Backward chromosome movement in crane-fly spermatocytes after UV microbeam irradiation of the interzone and a kinetochore

Single anaphase chromosomes (in crane-fly spermatocytes) moved backwards after double irradiations with an ultraviolet light (UV) microbeam, first of the interzone and then of a kinetochore: the chromosome irradiated at the kinetochore moved backwards rapidly, across the equator and into the other half-spindle. High irradiation doses at the kinetochore were required to induce backward movement. Single irradiations of kinetochores or interzones were ineffective in inducing backward movements.     

Chromosome sorting of primates: Isolation and identification of Y chromosome in green monkeys

Single laser flow cytometry was applied to the karyotype analysis of green monkeys. Clear sex difference in flow karyotype was recognized in this monkey, because Y chromosome could be identified as a single peak in the histogram of male specimens. We could isolate Y chromosome of this species by the use of a cell sorter, and demonstrate by polymerase chain reaction that the sorted-out chromosomes contained the Y chromosome specific nucleotide sequence (SRY). This chromosome sorting technique provides a powerful strategy for constructing the DNA library specific to Y chromosome in this species.     

Construction and application of a full-coverage, high-resolution, human chromosome 8q genomic microarray for comparative genomic hybridization.

BACKGROUND: Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) enables genome-wide quantitative delineation of genomic imbalances. A high-resolution contig array was developed specifically for chromosome 8q because this chromosome arm is frequently altered in many human cancers. METHODS: A minimal tiling path contig of 702 8q-specific bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones was generated with a novel computational tool (BAC Contig Assembler). BAC clones were amplified by degenerative oligonucleotide primer (DOP) polymerase chain reaction and subsequently printed onto glass slides. For validation of the array DNA samples of gastroesophageal and prostate cancer cell lines, and chronic myeloid leukemia specimens were used, which were previously characterized by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization and conventional CGH. RESULTS: Single and double copy gains were confidently demonstrated with the 8q array. Single copy loss and high-level amplifications were accurately detected and confirmed by bicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments. The 8q array was further tested with paraffin-embedded prostate cancer specimens. In these archival specimens, the copy number changes were confirmed. In fresh and archival samples, additional alterations were disclosed. In comparison with conventional CGH, the resolution of the detected changes was much improved, which was demonstrated by an amplicon of 0.7 Mb and a deletion of 0.6 Mb, both spanned by only six BAC clones. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive array is presented, which provides a high-resolution method for mapping copy number alterations on chromosome 8q.     

番木瓜单染色体的显微分离与克隆

用玻璃针显微分离出番木瓜(CaricapapayaL.)单染色体,经过LA-PCR扩增得到80-700bp的DNA片段。Southern杂交表明,扩增片段与番木瓜基因组DNA之间有同源性,从而证明番木瓜单染色体DNA已经被成功扩增。将扩增产物克隆到pGEM-T-Easy载体中,约获得1.18×105个克隆,酶切鉴定插入片段大小为100-400bp。     

黑麦1R染色体的显微分离、体外扩增及扩增产物的鉴定

借助Leitz显微操作器,在国产倒置显微镜下(400×)用玻璃针对处于有丝分裂中期的黑麦根尖细胞中的1R染色体成功地进行了分离。分离出来的1R染色体转入0.5 ml的Eppendorf管中,用蛋白酶K处理,把DNA释放出来;经Sau3A酶切,再与人工合成的Sau3A连接头连接;以连接头的一条链的核苷酸顺序片段为引物对DNA酶切片段进行了PCR扩增。琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示扩增产物的长度大约为300~1000 bp。以生物素分别标记的黑麦总体DNA和小麦rDNA为探针进行斑点杂交,结果表明PCR扩增产物确实来源于黑麦的1R染色体DNA。这个方法为构建黑麦1R染色体亚基因组文库和筛选1R染色体特异性探针奠定了基础。     

Single cell translocations in couples with multiple spontaneous abortions

Summary Single cell translocations have been previously reported to occur in normal lymphocyte cultures. Comparison of the frequency of these in 140 individuals referred for a history of multiple miscarriages and 415 individuals referred for other reasons showed a significantly greater number of single cell translocations in the former group. This group also had a significantly greater number of other types of single cell structural abnormalities. Increased chromosome instability, chromosome mosaicism, residual fetal trophoblasts, and immunological differences are discussed in considering the possible etiology.     

Isolation of polymorphic DNA fragments from human chromosome 4.

We have identified and characterized 40 DNA probes detecting restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) on human chromosome 4. Single copy human clones were isolated from a bacteriophage library enriched for chromosome 4 sequences. Each clone was hybridized to somatic cell hybrid DNAs for verification of its species and chromosomal origin and for regional localization. Sequences specific for chromosome 4 were tested for their ability to detect RFLPs in human DNA and their potential utility as genetic markers was assessed. Approximately 263,000 base pairs or 0.13% of the chromosome was screened for sequence variation. The estimate of heterozygosity calculated from this large body of data, H = 0.0021, indicates that the degree of sequence variation on chromosome 4 is comparable to other autosomes. The characterization of these 40 markers has tripled the number of polymorphic loci available for linkage studies on chromosome 4, making it feasible to begin construction of a detailed linkage map that will span the entire chromosome.     

Refinement of the hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA) locus to chromosome 17q24–q25

Hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA) is an autosomal dominant, recurrent focal neuropathy characterized by episodes of painful brachial plexus neuropathy with muscle weakness and atrophy, as well as sensory disturbances. Single episodes are commonly preceded by unspecific infections or immunization, or are associated with parturition. Minor facial dysmorphic features are present in some pedigrees but do not clearly segregate with the disease. To confirm the recently described HNA locus on distal chromosome 17q, we performed a genetic linkage study in an extended Turkish pedigree. We were able to refine the HNA locus on chromosome 17q24–q25 in a 16-cM region. Received: 21 October 1996     

Mitotic chromosomes are constrained by topoisomerase II–sensitive DNA entanglements

We have analyzed the topological organization of chromatin inside mitotic chromosomes. We show that mitotic chromatin is heavily self-entangled through experiments in which topoisomerase (topo) II is observed to reduce mitotic chromosome elastic stiffness. Single chromosomes were relaxed by 35% by exogenously added topo II in a manner that depends on hydrolysable adenosine triphosphate (ATP), whereas an inactive topo II cleavage mutant did not change chromosome stiffness. Moreover, experiments using type I topos produced much smaller relaxation effects than topo II, indicating that chromosome relaxation by topo II is caused by decatenation and/or unknotting of double-stranded DNA. In further experiments in which chromosomes are first exposed to protease to partially release protein constraints on chromatin, ATP alone relaxes mitotic chromosomes. The topo II–specific inhibitor ICRF-187 blocks this effect, indicating that it is caused by endogenous topo II bound to the chromosome. Our experiments show that DNA entanglements act in concert with protein-mediated compaction to fold chromatin into mitotic chromosomes.     

Isolation of repetitive DNA sequences from human chromosome 21.

We have developed a method for the isolation of phage from the human genomic library that carry repetitive DNA sequences highly represented on specific human chromosomes. We have used this technique to select recombinants carrying inserts concentrated on chromosome 21. Five clones, representing two families of sequences, have been characterized. Members of each family show cross-homology, but the two families show no homology with each other. In all but one case, the clones do not contain members of the human Alu repeat family. Single chromosome-concentrated repetitive sequences should prove to be useful in studies of the origin, evolution, and function of repetitive DNA and in regional chromosome mapping.     

内葵杂3号染色体核型分析

对内蒙古地区的栽培品种内葵杂3号三交种和单交种了进行了核型分析。其结果为:内葵杂3号三交种和单交种的染色体数均为2n=34,各具一对随体染色体。三交种第2对染色体具随体且为近中部着丝粒染色体,其余为中部着丝粒染色体,染色体相对长度变异范围4.105%～7.703%,核型公式为2n=2x=34=32m+2sm(2sat),核型类型属于1A型;单交种均为中部着丝粒染色体,第4对染色体具随体,染色体相对长度变异范围3.661%～8.128%,其核型公式为:2n=2x=34=34m(2sat),核型类型属于1B型。     

A selective method for studying primary sex chromosome non-disjunction in females and males and X-Y exchange in males of Drosophila melanogaster including a demonstration of euchromatic X-Y exchange

A selective method was developed, based on negative complementation of the Abruptex alleles of the Notch focus, for studying primary sex chromosome non-disjunction in females and males of Drosophila melanogaster and X-Y exchange in males. The results show that the frequency of primary non-disjunction of structurally normal X chromosomes was lower than the frequency of X-derY non-disjunction in males. Double exchange between the X and the derY chromosome in the male occurs with a frequency of at least 0.091%. Single exchanges are naturally expected to occur with even higher frequency. Exchanges were interestingly at least partly of cuchromatic nature. The origin of these exchanges is at least partly of gonial origin.     

Identification of the origin of double minutes in normal human cells by laser-based chromosome microdissection approach

Single copies of tiny chromosome fragments, appearing as double minutes, were observed in a high proportion of cells from amniotic fluid cultures of two mothers undergoing prenatal testing because of advanced age. We applied a laser-based chromosome microdissection method to diagnose the origin of the double minutes. The diagnostic procedures consisted of microdissection of double minutes from a single cell, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the dissected DNA, and subsequent fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the PCR products as a probe pool. Metaphase chromosomes from the patients' cells and from a karyotypically normal individual were probed. Using this strategy, we were able to determine that the double minutes originated from the centromere of chromosome 13 or 21 in one case, and from the chromosome 12 centromere in the other. The characterization of such double minutes helps both in the delineation of the nature of these epichromosomal bodies in normal individuals as well as in the clarification of genetic counselling issues.     

Polymorphic Chromosomes Bearing the Tox2 Locus in Cochliobolus carbonum Behave as Homologs during Meiosis

The HTS1 gene in the Tox2 locus of the fungal pathogen Cochliobolus carbonum race 1 is required for synthesis of a host-selective phytotoxin and for increased virulence on susceptible genotypes of maize. The locus is present in race 1 isolates but absent from isolates of the other races, which do not produce the toxin. By pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern analysis with HTS1 sequences and chromosome-specific markers, the HTS1 gene was detected on a 4-Mb chromosome in one group of isolates and on a 2.3-Mb chromosome in another group, which lacked the 4-Mb chromosome. A chromosome-specific marker from C. heterostrophus hybridized to a 2.3-Mb chromosome in non-toxin-producing isolates and in toxin-producing isolates, including those with a 4-Mb chromosome. A marker from C. carbonum hybridized to the 4-Mb chromosome, but in isolates lacking the 4-Mb chromosome, this marker hybridized to a smaller, 2.0-Mb chromosome. Thus, the Tox2 locus is on different chromosomes in different groups of race 1 isolates. Single ascospore progeny from crosses between isolates having HTS1 on different chromosomes were analyzed for toxin-producing ability, virulence, and the presence and chromosomal location of HTS1. All progeny produced HC toxin in culture, incited race 1-type lesions on susceptible maize genotypes, and contained HTS1 sequences, as determined by PCR amplification with gene-specific primers. Analysis of the chromosomal complements of several progeny indicated that they all had only one Tox2-containing chromosome. Thus, despite their differences in size, these chromosomes behave as homologs during meiosis and may have arisen by a translocation.     

Chromosome evolution by robertsonian translocation in Gibasis (Commelinaceae)

The plant species Gibasis schiedeana (Kunth) D. R. Hunt sens. lat. contains two cytotypes viz. a self-sterile diploid with 2n=10 (x=5) and a selffertile cytological autotetraploid with 2n=16 (x=4). Single chromosome sets of these plants consist of 2 metacentrics +3 acrocentrics, and 3 metacentrics +1 acrocentric chromosomes respectively suggesting a Robertsonian relationship between them. Their artificial F₁ hybrids show the pairing of acrocentrics with metacentric arms confirming the supposed nature of the chromosome affinities. Both breeding systems and ploidy levels show that the direction of the change has been from x=5 to x=4 by a translocation of the Robertsonian type.     

Algorithms for the evaluation of radiation induced chromosome aberration yields per cell from flow karyotypes

CHO-K1 cells were irradiated in G0/G1-phase with 150 kV X-rays. Single chromosomes isolated from metaphase cells and stained with DNA intercalating dye DAPI were analyzed in the ICP 22 with a modified flow chamber. In order to study dose-dependent changes in the flow karyotypes, they were split into peak- and background-portions by an iterative fit algorithm. As in a first approach, estimates of the frequencies of chromosome lesions were derived from an evaluation of the dose-dependent reduction in peak contents. The number of radiation-induced lesions per chromosome was found to be proportional to its length. As a second approach, the number of fluorescence events in the histogram background was corrected for non-chromosomal debris and evaluated interms of chromosome aberration frequency per cell, which was consistent with the yields of dicentric chromosomes and acentric fragments observed in microscopic investigations. As a third approach, lesion frequencies were calculated from the corrected background light sum in the karyotypes, utilizing a Monte Carlo model to simulate the effect of aberration formation on the flow histogram. The results indicate that the number of chromosome lesions observed by flow cytometry can be quantitatively related to the yield of structural chromosome aberrations detected by microscopic analysis. Dose-effect relations and split-dose kinetics are given as examples demonstrating the usefulness of this technique in radiobiology. Time saving compared to microscopic analysis was of the order of 90%.     

Linkage mapping of gene-associated SNPs to pig chromosome 11

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were discovered in porcine expressed sequence tags (ESTs) orthologous to genes from human chromosome 13 (HSA13) and predicted to be located on pig chromosome 11 (SSC11). The SNPs were identified as sequence variants in clusters of EST sequences from pig cDNA libraries constructed in the Sino-Danish pig genome project. In total, 312 human gene sequences from HSA13 were used for similarity searches in our pig EST database. Pig ESTs showing significant similarity with HSA13 genes were clustered and candidate SNPs were identified. Allele frequencies for 26 SNPs were estimated in a group of 80 unrelated pigs from Danish commercial pig breeds: Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace and Large White. Eighteen of the 26 SNPs genotyped in the PiGMaP Reference Families were mapped by linkage analysis to SSC11. The EST-based SNPs published here are new genetic markers useful for linkage and association studies in commercial and experimental pig populations. This study represents the first gene-associated SNP linkage map of pig chromosome 11 and adds new comparative mapping information between SSC11 and HSA13. Furthermore, our data facilitate future studies aimed at the identification of interesting regions on pig chromosome 11, positional cloning and fine mapping of quantitative trait loci in pig.     

Genomic regions influencing coat color saturation and facial markings in Fleckvieh cattle

Genomic regions associated with coat color and pigmented areas of the head were identified for Fleckvieh (dual‐purpose Simmental), a red‐spotted and white‐headed cattle breed. Coat color was measured with a chromameter, implementing the CIELAB color space and resulting in numerical representation of lightness, color intensity, red/green and blue/yellow color components, rather than subjective classification. Single marker regression analyses with fixed effects of the sex and barn were applied, and significant regions were determined with the local false discovery rate methodology. The PMEL and ERBB3 genes on chromosome 5 were in the most significant region for the color measurements. In addition to the blue/yellow color component and color intensity, the AP3B2 gene on chromosome 21 was identified. Its function was confirmed for similar traits in a range of model species. The KIT gene on chromosome 6 was found to be strongly associated with the inhibition of circum‐ocular pigmentation and pigmented spots on the cheek.     

Detection of sister chromatid exchanges by 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole fluorescence

This paper describes a 4-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorescent technique for differentiation of sister chromatids and for the study of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in mouse chromosomes. The advantages of the DAPI fluorescent technique are also described. Differences in the occurrence of SCE between the centromeric heterochromatin (C-banded) and the chromosomal arm chromatin were studied in mouse cells (RAG) with or without mitomycin C treatment. Single strand exchanges between the DNA double helices in the sister chromatids were not detected. SCE and chromosome breakage appeared to occur more frequently in the centromeric region than in the chromosomal arm. This might play an important role in chromosome evolution in mice.     

Populationsgenetik des Y-Chromosoms

The Y chromosome is the most variable haploid marker in the human genome and is ideally suited for studying the evolution and demography of very young species such as Homo sapiens sapiens. Single nucleotide polymorphisms and microsatellites (short tandem repeats) play a pivotal role in reconstructing recent episodes of human evolution. Phylogeographic analyses using Y-chromosome markers are important for characterizing population structures and movements, interpreting biological forensic evidence, and providing insights into epochs for which no artifacts are available.