A map of rye chromosome 4R with cytological and isozyme markers

The progeny of two crosses between a structural heterozygote for a reciprocal translocation (4RL/5RL) and a homozygote for the standard chromosome arrangement and of four crosses between standard chromosome homozygotes were analysed in rye (Secale cereale L. cv Ailés) for the electrophoretic patterns of five different leaf and endosperm isozymes (LAP, PGM, NDH, ADH and EPER). The presence or absence of the quadrivalents at metaphase I (MI) was also tested. Loci Adh-1, Pgm-1 and Ndh-1 were located on chromosome arm 4RS, and locus Eper-1 on chromosome arm 4RL. Locus Lap-2 was located on the 4RS chromosome arm. The estimated distances among the different linked loci support the following gene order: Eper1¨ (breakpoint-centromere)¨Lap-2¨ ¨Adh-1 ¨Pgm-1¨Ndh-1. These results provide evidence for the chromosomal location of Lap-2 locus on chromosome arm 4RS in cv Ailés. A high negative interference was detected between the zones delimited by centromere and Lap-2, and Lap-2 and Pgm-1 in plants with the 4RL/5RL translocation.Abbreviations LAP leucine aminopeptidase - PGM phosphoglucomutase - NDH NADH dehydrogenase - ADH alchohol dehydrogenase - EPER endosperm peroxidase     

Population polymorphism of silver-stained nucleolar organizer chromosome regions in man

Activity of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) of acrocentric chromosomes determined by Ag-staining was comparatively studied in 40 individuals of Bulgarian and 40 individuals of Russian populations. Chromosome 21 was found to be significantly more often stained in both populations. The other NORs did not differ significantly in staining from the means. No differences were noted between individual NORs, in respect of the intensity of Ag-staining in both populations, except chromosome 15 which showed markedly decreased staining capacity in Russians. The data obtained are compared with those published in literature concerning four other populations.     

A cytological map of the human X chromosome--evidence for non-random recombination

The cytological location of six cloned DNA sequences on the human X chromosome has been determined to a high resolution by direct hybridisation 'in situ' to metaphase chromosomes. Each locus has been identified using clones which also detect restriction fragment length polymorphisms by Southern hybridisation. The six loci identified are spaced along the chromosome from Xp22 to Xq28. By combining data obtained using this powerful sequence localisation technique with that from hybrid cell panels and from family studies, it is possible to compare physical and genetic distances, and to demonstrate that the frequency of reciprocal genetic exchange is not uniform along the chromosome length.     

A consensus linkage map for swine chromosome 7

The First International Workshop on Swine Chromosome 7 (SSC7) was held in Minnesuing, Wisconsin, USA on 21–24 September 1995. The objective was to develop a comprehensive linkage map for porcine chromosome 7 by combining genotypic data from four swine reference populations. Contributions of genotypic data were made from the US Meat Animal Research Center, the University of Minnesota, the PiGMaP consortium and the Scandinavian consortium. Primers for selected sequence tagged site markers, to be genotyped across the reference populations, were exchanged to integrate individual maps of SSC7. Eighty-six loci were genotyped; these loci represented microsatellite, minisatellite, single-strand conformation polymorphism, restriction fragment length polymorphism, erythrocyte antigen and protein polymorphisms. Eighteen genes were mapped, including 12 markers within class I, class II and class III regions (four markers in each class) of the swine major histocompatibility complex. Forty-two markers were either genotyped on more than one population or were included in a haplotype system and used to develop skeletal linkage maps that spanned 147·6, 212·7 and 179·5 cM for the male, female and sex-average maps, respectively. A comprehensive linkage map was developed incorporating those markers with more than 30 informative meioses. The comprehensive map was slightly longer than the skeletal map, at 153·3, 215·3 and 183·8 cM, respectively, with only three intervals greater than 10 cM. These results significantly improve the genetic resolution of the porcine chromosome 7 map and represent an accurate approach for the merging of genetic maps produced in different reference populations.     

A physical map of the chromosome 12 centromere

While current sequencing efforts consider the detection of alpha satellite repeats as logical end points for map construction, detailed maps of most pericentromeric regions are lacking to confirm this hypothesis. Here we identify the different alpha satellite families present at the pericentromeric region of chromosome 12. The order, size and location of these repeats is established using radiation hybrid analysis, pulsed field gel analysis and FISH and the maps are integrated with current sequence information. For the different classes of alpha satellites present at the chromosome 12 centromere the paralogs in the human genome were mapped by FISH. Unique sequences flanking the alpha satellite repeats were identified, some of which are not represented in the current draft sequence. This mapping effort localises the different alpha satellite repeats within the pericentromeric region and anchors them in the current maps. The novel sequences identified may serve as the end point for the ongoing sequencing efforts.     

A long Y chromosome in man

Summary An unusually long Y chromosome was described in the phenotypically normal father and paternal grandfather of a girl with Down's syndrome, and likewise in a male infant with multiple malformations and his father, normal in phenotype. Measurements revealed that the long Y chromosome corresponded in length to autosomes of group 16–18.Information was obtained to show that the increased length of the Y chromosome was an inheritable character, and that a long Y chromosome was not always associated with an abnormal phenotype (or phenotypes).Contribution No. 585 from the Zoological Institute, Hokkaido University.     

A complete physical map of a Bacillus thuringiensis chromosome.

Bacillus thuringiensis is the source of the most widely used biological pesticide, through its production of insecticidal toxins. The toxin genes are often localized on plasmids. We have constructed a physical map of a Bacillus thuringiensis chromosome by aligning 16 fragments obtained by digestion with the restriction enzyme NotI. The fragments ranged from 15 to 1,350 kb. The size of the chromosome was 5.4 Mb. The NotI DNA fingerprint patterns of 12 different B. thuringiensis strains showed marked variation. The cryIA-type toxin gene was present on the chromosome in four strains, was extrachromosomal in four strains, and was both chromosomal and extrachromosomal in two strains. A Tn4430 transposon probe hybridized to 5 of the 10 cryIA-positive chromosomal fragments, while cryIA and the transposon often hybridized to different extrachromosomal bands. Ten of the strains were hemolytic when grown on agar plates containing human erythrocytes. Nine of the strains were positive when assayed for the presence of Bacillus cereus enterotoxin. We conclude that B. thuringiensis is very closely related to B. cereus and that the distinction between B. cereus and B. thuringiensis should be reconsidered.     

A primary genetic linkage map for human chromosome 12

A primary genetic map for human chromosome 12 has been constructed from data on 23 restriction fragment length polymorphic systems collected in 38 normal families with large sibships. Linkage analysis of the genotypic data has ordered 16 loci into a continuous genetic map of 111 cM in males and 258 cM in females. Although most of the genetic map reflects a higher rate of recombination in females relative to males, significantly more frequent recombination was observed in males than in females in intervals between loci on the distal portion of the short arm of the chromosome. The mapping data shown here will serve as a first step toward a high-resolution genetic map for human chromosome 12.     

A genetic linkage map of chromosome 17

We have developed a genetic linkage map of 19 markers (including nine genes) on human chromosome 17, providing 13 reference points along virtually the entire length of this chromosome. The map covers an estimated 149 cM in length (sex-averaged), with a total length of 214 cM in females and 95 cM in males. This sex difference appears to be significant along virtually the entire length of the map. This map will be useful both for providing reference points for fine structure genetic and physical mapping and for genetic linkage studies of diseases, including von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.     

A nucleolar protein RRS1 contributes to chromosome congression

We report here the functional analysis of human Regulator of Ribosome Synthesis 1 (RRS1) protein during mitosis. We demonstrate that RRS1 localizes in the nucleolus during interphase and is distributed at the chromosome periphery during mitosis. RNA interference experiments revealed that RRS1-depleted cells show abnormalities in chromosome alignment and spindle organization, which result in mitotic delay. RRS1 knockdown also perturbs the centromeric localization of Shugoshin 1 and results in premature separation of sister chromatids. Our results suggest that a nucleolar protein RRS1 contributes to chromosome congression.     

A genetic linkage map of markers for human chromosome 20

A continuous genetic linkage map with five polymorphic DNA markers, including one that defines a locus containing a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR), has been constructed from genotypic analysis of 59 large reference families. The map spans a genetic distance of 105 cM in males and 115 cM in females and provides initial anchor points for a high-resolution map of human chromosome 20.     

A fine physical map of the rice chromosome 5

A fine physical map of the rice (Oryza sativa spp. Japonica var. Nipponbare) chromosome 5 with bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) and PI-derived artificial chromosome (PAC) clones was constructed through integration of 280 sequenced BAC/PAC clones and 232 sequence tagged site/expressed sequence tag markers with the use of fingerprinted contig data of the Nipponbare genome. This map consists of five contigs covering 99% of the estimated chromosome size (30.08 Mb). The four physical gaps were estimated at 30 and 20 kb for gaps 1–3 and gap 4, respectively. We have submitted 42.2-Mb sequences with 29.8 Mb of nonoverlapping sequences to public databases. BAC clones corresponding to telomere and centromere regions were confirmed by BAC-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on a pachytene chromosome. The genetically centromeric region at 54.6 cM was covered by a minimum tiling path spanning 2.1 Mb with no physical gaps. The precise position of the centromere was revealed by using three overlapping BAC/PACs for ~150 kb. In addition, FISH results revealed uneven chromatin condensation around the centromeric region at the pachytene stage. This map is of use for positional cloning and further characterization of the rice functional genomics. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users. Chia-Hsiung Cheng and Mei-Chu Chung have equal contributions.