基于流式细胞术的海菜花属植物基因组大小测定

利用改良的裂解液P1,以中国古代莲(Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.Fruct.et Semin)为外标,采用流式细胞术(FCM)对海菜花属(Ottelia Pers.)6个代表性物种及3个存疑类群的基因组大小(C值)进行测定,并对海菜花属系统发育关系进行评估。结果显示:所测定的材料中,水菜花(Ottelia cordata(Wall.)Dandy)C值最小(6.759 pg),灌阳水车前(O.guanyangensis Z.Z.Li,S.Wu&Q.F.Wang)C值最大(12.929 pg);对基因组大小与该属系统发育树进行比较分析,结果发现该属植物基因组大小与系统发育关系具有一致性;对海菜花属3个存疑类群进行分子系统学研究,结果发现存疑类群与嵩明海菜花(Ottelia acuminata var.songmingensis Z.T.Jiang,H.Li&Z.L.Dao)及灌阳水车前的关系最近,而与水菜花的关系较远,这与基因组大小变异相一致。根据基因组大小进一步推测3个存疑类群很可能为二倍体。本研究结果可为海菜花属植物的系统学研究提供新资料,同时为该属植物基因组学研究提供基础数据。     

应用流式细胞术测定绢毛苣属4种8居群基因组大小

以绢毛苣属（Soroseris）植物肉菊（S.umbrella（Franch.）Lipsch）、绢毛苣（S.glomerata（Decne.）Stebbins）、羽裂绢毛苣（S.hirsuta（Anth.）Shih）和金沙绢毛菊（S.gillii（S.Moore）Stebbins）4个种的8个居群为材料,采用WPB和Galbraith's buffer两种裂解液分别处理样品,运用流式细胞术测定DNA含量,并使用常规染色体压片法确定其细胞倍性。结果显示：两种裂解液中,最适于绢毛苣属植物DNA含量测定的裂解液为WPB;4个物种中,羽裂绢毛苣的基因组最小;细胞倍性水平对1Cx-值的影响较小。此外,本研究发现可采用种子萌发形成的幼苗代替难以获取的植物幼嫩叶片作为实验材料。     

基于流式细胞术对观赏海棠品种的基因组大小测定

核DNA C值和基因组大小是重要的生物多样性特征,本研究以18个观赏海棠（Malus spp.）品种的嫩叶为材料,并以玉米（Zea mays L.）品种‘B73’为内参样本,利用流式细胞术对观赏海棠基因组大小进行了测定。结果显示：18份观赏海棠C值大小范围为0.74~1.50 pg,平均为0.96 pg;其中,‘玛丽波特’（‘Mary Potter’）C值最大,达到1.50 pg,而‘红珠宝’（‘Red Jewel’）C值最小,为0.74 pg。方差分析结果表明观赏海棠品种间C值大小存在显著差异。观赏海棠不同品种间DNA C值和基因组大小存在显著的多样性。     

利用流式细胞仪测定荚蒾属植物的基因组大小

荚蒾属 (Viburnum) 植物在园林中广泛用作观赏灌木,并且其具有优良园艺性状的杂交种在世界范围内越来越受欢迎。本研究利用流式细胞仪测定了14种荚蒾属植物的基因组大小。二倍体中基因组大小变化范围是255pg（陕西荚蒾）到426pg（琼花）。同时,琼花的核型也较不对称,这可能反应了它的育种历史。四倍体物种珊瑚树的基因组大小（762pg）是其他二倍体物种的两倍还多,这揭示了该属的多倍化在进化中可能并不遥远。该研究为荚蒾属细胞遗传学和分类学的深入研究奠定了基础,并为该属杂交育种提供有用的信息。     

Quantification of nuclear DNA and G-C content in marine macroalgae by flow cytometry of isolated nuclei

Summary The amounts of nuclear DNA in ten species of seaweeds belonging to the Rhodophyceae, Phaeophyceae, and Chlorophyceae were determined by flow cytometric analysis of nuclei isolated from protoplasts. Genome size was determined from the fluorescence of the nuclei stained with ethidium bromide. The size of the nuclear genome ranged from 0.13 pg per cell in the 1 C population ofUlva rigida to 3.40 pg per cell in the 2 C population ofSphacelaria sp. GC% analysis was based on staining with either Hoechst 33342 or mithramycin A, two fluorochromes specific for the bases A-T and G-C, respectively. Two models were used for the estimation of the proportion of guanine plus cytosine in the nuclear genome. The first one was based on the linear relationships mithramycin A fluorescence/G-C content and ethidium bromide fluorescence/total DNA content. The second model, based on the curvilinear relationships Hoechst 33342 fluorescence/A-T content and mithramycin A fluorescence/G-C content, resulted in comparatively more homogenous and consistent data and appears more accurate. Comparison with previous reports from other methods for the physical investigation of nuclear genomes shows that flow cytometry of nuclei isolated from protoplasts is an accurate, convenient and robust technique to assay for genome sizes and base pair composition in marine macroalgae.Abbreviations A-T nucleic bases adenine and thymine - CRBC chicken red blood cell - FALS forward-angle light scatter - G-C nucleic bases guanine and cytosine - SEIM sorbitol enzymatic incubation medium - SWIM sea water incubation medium - Tm thermal denaturation temperature of DNA     

Extremely small genomes in two unrelated dipteran insects with shared early developmental traits

We discovered extremely small genomes (1C ~100 Mb) in the dipteran insects Coboldia fuscipes (Scatopsidae) and Psychoda cinerea (Psychodidae). The small genomes of these species cannot be explained by a fast developmental rate, which has been shown to correlate with small genome sizes in animals and plants but might accommodate the combined effects of other developmental traits, including small egg size, thin blastoderm layer, and long-germ development.     

长江江豚基因组大小测定

本研究采用流式细胞术,以公鸡(Gallusdomesticus)红血细胞DNA含量为标准,测定了23头长江江豚(Neophocaenaphocaenoidesasiaeorientali)的基因组大小(或称C值)。实验过程中采用了保存在3中不同条件下的长江江豚的全血样品,用3种不同的方法提取白细胞。为了获得本实验所用的公鸡红血细胞DNA含量的准确值,首先以人(Homosapiens)的C值为标准,对其进行了校正。然后其C值(2C=2.35pg)用于长江江豚的基因组大小测定。结果发现:长江江豚的单倍体DNA含量为3.27pg/C,由此得出其基因组大小为3.17×109bp;雌性和雄性的C值分别为3.25pg和3.29pg,野外长江江豚和豢养长江江豚的C值分别为3.30pg和3.05pg。对雌雄个体之间以及不同生长条件下长江江豚的C值应用独立样本t检验分析,发现:1)不同性别的长江江豚基因组大小之间没有明显的差异;2)豢养条件下的长江江豚和野生长江江豚之间的基因组大小有明显差异,豢养条件下的长江江豚的基因组明显小于野生条件下的长江江豚。据此推测必要环境因子的变化可能会对长江江豚的基因组DNA含量造成影响。     

Intraspecific variation in genome size in angiosperms: identifying its existence

BACKGROUND: The 6 years since the last Angiosperm Genome Size Discussion Meeting in 1997 have experienced the decline of the then widely held idea of the 'plastic' genome. Several published cases of intra-specific variation in cultivated plants have been questioned on re-investigation with an improved technical approach. At the same time, technical problems caused by staining inhibitors present in the plant material have been recognized. In the accumulation of genome size data more critical methods and rules for best practice are urgently needed. INFRA-SPECIFIC VARIATION RE-VISITED: This review is about (a) the basic requirement for repeatability of results and the need for self-criticism on the part of the investigator and (b) the critical points in the technical procedure, particularly the quantitative Feulgen reaction. Case studies are presented on Dasypyrum villosum (refuting a previously reported 'plastic genome' phenomenon), on Glycine max (refuting previously claimed intraspecific variation) and on Arachis hypogaea and A. duranensis, in which reported C-values are too high by roughly two-fold. In A. hypogaea the reported intraspecific genome size variation could not be confirmed. Furthermore, a claimed negative correlation between altitude and genome size in A. duranensis was shown to be based on an arbitrary omission of data points that did not fit the correlation (although a correlation was found). BEST PRACTICE METHODOLOGY: The finding of previously published questionable studies was the incentive for a re-consideration of the quantitative Feulgen procedure with regard to best practice in genome size studies. Clarification here of the critical steps of the method should help to improve the data in the literature. It must be stressed that the most important requirement is the need for a self-critical attitude of researchers to their data.     

Relationships between nuclear DNA content and seed and leaf size in soybean

 A correlation between genome size and agronomically important traits has been observed in many plant species. The goal of the present research was to determine the relationship between genome size, seed size, and leaf width and length in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] Twelve soybean strains, representing three distinct seed size groups, were analyzed. Flow cytometry was used to estimate their 2C nuclear DNA contents. Data on seed size and leaf size of the 12 strains were obtained from 1994 and 1995 field experiments. Variation of 2C nuclear DNA among the 12 soybean strains was 4.6%, ranging from 2.37 pg for a small-seed strain to 2.48 pg for a large-seed strain. Strain seed size was positively associated with leaf width (r=0.92) and leaf length (r=0.93). Genome size was highly correlated with seed size (r=0.97), leaf width (r=0.90) , and leaf length (r=0.93). The results of our study indicate that there is a significant correlation between genome size and leaf and seed size in soybean. It is possible that selection for greater seed size either leads to, or results from, greater genome size. If so, this relationship might be worth exploring at a more fundamental level. Received: 5 April 1997 / Accepted: 9 January 1998     

Plant DNA flow cytometry and estimation of nuclear genome size

BACKGROUND: DNA flow cytometry describes the use of flow cytometry for estimation of DNA quantity in cell nuclei. The method involves preparation of aqueous suspensions of intact nuclei whose DNA is stained using a DNA fluorochrome. The nuclei are classified according to their relative fluorescence intensity or DNA content. Because the sample preparation and analysis is convenient and rapid, DNA flow cytometry has become a popular method for ploidy screening, detection of mixoploidy and aneuploidy, cell cycle analysis, assessment of the degree of polysomaty, determination of reproductive pathway, and estimation of absolute DNA amount or genome size. While the former applications are relatively straightforward, estimation of absolute DNA amount requires special attention to possible errors in sample preparation and analysis. SCOPE: The article reviews current procedures for estimation of absolute DNA amounts in plants using flow cytometry, with special emphasis on preparation of nuclei suspensions, stoichiometric DNA staining and the use of DNA reference standards. In addition, methodological pitfalls encountered in estimation of intraspecific variation in genome size are discussed as well as problems linked to the use of DNA flow cytometry for fieldwork. CONCLUSIONS: Reliable estimation of absolute DNA amounts in plants using flow cytometry is not a trivial task. Although several well-proven protocols are available and some factors controlling the precision and reproducibility have been identified, several problems persist: (1) the need for fresh tissues complicates the transfer of samples from field to the laboratory and/or their storage; (2) the role of cytosolic compounds interfering with quantitative DNA staining is not well understood; and (3) the use of a set of internationally agreed DNA reference standards still remains an unrealized goal.     

Phylogenetic characterisation of picoplanktonic populations with high and low nucleic acid content in the North Atlantic Ocean

In flow cytometric analyses of marine prokaryotic picoplankton often two populations with distinct differences in their apparent nucleic acid content are discernable, one with a high and one with a low nucleic acid content (HNA and LNA, respectively). In this study we determined the phylogenetic composition of flow cytometrically sorted HNA and LNA populations, collected at six stations along a transect across three oceanic provinces from Iceland to the Azores. Catalysed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridisation (CARD-FISH) analysis of sorted cells revealed distinct differences in phylogenetic composition between the LNA and HNA populations with only little overlap. At all stations the LNA population was dominated by the alphaproteobacterial clade SAR11 (45–74%). Also, Betaproteobacteria were always present at 2–4%. While the LNA composition was rather stable, the HNA populations were composed of distinct phylogenetic clades in the different oceanic provinces of Arctic and Tropics. For example Cyanobacteria dominated the North Atlantic Gyre HNA population (29–44%) with Prochlorococcus as the major clade (34–44%), but were low in Arctic and Polar waters (1% and 5%, respectively). In contrast, Bacteroidetes accounted for the majority of HNA cells in the Polar and Arctic province (26% and 32%, respectively), but were low in the Gyre region (3–10%). The DNA content of the HNA population was about 3.5 times higher than that of the LNA populations. This reflects differences in the genome sizes of closely related cultured representatives of HNA clades (3–6 Mbp) and LNA clades (1.3–1.5 Mbp).     

New reports of nuclear DNA content for 407 vascular plant taxa from the United States

Background and Aims

The amount of DNA in an unreplicated haploid nuclear genome (C-value) ranges over several orders of magnitude among plant species and represents a key metric for comparing plant genomes. To extend previously published datasets on plant nuclear content and to characterize the DNA content of many species present in one region of North America, flow cytometry was used to estimate C-values of woody and herbaceous species collected in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA.

Methods

A total of 674 samples and vouchers were collected from locations across Wisconsin and Michigan, USA. From these, C-value estimates were obtained for 514 species, subspecies and varieties of vascular plants. Nuclei were extracted from samples of these species in one of two buffers, stained with the fluorochrome propidium iodide, and an Accuri C-6 flow cytometer was used to measure fluorescence peaks relative to those of an internal standard. Replicate extractions, coefficients of variation and comparisons to published C-values in the same and related species were used to confirm the accuracy and reliability of our results.

Key Results and Conclusions

Prime C-values for 407 taxa are provided for which no published data exist, including 390 angiosperms, two gymnosperms, ten monilophytes and five lycophytes. Non-prime reports for 107 additional taxa are also provided. The prime values represent new reports for 129 genera and five families (of 303 genera and 97 families sampled). New family C-value maxima or minima are reported for Betulaceae, Ericaceae, Ranunculaceae and Sapindaceae. These data provide the basis for phylogenetic analyses of C-value variation and future analyses of how C-values covary with other functional traits.     

染色体分选技术在植物学研究中的应用

介绍了染色体分选技术的基本原理和样品处理的基本流程,对根尖分生区采用同步化处理,制备染色体悬浮液,最后通过流式细胞仪的分析与收集获得纯度高、数量多的目标染色体.综述了染色体分选技术在植物学研究中的主要应用,包括物理图谱的构建、DNA分子标记的开发、以及复杂多倍体植物的基因组测序等.通过染色体分选技术的不断完善与发展,应...     

长三角及邻近地区138种草本植物DNA C-值测定及其生物学意义

为了评估DNA C-值和基因组大小(genome size)在植物入侵性评估中的价值,应用流式细胞仪测定了长三角及邻近地区138种草本植物的核DNA含量,其中111种为首次报道。在此基础上比较了不同植物类群这两个值的差异,特别是入侵性与非入侵性植物这两个值的差异。结果表明:(1)138种草本植物平均DNA C-值为1.55 pg,最大者是最小者的37.17倍。127个类群平均基因组大小为1.08 pg,最大者是最小者的34.11倍;(2)统计了菊科(Asteraceae)、禾本科(Poaceae)、石竹科(Caryophyllaceae)、十字花科(Brassicaceae)、玄参科(Scrophulariaceae)、蓼科(Polygonaceae)、唇形科(Labiatae)和伞形科(Umbelliferae)的DNA C-值和基因组大小,发现禾本科植物的这两个值显著地大于其他7个科(P0.01)。单子叶的DNA C-值和基因组极显著地大于双子叶植物(P0.01);(3)杂草比非杂草具有更低的DNA C-值(P0.01)和基因组大小(P0.001);与DNA C-值相比,基因组大小在这两个类群之间的差异更为明显(P0.001),这种现象也体现在菊科植物中。随着基因组(X1)和DNA C-值(X2)由大变小,植物的杂草性(入侵性,Y)由弱变强,两者关系分别符合:Y=2.2334-1.2847 ln(X1)(r=0.4612,P0.01)和Y=2.4421-0.7234 ln(X2)(r=0.2522,P0.01),DNA C-值和基因组大小可以作为植物入侵性评估的一个指标;(4)多倍体杂草的基因组极明显地小于二倍体杂草(P0.01),前者为后者的0.63倍。在非杂草中,多倍体基因组比二倍体的略小,前者仅为后者的0.84倍,差异不显著(P0.5)。菊科植物中多倍体杂草的基因组也显著地小于二倍体杂草(P0.1)。基因组变小和多倍体化相结合,进一步增强了植物的入侵性。在多倍体植物入侵性评估中,基因组大小比DNA C-值更有价值。     

The nuclear genome of the phytoseiid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metaseiulus occidentalis</Emphasis> (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is among the smallest known in arthropods

The genome size of the phytoseiid Metaseiulus (=Typhlodromus or Galendromus) occidentalis (Nesbitt) needs to be estimated before the whole nuclear genome can be sequenced. Two different procedures were used to estimate the genome size of M. occidentalis; (1) flow cytometry (Marescalchi et al. in Genome 33:789–793, 1990) and (2) quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) (Wilhelm et al. in Nucleic Acids Res 31:e56, 2003). Fluorescence intensity of propidium iodide-stained nuclei of M. occidentalis was measured by flow cytometry using females, males, and eggs. Only the eggs yielded peaks, which ranged in size from 35 to 160 Mb, with a tall peak of 140 Mb in 1-day-old eggs and 65 Mb in 2-day-old eggs, respectively. However, the peaks are broad and do not provide an accurate estimate. The qRT-PCR procedure required single-copy nuclear gene sequences from this phytoseiid. This was accomplished by designing degenerate primers, amplifying the Actin and EF1α sequences from M. occidentalis, and then designing M. occidentalis-specific primers that amplified a unique sequence. The standard qRT-PCR protocol was inefficient and amplification failed frequently, so we developed a high-fidelity qRT-PCR protocol, which utilizes a mix of two DNA polymerases (Taq and a proof-reading Tgo or ACCUZYME) to consistently amplify sequences. This allowed us to estimate the nuclear genome size of M. occidentalis as 88–90 ± 5 Mb. When compared to other arthropod genomes, this appears to be very small.     

Chromosome identification and karyotype analysis of Podophyllum hexandrum Roxb. ex Kunth using FISH

Podophyllum hexandrum is an important high altitude medicinal plant from Himalaya. Somatic chromosomes of this species were studied to delineate and physical mapping of repetitive rDNA sites to provide landmarks in chromosome identification. The karyotype formula of this species was found to be 6m + 2sm + 2st + 2t with secondary constriction in the chromosome 1 and 7. The FISH analysis of rDNA sites showed 4 sites for 18S rDNA and 2 sites for 5S rDNA. The chromosome number 1, 2, 5 and 6 can be identified based on 18S rDNA sites in their short arm and chromosome 1 and 2 can be identified by 5S rDNA site in the centromere region. The estimated genome size of this plant is 16.07 pg (1C).     

First nuclear DNA amounts in more than 300 angiosperms

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Genome size (DNA C-value) data are key biodiversity characters of fundamental significance used in a wide variety of biological fields. Since 1976, Bennett and colleagues have made scattered published and unpublished genome size data more widely accessible by assembling them into user-friendly compilations. Initially these were published as hard copy lists, but since 1997 they have also been made available electronically (see the Plant DNA C-values database http://www.kew.org/cval/homepage.html). Nevertheless, at the Second Plant Genome Size Meeting in 2003, Bennett noted that as many as 1000 DNA C-value estimates were still unpublished and hence unavailable. Scientists were strongly encouraged to communicate such unpublished data. The present work combines the databasing experience of the Kew-based authors with the unpublished C-values produced by Zonneveld to make a large body of valuable genome size data available to the scientific community. METHODS: C-values for angiosperm species, selected primarily for their horticultural interest, were estimated by flow cytometry using the fluorochrome propidium iodide. The data were compiled into a table whose form is similar to previously published lists of DNA amounts by Bennett and colleagues. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The present work contains C-values for 411 taxa including first values for 308 species not listed previously by Bennett and colleagues. Based on a recent estimate of the global published output of angiosperm DNA C-value data (i.e. 200 first C-value estimates per annum) the present work equals 1.5 years of average global published output; and constitutes over 12 % of the latest 5-year global target set by the Second Plant Genome Size Workshop (see http://www.kew.org/cval/workshopreport.html). Hopefully, the present example will encourage others to unveil further valuable data which otherwise may lie forever unpublished and unavailable for comparative analyses.