Nuclear DNA content of Solanum species grown in vitro, as determined by flow cytometry

The DNA relative content in nuclei from several Solanum species, which were used as partners for somatic hybridization, were determined using a flow cytometry method. The nuclei were isolated mechanically or via protoplasts from leaves of in vitro grown plants. In the case of S. nigrum as well as S. tuberosum cv. Bzura and dihaploid clone H8105, the nuclei were also obtained from suspension cultured cells by lysis of protoplasts. The source and the method of nuclei isolation affected the pattern of nuclear DNA in the genotypes studied. The mesophyll nuclei showed two distinct peaks on the DNA histograms, whereas the DNA peaks produced by cell suspension nuclei were broad and less distinct. The DNA content in the nuclei, calculated from the DNA histograms of the samples and a DNA standard historgam (Trout Red Blood Cells, having DNA content of 5.05 pg per nucleus), were much lower in mesophyll nuclei than in those obtained from the cell suspension for the same genotypes. The results are discussed in respect of the genetic instability of Solanum genotypes. The usefulness of a flow cytometry approach in somatic hybridization research is also discussed.     

Analysis of Nuclear DNA content in plant cells by Flow cytometry

Flow cytometry was used to analyse the DNA content of nuclei isolated from intact plant tissues and from callus and cell suspension cultures invitro. Cell nuclei were isolated either mechanically (chopping, syringing) or by a hypotonic lysis of isolated protoplasts. Although both methods gave similar results, a slight shift to lower ploidy levels was observed after protoplast isolation from intact tissues and calli. No differences were observed if the two methods were compared using cell suspension cultures. The results showed that flow cytometry is a rapid method of nuclear DNA content analysis in intact plant tissues and variousin vitro cultures.     

Tissue-specific nuclear repatterning in plant cells

Tissue-specific nuclear repatternings, consisting of changes in the number and size of the chromocenters, were observed by analyzing, in Feulgen squashes and sections, different tissues of several plant species, particularly of Ionopsidium savianum. Nuclear repatternings occur mainly near the base of the meristems. They are due to associations of chromosomes at their heterochromatic regions. This was confirmed by the results of cytophotometric measurements, showing the same contents of both Feulgen/DNA and heterochromatin in nuclei with a different number of chromocenters. These data also showed that chromosome association does not occur in endoreduplicating or endoreduplicated cells. Autoradiographic results after [3H]thymidine treatments indicated that DNA synthesis does not occur in nuclei with extensive chromosome association. A highly significant, positive correlation was found between the number of chromocenters in each nucleus and the amount of RNA synthesis as indicated by [3H]uridine incorporation. It is suggested that chromosome association plays some role in the regulation of the functional activity of the nucleus and in tissue differentiation.     

Isoenzymes and flow cytometry for the assessment of true-to-typeness of calluses and cell suspensions of barrel medic prior to regeneration

A successful exploitation of in vitro tools for breeding and for the understanding of gene functioning requires the regeneration of true-to-type plants and experiments were therefore performed with several genotypes of Medicago truncatula (J5, TRV25, TR122) to characterize mother plants and regenerating tissues. Each sample was assessed by flow cytometry and, whatever the genotype and regeneration pathway, a divergent phenotype was systematically linked to an abnormal nuclear DNA content. All samples assessed were classed according to their flow cytometry profiles into normal (true-to-type) material, aneuploids, endoreduplicated tissues, tetraploids, mixoploids and senescent tissues. Deviating calluses failed to regenerate or gave rise to infertile, non-viable plants. In turn, all tissues with non true-to-type flow cytometry profiles were examined in terms of isoenzyme banding patterns compared to the mother plants. Esterases, Peroxidases and Leucine aminopeptidase appeared to be the best isozyme systems to show differences between the original genotypes but also between diverging materials and the mother plants. Interestingly, such differences were more often qualitative (presence or absence of bands) than quantitative (i.e. differences in colour intensity of bands) thereby making easier an accurate distinction between genotypes. Peroxidases were prone to variation with culture medium and tissue age. The results stressed the importance of using more than one approach when undertaking the characterisation of materials as, for some of the genotypes analysed, differences compared to the respective mother plants could be shown with flow cytometry that were not reflected in a different banding pattern with isoenzymes.     

保存方法和保存时间对竹子核DNA含量 （2C-值） 检测的影响

竹子核DNA含量（2C 值）的检测对竹资源的科学研究具有重要意义,而大部分野外采集的样本,通过不同方法保存后,均使用流式细胞仪技术进行核DNA含量检测。本文选取麻竹（Dendrocalamus latiflorus）、筇竹（Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda）和毛花酸竹（Acidosasa purpurea）三种竹子样本,使用硅胶保存法和Sample protector试剂保存法分别保存4d、8d、12d、16d后,采用流式细胞术检测样品2C 值。CV值可以用来反映数据检测结果质量,是对检测结果准确性以及精确性的评价标准,我们通过样品CV值的大小和2C 值的变异率来评价保存方法和保存时间对竹子2C 值检测的影响。方差分析显示,保存时间对CV值具有显著性影响（P < 0001）,随着保存时间增大,CV值增大;保存方法对2C 值变异率有显著性影响(P < 0001)。硅胶保存法保存后的样品,测量值比新鲜材料大;Sample protector试剂保存法保存后,测量值比新鲜材料小。因此,随着保存时间的增加,样品CV值增大,引起检测结果质量降低。研究发现,硅胶保存法和Sample protector试剂保存法会影响竹子样本2C 值大小,但2C 值大小的变化小于10%。     

兔出血症病毒在体外诱导细胞凋亡

The apoptosis of RK13 cells induced by RHDV was investigated with DAPI staining,DNA ladder,Caspase 3 activity and flow cytometry,etc.The results showed that nuclear staining of infected cells with DAPI showed gradually morphological changes of the nuclei.As shown in the paper,a canonic oligonucleosome-sized DNA ladder was observed in cells harvested at 24h,48h and 72h post-infection,confirming that DNA fragmentation was induced by RHDV infection.The results of flow cytometry showed that about 63 % of cells ...     

保存方法和保存时间对竹子核DNA含量（2C-值）检测的影响

竹子核DNA含量（2C-值）的检测对竹资源的科学研究具有重要意义,而大部分野外采集的样本,通过不同方法保存后,均使用流式细胞仪技术进行核DNA含量检测。本文选取麻竹（Dendrocalamuslati—florus）、筇竹（Chimonobambusatumidissinoda）和毛花酸竹（Acidosasapurpurea）三种竹子样本,使用硅胶保存法和Sampleprotector试剂保存法分别保存4d、8d、12d、16d后,采用流式细胞术检测样品2c．值。CV值可以用来反映数据检测结果质量,是对检测结果准确性以及精确性的评价标准,我们通过样品CV值的大小和2c-值的变异率来评价保存方法和保存时间对竹子2c-值检测的影响。方差分析显示,保存时间对CV值具有显著性影响（P〈0．001）,随着保存时间增大,CV值增大;保存方法对2c-值变异率有显著性影响（P〈0．001）。硅胶保存法保存后的样品,测量值比新鲜材料大;Sampleprotector试剂保存法保存后,测量值比新鲜材料小。因此,随着保存时间的增加,样品CV值增大,引起检测结果质量降低。研究发现,硅胶保存法和Sampleprotector试剂保存法会影响竹子样本2c．值大小,但2c-值大小的变化小于10％。     

Preparation of tissues for DNA flow cytometric analysis

A method for measuring DNA in tissue cells by flow cytometry utilizing a one step combination nuclear isolation-DNA fluorochrome staining procedure is described. A variety of cells and tissues, both in vivo and in vitro, was used to illustrate the universal nature of this technique. These included murine bone marrow, liver testicle, sarcoma brain tumor, rat pancreatic islets, human peripheral blood, colon mucosa, colon cancer, sarcoma and brain tumor tissues. A special nuclear isolation medium, which contained either of the DNA fluorochromes, 4',6-diamidino-2 phenylindole-2 HCl or propidium iodide, was utilized successfully to isolate single suspensions of DNA fluorochrome stained nuclei in a rapid (5-10 min), consistent manner from a variety of tissues and cells. Multiple sampling of the same tissue or comparison between whole tissues and their single cell isolates showed that a representative sample was being obtained.     

COMPARISON OF PLANT DNA CONTENTS DETERMINED BY FEULGEN MICROSPECTROPHOTOMETRY AND LASER FLOW CYTOMETRY

An improved procedure is reported for determining DNA amounts of plant nuclei. Nuclei stained with propidium iodide, isolated from chopped plant leaves, were passed through an Ortho Cytofluorograph with a Lexel model 95 argon laser (514 nm) and the fluorescence measured, integrated, and recorded using an Ortho 2140 Data Acquisition computer. All nuclear samples were mixed with nuclei of Sultan barley (2C DNA content = 11.12 pg [picogram]) as an internal standard. DNA contents of ten plant species, ranging from 2C = 1.7 pg to 36.1 pg measured by flow cytometry, correlated strongly (r = 0.99, slope = + 1.00) with DNA contents determined from Feulgen-stained nuclei of the same species using microspectrophotometry. The flow cytometric procedures were sufficiently sensitive to detect differences in DNA content between inbred lines of corn and their F1 hybrids. Our results obtained with improved procedures, specifically using propidium iodide as a fluorochrome and plant nuclei instead of chicken erythrocytes as an internal standard, demonstrate that laser flow cytometry can be a precise, rapid, and reliable method for determining nuclear DNA content of plants.     

Detection of changes in the nuclear phase and evaluation of male germ units by flow cytometry during in vitro pollen tube growth in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alstroemeria aurea</Emphasis>

This study aimed to analyze male gamete behavior from mature pollen to pollen tube growth in the bicellular pollen species Alstroemeria aurea. For mature pollen, pollen protoplasts were examined using flow cytometry. The protoplasts showed two peaks of DNA content at 1C and 1.90C. Flow cytometry at different developmental stages of pollen tubes cultured in vitro revealed changes in the nuclear phase at 9 and 18 h after culture. Sperm cell formation occurred at 6–9 h after culture, indicating that the first change was due to the division of the generative cells into sperm cells. After sperm cell formation, the number of vegetative nucleus associations with sperm cells showed a tendency to increase. This association was suggested as the male germ unit (MGU). When sperm cells, vegetative nuclei, and partial MGUs were collected separately from pollen tubes cultured for 18 h and analyzed using a flow cytometer, the sperm cells and vegetative nuclei contained 1C DNA, while the DNA content of partial MGUs was counted as 2C. Therefore, the second change in the nuclear phase, which results in an increase in 2C nuclei, is possibly related to the formation of MGUs.     

High-resolution flow cytometry of nuclear DNA in higher plants

Summary High-resolution flow cytometry of nuclear DNA in higher plants has been performed from chopped plant tissues and plant protoplasts. A preparation and staining procedure with the DNA specific fluorochrome DAPI, successfully employed for precise flow cytometric DNA analysis of animal and human cells has been used in a slightly modified manner for the DNA analysis of plant cell material. High-resolution DNA histograms coefficients of variation about 1–1.5% have been obtained routinely from plant species with different DNA content. Staining of nuclei with DAPI in combination with the protein fluorochrome sulforhodamine 101 allows bi-parametric analysis of nuclear DNA and protein. The described simple and precise method might be very promising for the analysis of DNA in basic and applied cytogenetic investigations of plant cell research.Abbreviations CV coefficient of variation - DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole - SR 101 sulforhodamine 101     

Nuclear changes accompanying cell differentiation in stems of Pisum sativum L.

Summary Nuclear DNA, nuclear protein and nuclear size have been measured in cells of the cortex, pith and vascular tissue from three successive internodes in the stem of Pisum sativum. New techniques of computer-linked cytophotometry were used to measure these parameters simultaneously in both section and squash preparations. In cortical cells no endoreduplicated nuclei were seen in the internodes measured. In cortical cells from the oldest internode measured, a population of large nuclei with the 2C DNA amount was observed which was not present in the younger internodes. In the oldest pith nuclei measured a few 8C nuclei were present, but maturing pith was most characterized by increasing nuclear size and the population of nuclei accumulating with the 4C DNA amount. Polyploid nuclei were present in all of the vascular tissue measured, including the youngest internode. Maturing vascular tissue was also characterized by increasing nuclear size. Nuclear protein measurements demonstrated a close link between nuclear protein and nuclear size and suggest that increased nuclear size, with constant DNA content, may be due to increased nuclear protein. This raises the question of the nature and function of this nuclear protein, perhaps more characteristic of differentiating cells than dividing cells.To whom offprint requests should be sent     

基于液氮研磨法的流式细胞术检测马铃薯倍性的研究

染色体组倍性鉴定是马铃薯种质资源评价的重要内容,流式细胞仪能够快速、准确地对细胞核DNA含量进行测定,从而广泛用于检测植物染色体组倍性。建立适于马铃薯倍性鉴定的高通量流式细胞术体系,对马铃薯育种工作提供依据。以20份马铃薯合作88孤雌诱导后代为材料,用液氮研磨法制备叶片细胞核悬液,并将其与传统刀片切碎法制备的细胞核悬液进行比较,对已知四倍体马铃薯合作88和二倍体马铃薯IVP101进行染色体倍性测定,结果发现这两种方法在倍性测定结果之间无明显差异,但是液氮研磨法操作简单、耗时少。基于液氮研磨法的流式细胞术可快速、准确检测其倍性。另外,在液氮研磨法中,对细胞核悬液染色时间的长短(从15 min到12 h)并不会影响倍性测定结果,从而方便研究人员在实际操作中灵活选择染色时间。     

Isolation of plant nuclei suitable for flow cytometry from recalcitrant tissue by use of a filtration column

Flow cytometry is widely applied in the determination of nuclear DNA content and ploidy level in many organisms. However, a difficulty with flow cytometry is the method's intrinsic inability to tolerate large particles that associate with the isolated nuclei. A suspension of plant nuclei can often contain a high level of crystalline calcium oxalate, which blocks the fluidics system of the flow cytometer. We designed a cotton column and added polyvinylpyrrolidone-40 to the buffer to remove phenolic impurities and cytoplasmic compounds from plant nuclei, making the suspension suitable for flow cytometry. This simple and highly efficient protocol enables isolation of intact nuclei from plant tissues containing high levels of polysaccharides, calcium oxalate crystals and other metabolites. Our protocol resulted in the isolation of intact nuclei from mature orchid leaves. This method can be used on recalcitrant tissues and is particularly effective on plants containing calcium oxalate crystals.     

Plant Genome Size Measurement with DNA Image Cytometry

To test the reliability of DNA image cytometry for the measurement of nuclear DNA content in plant material, we conducted independent experiments in two laboratories using different image analysis instruments for densitometric measurement of nuclear DNA amount in Feulgen-stained squash preparations of root tips. The 2C nuclear DNA content of the nine species studied spanned a 100-fold range (approx. 0.3–33 pg). The estimates of nuclear DNA content measured with image cytometry methods were comparable to values obtained previously using both photometric cytometry and flow cytometry. Image cytometry methods showed little variation among repeated experiments within each laboratory or among different operators using the same instrument. Furthermore, the interphase-peak method (measurement of several hundred interphase nuclei per slide) was comparable to the classical prophase/telophase approach (measurement of ten early prophase and ten late telophase nuclei per slide). Hence, DNA image cytometry gives accurate and reproducible results and may be used as an alternative to photometric cytometry in plant nuclear DNA content measurements. In the present study, we propose that two standards for quality control of nuclear DNA content measurement are used in plant DNA image cytometry: (1) the coefficient of variation of the peak should be lower than 6%, and (2) the 4C/2C ratio should be between 1.9 and 2.1.     

Palmitate induces structural alterations in nuclei of cardiomyocytes

The objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis that the alterations of cardiac nuclei, that has been noted in some cardiomyopathies, can be produced by palmitate, a saturated fatty acid present in high circulating concentrations in patients with conditions associated with a high probability of developing cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyocytes isolated from embryonic chick ventricle were maintained in culture for 72 h and then treated with palmitate, 100 microM for 24 h. Cells were stained with acridine orange or Giemsa and examined microscopically. Cell size and nuclear size were examined by forward light scatter during flow cytometry. Cells were permeabilized and their nuclei were stained with propidium iodide and examined by flow cytometry on populations of 10,000 cells. Cardiomyocytes treated with palmitate displayed changes in nuclear appearance as nuclei were larger, relative to cell size, with more intense acridine orange staining in a peripheral location. Nucleoli were often disrupted. Palmitate produced a significant (P < 0.001) and 17% increase in nuclear size compared to untreated cells using flow cytometry analysing forward light scatter to estimate nuclear and whole cells size. There were no significant changes in the size of the whole cell and ratio of nucleus to whole cell was significantly (P < 0.01) increased compared to control cells. Fluorescent activating cell sorting analysis of propidium iodide stained nuclei demonstrated that the nuclear enlargement was not due to cell mitosis as the proportion of nuclei in Go/G1, S or M was not changed by palmitate. In summary, these studies identify that palmitate can induce structural abnormalities of cardiomyocytes nuclei by producing increased nuclear size and nucleolar destruction.     

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.     

Assessment of genetic stability of the germplasm lines of medicinal plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scutellaria baicalensis</Emphasis> Georgi (Huang-qin) in long-term,in vitro maintained cultures

An approach of combining flow cytometry (FCM) analysis with morphological and chemical profiling was used to assess the genetic stability and bioactive compound diversity in a Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Huang-qin) germplasm collection that was clonally maintained in in vitro for a period of over 6 years. Based on the FCM analysis of nuclei samples from young shoots, the nuclear DNA content of S. baicalensis was calculated as 0.84 pg/2C. FCM analysis showed no significant variation in the nuclear DNA contents and ploidy levels in the long-term in vitro maintained germplasm lines. Germplasm lines, acclimatized to ex vitro conditions, exhibited distinctive plant growth and bioactive compound production capacities. The high level of genetic stability observed in in vitro maintained S. baicalensis lines opens up a variety of opportunities such as allowing long-term aseptic preservation and easy distribution of well-characterized germplasm lines of this medicinal plant species. This study represents a novel approach for continuous maintenance, monitoring, and production of medicinal plant tissues with specific chemistry.     

Correlation between flow cytometric determination of nuclear DNA content and chromosome number in somatic hybrids within Brassicaceae

Summary Fourty-one somatic hybrids from two species combinations, Brassica oleracea + B. campestris and B. napus + Eruca sativa, were analysed for chromosome number and nuclear DNA content. The DNA content was measured in a flow cytometer using two internal standards as references and when related to the chromosome number a correlation of 0.91 was found. The chromosome number of the hybrids could be determined with an accuracy of ±10% by using flow cytometry, and the smallest statistically significant difference in DNA content between two individuals was 0.23 pg DNA/cell.     

NUCLEAR SYNCHRONY IN VALONIA MACROPHYSA(CHLOROPHYTA): LIGHT MICROSCOPY AND FLOW CYTOMETRY1

The coenocytic alga Valonia macrophysa Kützing was selected for an investigation of nuclear synchrony in the order Siphonocladales. Light microscopy reveals that nuclear synchrony is evident as patches of nuclei dividing simultaneously. Flow cytometry was utilized for the first time with a macroalga for cell-cycle analysis. Results indicate that nuclei in the entire cell exhibit a high degree of synchrony throughout the cell cycle. Also it appears that cells within a clonal culture are synchronous with each other, in their progression through the cell cycle. The advantages of using flow cytometry for cell-cycle analysis of coenocytic algae include the rapid collection of quantitative data on relative DNA content for a large number of nuclei.