Chromosomes of the Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak): Comeback

Cell and Tissue Biology - The chromosomes of the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak, 2n = 6 in females and 2n = 7 in males) are described using the methods of G-, C-, CDAG-, and AgNOR-staining, and...     

Comparative genomic analysis links karyotypic evolution with genomic evolution in the Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis)

The karyotype of Indian muntjacs (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis) has been greatly shaped by chromosomal fusion, which leads to its lowest diploid number among the extant known mammals. We present, here, comparative results based on draft sequences of 37 bacterial artificial clones (BAC) clones selected by chromosome painting for this special muntjac species. Sequence comparison on these BAC clones uncovered sequence syntenic relationships between the muntjac genome and those of other mammals. We found that the muntjac genome has peculiar features with respect to intron size and evolutionary rates of genes. Inspection of more than 80 pairs of orthologous introns from 15 genes reveals a significant reduction in intron size in the Indian muntjac compared to that of human, mouse, and dog. Evolutionary analysis using 19 genes indicates that the muntjac genes have evolved rapidly compared to other mammals. In addition, we identified and characterized sequence composition of the first BAC clone containing a chromosomal fusion site. Our results shed new light on the genome architecture of the Indian muntjac and suggest that chromosomal rearrangements have been accompanied by other salient genomic changes. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.Qi Zhou, Ling Huang, Jianguo Zhang: these authors contributed equally to the paper.Sequence data from this article have been deposited in the GenBank Libraries under Accession No. DQ280153-DQ280188, DQ377335, DQ458964.     

海南大田保护区内赤麂的种群数量和特征

20 0 1年10月至2 0 0 2年9月在海南大田国家级自然保护区采用直接观察和在不同生境类型分层抽样进行网捕的方法研究了保护区内赤麂种群的数量、年龄结构、群体大小和组成等。结果显示,赤麂主要生活在落叶季雨林和有刺灌丛中,种群数量为716 13±4 7 6 2只,种群密度为5 4 5±3 6只/km2 。该种群的年龄结构呈倒三角形,成体最多,占6 2 5 0 % ,亚成体占2 8 85 % ,幼体最少,占9 6 2 %。成年个体的雌雄性比是1 32∶1 0 0 ,亚成体为1 5 0∶1 0 0 ,幼体是1 5 0∶1 0 0。群平均大小为1 32只,其中独居个体最多,占总观察次数的6 8 31% ;2只群次之,占31 15 % ;3只群最少,占0 5 5 % ;没有观察到3只以上的群     

利用染色体涂染方法建立人和白眉长臂猿(Hylobates hoolock)的比较染色体图谱

除人Y染色体外,本文采用生物素标记的人全部整条染色体特异探针与白眉长臂猿(Hylobates hoolock)有丝分裂中期分裂相进行染色体原位杂交即染色体涂染法以研究人和白眉长臂猿染色体之间的同源性。在白眉长臂猿18对常染色体上检测出了与人22对常染色体同源的59对染色体片段,确定了人和白眉长臂猿之间的精度较高的染色体连锁群。结果表明:自人与白眉长臂猿的祖先分歧以来,大量的染色体间重排(至少发生了39次易位)和染色体内的重排导致了二者核型的差异。根据杂交结果绘制了首份人和白眉长臂猿比较染色体图谱,并结合已有的人和白掌长臂猿(Hylobates lar)(2n=44)和合趾长臂猿(Hylobates syndactylus)(2n=50)的比较染色体图谱对长臂猿属的染色体进化作了初步的探讨。     

应用染色体涂染法建立人和黑叶猴(Semnopithecus francoisi)的染色体同源性

应用荧光原位杂交技术中的染色体涂染法（Chromosomepainting）,以生物素标记的除Y染色体外的人全部整条染色体DNA特异性探针与黑叶猴的中期分裂相杂交,建立了人与黑叶猴之间的染色体同源性。除人的1、2、6、16和19号染色体特异探针分别与黑叶猴的2条非同源的染色体杂交外,其余人染色体特异探针均与黑叶猴的1条染色体杂交,其中有两对人染色体特异探针（14和15,21和22）分别杂交同一条黑叶猴染色体。在雌性黑叶猴的单倍染色体中,共检测到30个与人染色体具同源性的染色体和染色体片段。结果表明：黑叶猴的多数染色体与人染色体有高度同源性,仅有少数染色体发生了重排。将研究的结果与已报道的人染色体特异探针与其他灵长类的中期染色体杂交的结果进行比较,可以看出亚洲叶猴之间的相互关系较与非洲叶猴的更为密切。     

Heterochromatin organization in the nucleus of Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak)

The heterochromatin in Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) is located at the periphery of primary constrictions of all the chromosomes. The X chromosome contains significantly larger amounts of heterochromatin than the rest of the complement by C-banding technique. However, the small portion of C-band region was found to be resistant by restriction endonuclease HaeIII (5'...GG decreases CC...3') and was clearly visible on the nucleus. Therefore, the position of this large heterochromatic segment is examined at somatic metaphases. The distribution of the heterochromatin of the X chromosome observed in Indian muntjac is contrary to the general pattern observed in other species, i.e., the chromosomes consisting greater amount of heterochromatin are located more peripherally than those with lesser amount. However, the smaller Y chromosome (Y1) is frequently found at the periphery. The present findings suggest that the role of heterochromatin organization in the nucleus vary between different heterochromatic segments of the same species and vary from species to species.     

Structural organization of chromosomes of the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak)

The identification, morphology, and banding pattern of the chromosomes of the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) are described. A diagrammatic representation of the banding pattern as revealed by various techniques is presented following the nomenclature suggested by Paris Conference (1971) for human chromosomes. The Y2 chromosome and the neck of the X chromosome are late replicating based on observations made with the use of a bromodeoxuridine plus Giemsa technique. Most of the G-bands are early replicating, contrary to earlier findings based on autoradiography.     

黑麂睾丸及精子的形态学观察

研究了成年雄性黑麂(Muntiacus crinifrons)的睾丸和附睾尾精子形态.Gimsa染色后在显微镜下观察了黑麂精子的顶体形态,统计了顶体畸形和原生质滴存在情况,并与成年黄淮山羊(Copra hircus)的睾丸进行了对比.结果发现.黑麂睾丸长轴4.25 cm,短轴2.05 cm,明显低于成年黄淮山羊睾丸.黑麂精子长54.80 μm,顶体呈圆柱形,顶体约覆盖精子头部的2/3,这个比例明显高于黄淮山羊.黑麂精子畸形率为21.50%,附睾尾部的精子活力为0.20,附睾尾精子原生质滴率为30.17%,顶体异常率为30.50%,与黄淮山羊基本接近.本实验为进一步研究黑麂的繁殖性能和保护提供了参考.     

基于粪便DNA的小麂亲权鉴定和婚配制研究

2014年4月至2015年1月,在古田山国家级自然保护区内共收集634份粪便样本,2份肌肉样本。通过严格筛选,最终获得390份可用于PCR扩增的样本。用多态性较高的8个微卫星位点进行基因型分型,共识别出177个小麂个体。SRY基因性别鉴定显示研究样本中雄性84只,雌性93只。所使用的8个微卫星位点在177个样本中,平均等位基因数(A)为11,平均观测杂合度(Ho)在0.960—1.000之间,平均值为0.9685,平均期望杂合度(He)在0.799—0.887之间,平均值为0.8429,多态信息含量(PIC)在0.766—0.872之间,平均多态信息含量为0.8214,基因杂合度水平较高,为遗传多样性丰富的种群。采用Cervus3.0进行亲权分析,当置信度为95%和80%时,8个微卫星位点的鉴定率均达到100%。共鉴定出父-母-子24对,母-子23对,父-子19对,涉及到104只个体。根据亲缘关系分析小麂的婚配制,结果发现小麂的婚配制属于1雄多雌,但并不是目前所知的亚型,而可能是一种被称作"检查策略"的一雄多雌制。     

赤麂线粒体全基因组的序列和结构

提取赤麂细胞株总DNA,参照我们实验室已测定的同属动物小麂线粒体全基因组序列设计引物,PCR扩增、测序、拼接,获得赤麂线粒体全基因组序列并进行生物信息学分析。赤麂线粒体全基因组序列全长16354bp。定位了22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因、13个蛋白编码基因和1个D-loop区。赤麂与小麂及其它哺乳动物线粒体的基因组结构相同,它们的序列同源性都较高。     

比较染色体涂色显示小熊猫(Ailurus fulgens)具有高度保守的核型

以狗的整条染色体特异探针,通过比较染色体涂色（Comparative Chromosome Painting）,建立了小熊猫和狗的比较染色体图谱。狗的38条常染色体探针在小熊猫染色体上共检出71个同源片段。其中狗的18条常染色体每一条在小熊猫染色全上各有1个同源片段,其余的20条常染色体每一条在小熊猫染色体上各有2至5个同源片段。广泛的染色体结构重排造成了小熊猫与狗的核型差异：至少需要经过28次断裂,49次融合,4次倒位才能将狗的核型（2n=78）“转变”为小熊猫的核型（2n=36）。结合已发表的狗与家猫的比较染色体图谱,我们推测：小熊猫与家猫之间共存在26个同源片段,二者的核型之间显示了较高的同源性。通过比较分析狗的染色体同源片段在小熊猫与家猫染色体上的分布和排列,可以看出：4次染色体易拉,2次倒位造成了小熊猫与家猫的核型差异。我们的工作进一步证实了利用基因组高度重排的物种（如：狗）的染色体特异探针与核型保守的物种（如：家猫、水貂、小熊猫）进行比较染色体涂色研究,不但可以准确快速地鉴别物种进化过程中所发生的染色体间的结构重排,而且还可揭示染色体内的结构重组。     

Apoptosis Susceptibility Genes on Mouse Chromosome 9 (Rapop2) and Chromosome 3 (Rapop3)

The strain distribution pattern of susceptibility to thymocyte apoptosis induced by ionizing radiation in 20 CcS/Dem recombinant congenic (RC) strains derived from the strains BALB/cHeA (susceptible) and STS/A (resistant) indicates that this trait is controlled by several genes. Recently, we mapped a novel apoptosis susceptibility gene Rapop1 (radiation-induced apoptosis 1) to chromosome 16 (N. Mori et al., 1995, Genomics 25: 604-614). In the present study, the analysis of F2 crosses between the resistant RC strain CcS-8 and the susceptible strain BALB/cHeA or the highly susceptible RC strain CcS-10 demonstrated two additional apoptosis susceptibility genes, Rapop2 and Rapop3, located in the proximal region of chromosome 9 and the telomeric region of chromosome 3, respectively. The possible candidate genes for these loci are discussed.     

Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis: Trophozoite growth inhibition by metronidazole electro-transferred water

The influence of low-frequency electromagnetic (LF-EM) waves on microorganisms has been a subject of experimental investigations for more than two decades and the results are promising. In parallel, an interesting procedure known as biophysical-information-therapy or bioresonance therapy (BRT) which in principle is based on LF-EM stimulation, has emerged. BRT was discovered in the late 1980’s but it is still poorly studied. This paper demonstrates that by transferring metronidazole information to water samples by an electronic amplifier (BRT device), the growth of axenically cultured trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonasvaginalis is significantly inhibited, compared with those cultures treated with non and sham electro-transferred water samples. A positive control of metronidazole, a well-known cytotoxic drug against parasites, was used as a reference.     

Screening for Booroola (FecB) and Galway (FecX) mutations in Indian sheep

This study reports the status of the Booroola (FecB) and Galway (FecX^G) mutations in Indian sheep breeds. The Kendrapada sheep (n = 46) was genotyped for the presence of FecB and FecX^G mutations, while the Garole (n = 34), Malpura (n = 30), and Decanni sheep (n = 15) for the FecX^G mutation. The FecB and FecX^G genotyping was carried out by forced restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR technique. In the present study, FecB mutation was discovered in the Kendrapada sheep of Orissa, which is now the second prolific sheep of India after the Garole. Out of 46 individuals of Kendrapada sheep, 26 were homozygous (BB), 15 heterozygous (B+) and 5 non-carriers (++) for the FecB mutation. The frequency of the FecB allele in this sample was about 0.73. Results indicated that the frequency of the FecB mutation is high, but the gene is not fixed in the population as reported in Garole sheep. None of sheep breeds carried the FecX^G mutation. The discovery of the FecB mutation in Kendrapada sheep will facilitate the use of FecB allele in improving the prolificacy of non-prolific sheep breeds of India.     

Comparative Chromosome Painting in Six Species of Oligoryzomys (Rodentia,Sigmodontinae) and the Karyotype Evolution of the Genus

Oligoryzomys belongs to the tribe Oryzomyini, and contains about 22 species. Diploid numbers range from 2n = 44 in Oligoryzomys sp. 2 to 2n = 72 in O. utiaritensis and phylogenetic relationships are not well defined. The high morphological convergence leads to misidentification of taxonomic entities and the species are often identified by chromosomal characters. Until now, the genus has been studied only by classical cytogenetic approaches. To understand the chromosomal evolution of Oligoryzomys, we developed chromosome probes from a female of Oligoryzomys moojeni (OMO) with 2n = 70 and hybridized to other five Oligoryzomys species. The probes painted 31 segments on O. fornesi (OFO) with 2n = 62; 32 segments on O. microtis (OMI), 2n = 64; 33 segments on O. nigripes (ONI), 2n = 62 and on O. rupestris (ORU), 2n = 46; and 34 on Oligoryzomys sp. 2 (OSP), 2n = 44. OMO probes 4 and 5 showed a syntenic association in O. fornesi, O. microtis and O. nigripes and were also presented in the same pair, although disrupted, in O. rupestris and Oligoryzomys sp. 2. Concerning O. rupestris and Oligoryzomys sp. 2, species with the lowest diploid numbers of the genus, a total of 8 probes hybridized to 11 segments on the largest pair of ORU 1 and 9 probes hybridized to 12 segments on OSP 1. Also, OMO 6 painted three segments in ORU, corresponding to the proximal segment of ORU 2q, and the whole of ORU 19 and 20. In OSP, the segment corresponding to ORU 20 was homologous to OSP 1p. OMO X showed signals of hybridization in both X and Y chromosomes. Extensive chromosomal rearrangements, that could not be detected by classical cytogenetic techniques, such as pericentric inversions or repositioning of centromeres, Robertsonian rearrangements and tandem fusions/fissions, as well as gain/activation or loss/inactivation of centromeres and telomeric sequences have driven the huge genome reshuffling in these closely related species.