Comparative study of G- and C-banded chromosomes of five species of Microtidae

G-banded karyotypes were compared in the following species of Microtidae: Microtus nivalis; M. cabrerae; M. arvalis and Arvicola sapidus. Previous observations on A. sapidus and A. terrestris (Díaz de la Guardia & Pretel, Caryologia 32: 183–189, 1979) were also incorporated in this study. The results show that Robertsonian translocations and pericentric inversions are common mechanisms involved in the karyotypic evolution of this group. Interspecific differences in C-banding patterns were also analyzed. Using the karyograph method (Imai et al., Am. Nat. 121: 477–488, 1983), the evolutionary distances of the karyotypes were estimated, and an attempt was made to establish a presumptive phylogenetic tree.     

Comparative study of G- and C-banded chromosomes of five species of Microtidae: a chromosomal evolution analysis

G-banded karyotypes were compared in the following species of Microtidae: Microtus nivalis, M. cabrerae, M. arvalis, and Arvicola sapidus. Previous observations on A. sapidus and A. terrestris were also incorporated in this study. The results show that Robertsonian translocations and pericentric inversions are common mechanisms involved in the karyotypic evolution of this group. Interspecific differences on the G-banding patterns were also analysed, and an attempt was made to establish a presumptive phylogenetic tree.     

中国4种蝙蝠的G-带和C-带

首次报道了中国4种蝙蝠的G-带和C-带核型。大长舌果蝠(Eonycteris spelaea)二倍染色体数目(2n)为36,常染色体臂数(FN)为56;马来假吸血蝠(Megaderma spasma)2n=38,FN=70;黑髯墓蝠(Taphozous melanopogon)2n=42,FN=64;皱唇蝠(Chaerephon plicata)2n=48,FN=54。通过C-带显示,除着丝粒异染色质外,在皱唇蝠的许多染色体臂内和马来假吸血蝠染色体的端粒处也有较多的插入异染色质,大长舌果蝠的基因组中既有臂内异染色质也有端粒异染色质。     

C-banded wheat chromosomes in wheat and triticale

Summary The C-banding patterns of wheat chromosomes in 7 hexaploid triticale and 7 wheat genotypes are described and compared. All 14 wheat chromosome pairs were individually identified in the triticales and a tetraploid wheat, and all the B and two A genome chromosome pairs in the hexaploid wheat genotypes. Little variation was found between genotypes in the distribution of C-bands but considerable variation was found in their size, total number and total length.     

The ultrastructure of R-banded chromosomes

Electron microscopy has been used to study the fine structural organization of R-banded chromosomes prepared by treatment of the chromosomes with a hot NaH₂PO₄ solution. The results indicate that there is a structural basis for R-banding with this technique. In comparison to untreated control chromosomes, the R-banded chromosomes had a greatly reduced electron density, suggesting that the heat treatment has a general adverse effect on chromosome structure. Chromatin fibers formed a coarse, irregular network throughout the chromosome and were often enlarged, probably as a result of the fusion of two or more native fibers. The chromatin fibers were more aggregated and had an increased electron density in the R-band regions of the chromosome than in the interbands. This indicates that the treatment has a differential effect on the structure of bands and interbands. A comparison of the ultrastructure of R- and G-banded chromosomes demonstrated that the distribution of aggregated chromatin was reversed by these two types of banding techniques; however, the treatments producing R-banding appeared to induce less extreme differences in the degree of chromatin condensation in band and interband regions than those giving rise to G-banding. It is suggested that alterations of DNA-protein interactions may arise from the differential denaturation of proteins and/or DNA in R-band and interband regions during the heat pretreatment. Such differential alterations in DNA-protein interactions may induce localized changes in the organization of chromatin and may account for the subtle morphological differences observed between the band and interband regions.     

Transmission electron microscope observations of C-banded skipjack tuna chromosomes

C-banded mitotic chromosomes of Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus) were examined by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and results compared with light microscopy images. Advantages of the TEM technique are noted.     

Conventional Giemsa-stained and C-banded chromosomes of seven strains of Schistosoma mansoni

Karyotypes stained with conventional Giemsa and with a C-banding method were compared among 7 strains of Schistosoma mansoni: 2 from Puerto Rico and 1 each from St. Lucia, Brazil, Venezuela, Egypt, and Kenya. A few differences were noted in relative lengths and centromeric indexes, but overall karyotypes of all strains were similar, with 2n = 16. The W chromosome of the female of all strains had a relatively large heterochromatic block, distinguishing the female from the male karyotype.     

C-banded karyotypes of two Silene species with heteromorphic sex chromosomes.

Mitotic metaphase chromosomes of Silene latifolia (white campion) and Silene dioica (red campion) were studied and no substantial differences between the conventional karyotypes of these two species were detected. The classification of chromosomes into three distinct groups proposed for S. latifolia by Ciupercescu and colleagues was considered and discussed. Additionally, a new small satellite on the shorter arm of homobrachial chromosome 5 was found. Giemsa C-banded chromosomes of the two analysed species show many fixed and polymorphic heterochromatic bands, mainly distally and centromerically located. Our C-banding studies provided an opportunity to better characterize the sex chromosomes and some autosome types, and to detect differences between the two Silene karyotypes. It was shown that S. latifolia possesses a larger amount of polymorphic heterochromatin, especially of the centromeric type. The two Silene sex chromosomes are easily distinguishable not only by length or DNA amount differences but also by their Giemsa C-banding patterns. All Y chromosomes invariably show only one distally located band, and no other fixed or polymorphic bands on this chromosome were observed in either species. The X chromosomes possess two terminally located fixed bands, and some S. latifolia X chromosomes also have an extra-centric segment of variable length. The heterochromatin amount and distribution revealed by our Giemsa C-banding studies provide a clue to the problem of sex chromosome and karyotype evolution in these two closely related dioecious Silene species.     

Surface ultrastructure of trypsin-banded chromosomes

The surface ultrastructure of trypsin-banded chromosomes has been examined by electron microscopy. Trypsin pretreatment removed cellular debris and produced banding patterns recognizable with the electron microscope as ridges in platinum-carbon replicas. The ridges observed in replicas of trypsin-treated chromosomes corresponds to Giemsa-stained bands observed by light microscopy. The bands appeared as an area of tightly compacted fibrils on the surface of the chromosomes. Prolonged treatment in trypsin resulted in collapsed chromosomes and loss of ridges in the replicas. Interchromosomal fibers were also noted and in some preparations appeared to be localized to banded regions.     

C-banded chromosomes of the genus Bembidion Latr. (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The C-banding pattern of Bembidion punctulatum, B. varium, B. varicolor, B. ascedens, B. tibiale, B. ustulatum, B. decorum, and B. modestum are presented. All examined species have a symmetrical karyotype with meta- and submentacentric chromosomes and meioformula n=11+XY. All of them have an achiasmatic spermatogenesis in common. The present data confirm earlier studies indicating a considerable morphological and numerical stability of the Bembidiini karyotype. The C-banding showed the existence of heterochromatin in the paracentric regions of chromosomes, and also 2-3 intercalar C-positive segments were observed. The Y chromosome is entrely euchromatic. The C-banded karyotype of the analysed species in genus Bembidion has large heterochromatin segments on chromosomes, an exception in Coleoptera.     

Dynamic G- and R-banding of human chromosomes for electron microscopy

Synchronized human lymphocytes were exposed to 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) for incorporation in either G-or R-bands. The substituted bands were revealed by monoclonal anti-BrdUrd antibodies disclosed with either gold-labeled antibodies or with the protein A-gold complex. Sharp G-or R-banding, specific for electron microscopy (EM), was obtained. These banding patterns, referred to as GB-AAu (G-bands by BrdUrd using Antibodies and gold [Au]) and RB-AAu (R-bands by BrdUrd using Antibodies and gold [Au]), resemble dynamic band patterns (GBG and RBG) much more than they do morphologic band patterns (GTG and RHG). The G- and R- band patterns allow accurate chromosome identification and karyotyping. An actual karyotype of human GB-AAu-banded chromosomes at the 750 band level, photographed in the EM, is presented. The method produces excellent band separation and band contrast. Variations in band staining intensities were noted and correlated with BrdUrd enrichment. The C-band regions were positively stained after GB-AAu banding while they were negatively stained after RB-AAu banding. Telomeres appeared heterogeneous after GB-AAu banding suggesting that part of the telomeric bands might be late replicating.     

Identification of C-banded chromosomes in meiosis of common wheat,Triticum aestivum L.

Summary The C-banding pattern of nine meiotic chromosomes of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as described. In F₁s of crosses between monosomics of Chinese Spring and two Spanish wheat cultivars, univalent chromosomes were used to aid the recognition and analysis of the C-banding pattern for the individual chromosomes. The identification of one chromosome involved in one translocation in Chinese Spring x Pané 247 has been made through heterochromatin bands observed in the chromosomes involved in multivalents.     

Centromere ultrastructure in germ-line chromosomes of Parascaris

Ultrastructural analysis of the centromere in germ-line mitotic chromosomes of Parascaris univalens and Parascaris equorum revealed that these chromosomes are holocentric. In thin longitudinal sections of both species the kinetochore appeared as a continuous plate (up to 3.8 m long) and displayed a layered structure. This structure consisted of electron-dense inner and outer layers (average width 10 nm) separated by a less dense middle layer (25 nm wide), which had transverse electron-dense bars (10 nm wide) regularly spaced every 25–30 nm. Thus the ladderlike kinetochore profile observed in Parascaris gonial mitotic chromosomes represents a different type of organization from that of the classical trilaminar kinetochore found in both holocentric and monocentric chromosomes.     

Selective protection of specific DNA sequences in the heterochromatin of C-banded human Y chromosomes.

The molecular basis of C-banding was investigated by in situ hybridization of human Y chromosome-derived repeated sequences, DYZ1 and DYZ2, to untreated or to alkaline-treated metaphases. Autoradiography of G-banded metaphases showed that both probes hybridized to the long arm of Y. Alkaline hydrolysis significantly reduced grain number for DYZ2 (58%-82%; P less than .05) but not for DYZ1 (P greater than .05). Similar results were observed for interphase nuclei. These findings demonstrated that the heterochromatin of the long arm contains at least two repetitive DNA fractions having two different sensitivities to alkaline hydrolysis. These observations support the notion that DYZ2 maps terminally on the Yq arm and may be nonheterochromatic.