,从黑麦 (SecalecerealeL .)根尖细胞中期分裂相中显微分离出 2条及 5条 1R染色体。经Sau3A接头介导的PCR(LA_PCR)方法对其进行体外扩增 ,得到了 0 .3～ 2 .5kb之间的DNA片段。以DIG标记的探针进行多次Southern杂交 ,证明显微分离出的染色体的体外扩增产物与黑麦基因组DNA同源 ,并且来自 1R染色体。然后利用 5条 1R染色体的第二轮PCR产物构建质粒文库 ,可得到 2 2 0 0 0 0个重组子。随机挑选 172个重组子进行分析 ,发现插入片段主要介于 30 0～ 180 0bp之间。此外 ,根据基因组点杂交结果推算出该文库包含约 42 %的中、高重复序列和 5 8%的单、低拷贝序列 ,而且文库的冗余度较低。研究构建的黑麦 1R染色体微克隆文库为 1R染色体高密度遗传图谱的建立以及位于其上的重要基因的定位与分离提供了便利。