染色体展片法观察拟南芥雄性减数分裂过程中的染色体形态

减数分裂指DNA复制1次, 细胞核分裂2次, 产生染色体数目减半的单倍体配子, 是真核生物有性生殖所必需的环节。拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)是分子遗传学研究的传统模式生物。近年来, 随着显微镜技术的快速发展, 利用细胞学方法观察拟南芥减数分裂过程中的染色体形态和同源染色体互作事件, 将有助于深入认识减数分裂的分子遗传机制。该文详细描述了染色体展片法观察拟南芥雄性减数分裂细胞中的染色体形态。     

人类X染色体与Y染色体是否为同源染色体

对同源染色体的概念及人类X染色体与Y染色体的来源、形态结构、功能以及减数分裂中的行为等进行了讨论.X染色体与Y染色体虽然在形态、大小以及所含的基因等方面有差别,但从综合分析看,二者属于同源染色体,或者属于特殊的同源染色体.     

小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂染色体的简易制备

正常的减数分裂是有性生殖的前提,它保证了上下代之间染色体结构和数目的稳定性。几乎所有的核型异常都来自减数分裂过程中的错误,这些错误包括同源染色体不配对、染色体不分离(首次和二次不分离)、染色体结构畸变等。卵母细胞减数分裂过程中存在着两次停滞期,其中第一次停滞期长达几个月至几年甚至几十年。在此期间卵母细胞受环境或自身病变的影响,极容易发生染色体畸变。有报道表明,卵母细胞比精母细胞在减数分裂过程中更容易发生错误。     

水稻减数分裂过程中染色体重组交换行为

减数分裂在有性生物的生命周期中起着非常重要的作用,其过程高度保守。减数分裂过程中,染色体配对、联会和重组是遗传变异的源泉、有性生物进化的推动力,也是减数分裂研究的热点之一。在植物减数分裂研究中,还不可能直接观察到染色体在减数分裂过程中的交换情况,往往是通过交换后群体的遗传分析来推测。文章通过图示基因型方法分析了来自花药培养的32个水稻双单倍体(DH)株系,发现少数株系某些染色体部分区段为杂合状态,并利用STS分子标记对杂合状态的真实性进行了验证,推测杂合区段的出现可能与染色体的修复不完全或修复错误有关。研究结果为解释植物减数分裂的机理提供了直接证据。     

水稻减数分裂染色体分析方法

减数分裂粗线期染色体研究技术的发展, 很大程度上克服了水稻(Oryza sativa)细胞遗传研究中较小染色体所带来的研究困难。减数分裂染色体的制备与观察已经成为水稻细胞遗传学研究中的常规方法。该文详细描述了水稻中常用的减数分裂染色体制备、荧光原位杂交和免疫荧光染色的实验方法。     

水稻减数分裂染色体分析方法

减数分裂粗线期染色体研究技术的发展, 很大程度上克服了水稻(Oryza sativa)细胞遗传研究中较小染色体所带来的研究困难。减数分裂染色体的制备与观察已经成为水稻细胞遗传学研究中的常规方法。该文详细描述了水稻中常用的减数分裂染色体制备、荧光原位杂交和免疫荧光染色的实验方法。     

植物减数分裂中的染色体配对、联会和重组研究进展

减数分裂是有性生殖的关键步骤,而染色体配对、联会和重组又是减数分裂的重要环节,也是减数分裂研究的热点之一。近些年来,借助于先进的分子生物学和细胞学技术,通过大量突变体的筛选,在植物减数分裂中染色体的配对、联会和重组研究取得了长足的进展。文章就目前克隆的植物减数分裂中染色体配对、联会和重组相关的基因及功能研究进行了总结,并进一步对其分子机制进行了探讨。     

蝽科精巢细胞减数分裂染色体行为及其反映的属种间亲缘关系

为探讨蝽科精巢细胞减数分裂各时期染色体形态和行为差异, 以及据此反映的属种间亲缘关系, 采用常规染色体制片法对蝽科6属9种精巢细胞减数分裂各期染色体形态特征、 行为及精子的形成进行了观察和比较研究。结果表明： 蝽科精巢细胞为交叉型减数分裂, “O”型交叉为其典型交叉减数分裂形式。各属种减数分裂各期染色体行为相似, 但形态不同。减数分裂各期染色体形态、 排列方式, 中期染色体相对长度、 组成与核型以及精子形态等特征具有属种间差异性。蝽科精巢细胞中期Ⅰ染色体组平均相对长度都为12.5, 在进化过程中染色体组长度信息总量不变。基于染色体相对长度的聚类分析结果显示, 菜蝽属Eurydema、 麦蝽属Aelia、 珠蝽属Rubiconia和条蝽属Graphosoma亲缘关系密切, 而二星蝽属Stollia与果蝽属Carpocoris关系较近。     

植物减数分裂染色体配对与染色体组分析的研究进展

简要介绍了植物减数分裂染色体配对研究。综述了减数分裂染色体配对研究在鉴定异源易位系、确定多倍体物种类型、分析物种间亲缘关系和物种的染色体组来源及探讨杂种不育的细胞遗传学机制等诸多方面的应用进展。分析了影响染色体配对的主要因素, 如配对控制体系、遗传背景和外界环境条件等,并展望了染色体配对研究与其他技术结合在染色体组分析中的应用前景。     

染色体浓缩素

染色体的形成是细胞周期的重要事件,然而有关染色体构筑动力学的分子机制仍未阐明。近年来对染色体浓缩素的分离与研究,为认识DNA浓缩和染色体构建机制提供了重要的线索,是细胞生物学研究领域的里程碑。现对浓缩素的发现过程,浓缩素在有丝分裂和减数分裂中的作用,浓缩素与黏着素的关系,浓缩素参与基因调节等方面进行综述,为相关领域的研究者提供参考。     

A New Property of the Maize B Chromosome

TB-9Sb is a translocation between the B chromosome and chromosome 9 in maize. Certain deletions of B chromatin from the translocation cause a sharp decrease in B-9 transmission compared to the rate for standard TB-9Sb. The deletions remove components of a B chromosome genetic system that serves to suppress meiotic loss in the female. At least two distinct B-chromosome regions suppress meiotic loss: one on the B-9 and one on 9-B. The system operates by stabilizing univalent B-type chromosomes. It allows the univalents to migrate to one pole in meiosis, despite the absence of a pairing partner. The findings reported here are the first evidence for genetic control of meiotic loss by a B chromosome. However, it is proposed that the practice of suppressing meiotic loss is common to the B chromosomes of all species. The need to suppress meiotic loss results from the fact that B chromosomes are frequently unpaired in meiosis and subject to very high frequencies of loss. B chromosomes may utilize one or more of the following methods to suppress meiotic loss: (a) regular migration of univalent B's to one pole in meiosis, (b) enhanced recombination between B chromosomes and (c) mitotic nondisjunction.     

Chromosome abnormalities in the human oocyte

Aneuploidy is the most commonly occurring type of chromosome abnormality and the most significant clinically. It arises mostly due to segregation errors taking place during female meiosis and is also closely associated with advancing maternal age. Two main aneuploidy-causing mechanisms have been described: the first involves the non-disjunction of entire chromosomes and can take place during both meiotic divisions, whereas the second involves the premature division of a chromosome into its 2 sister chromatids, followed by their random segregation, upon completion of meiosis I. To elucidate the causal mechanisms of maternally derived aneuploidy and the manner with which they affect the 2 meiotic divisions, a large number of oocytes and their corresponding polar bodies have been examined. Various classical and molecular cytogenetic methods have been employed for this purpose, and valuable data have been obtained. Moreover, research into the gene expression patterns of oocytes according to maturity, maternal age, and chromosome status has provided a unique insight into the complex nature of the biological processes and genetic pathways regulating female meiosis. Findings obtained from the cytogenetic and molecular analysis of oocytes will be reviewed in this article.     

Chromosome elimination in sciarid flies

The programmed elimination of part of the genome through chromosome loss or chromatin diminution constitutes an exceptional biological process found to be present in several diverse groups of organisms. The occurrence of this phenomenon during early embryogenesis is generally correlated to somatic versus germ-line differentiation. A most outstanding example of chromosome elimination and genomic imprinting is found in sciarid flies, where whole chromosomes of exclusive parental origin are selectively eliminated at different developmental stages. Three types of tissue-specific chromosome elimination events occur in sciarids. During early cleavages, one or two X paternal chromosomes is/are discarded from somatic cells of embryos which then develop as females or males respectively. Thus, the sex of the embryo is determined by the number of eliminated paternal X chromosomes. In germ cells, instead, a single paternal X chromosome is eliminated in embryos of both sexes. In addition, while female meiosis is orthodox, male meiosis is highly unusual as the whole paternal chromosome set is discarded from spermatocytes. As a consequence, only maternally derived chromosomes are included in the functional sperm. This paper reviews current cytological and molecular knowledge on the tissue-specific cell mechanisms evolved to achieve chromosome elimination in sciarids.     

Chromosome condensation in mitosis and meiosis of rye (Secale cereale L.)

Structural investigation and morphometry of meiotic chromosomes by scanning electron microscopy (in comparison to light microscopy) of all stages of condensation of meiosis I + II show remarkable differences during chromosome condensation in mitosis and meiosis I of rye (Secale cereale) with respect to initiation, mode and degree of condensation. Mitotic chromosomes condense in a linear fashion, shorten in length and increase moderately in diameter. In contrast, in meiosis I, condensation of chromosomes in length and diameter is a sigmoidal process with a retardation in zygotene and pachytene and an acceleration from diplotene to diakinesis. The basic structural components of mitotic chromosomes of rye are "parallel fibers" and "chromomeres" which become highly compacted in metaphase. Although chromosome architecture in early prophase of meiosis seems similar to mitosis in principle, there is no equivalent stage during transition to metaphase I when chromosomes condense to a much higher degree and show a characteristic "smooth" surface. No indication was found for helical winding of chromosomes either in mitosis or in meiosis. Based on measurements, we propose a mechanism for chromosome dynamics in mitosis and meiosis, which involves three individual processes: (i) aggregation of chromatin subdomains into a chromosome filament, (ii) condensation in length, which involves a progressive increase in diameter and (iii) separation of chromatids.     

Molecular Mechanisms of Homologous Chromosome Pairing and Segregation in Plants

In most eukaryotic species, three basic steps of pairing, recombination and synapsis occur during prophase of meiosis I. Homologous chromosomal pairing and recombination are essential for accurate segregation of chromosomes. In contrast to the well-studied processes such as recombination and synapsis, many aspects of chromosome pairing are still obscure. Recent progress in several species indicates that the telomere bouquet formation can facilitate homologous chromosome pairing by bringing chromosome ends into close proximity, but the sole presence of telomere clustering is not sufficient for recognizing homologous pairs. On the other hand, accurate segregation of the genetic material from parent to offspring during meiosis is dependent on the segregation of homologs in the reductional meiotic division （MI） with sister kinetochores exhibiting mono-orientation from the same pole, and the segregation of sister chromatids during the equational meiotic division （MII） with kinetochores showing bi-orientation from the two poles. The underlying mechanism of orientation and segregation is still unclear. Here we focus on recent studies in plants and other species that provide insight into how chromosomes find their partners and mechanisms mediating chromosomal segregation.     

Chromosome nondisjunction in Drosophila strains mutant for tumor suppressor Merlin

The effect of mutation for gene Merlin on chromosome disjunction in Drosophila during meiosis was genetically studied. Chromosome nondisjunction was not registered in females heterozygous for this mutation and containing structurally normal X chromosomes. In cases when these females additionally contained inversion in one of chromosomes X, a tendency toward the appearance of nondisjunction events was observed in individuals containing mutation in the heterozygote. The genetic construct was obtained allowing the overexpression of protein corresponding to a sterile allele Mer3 in the germ cell line. This construct relieves the lethal effect of Mer4 mutation. The ectopic expression of this mutant protein leads to chromosome nondisjunction in male meiosis.     

Chromosome 'speed dating' during meiosis of polyploid Brassica hybrids and haploids

Given their tremendous importance for correct chromosome segregation, the number and distribution of crossovers are tightly controlled during meiosis. In this review, we give an overview of crossover formation in polyploid Brassica hybrids and haploids that illustrates or underscores several aspects of crossover control. We first demonstrate that multiple targets for crossover formation (i.e. different but related chromosomes or duplicated regions) are sorted out during meiosis based on their level of relatedness. In euploid Brassica napus (AACC; 2n = 38), crossovers essentially occur between homologous chromosomes and only a few of them form between homeologues. The situation is different in B. napus haploids in which crossovers preferentially occur between homeologous chromosomes and a few can then form between more divergent duplicated regions. We then provide evidence that the frequency of crossovers between a given pair of chromosomes is influenced by the karyotypic and genetic composition of the plants that undergo meiosis. For instance, genetic evidence indicates that the number of crossovers between exactly the same pairs of homologous A chromosomes gets a boost in Brassica digenomic tetraploid (AACC) and triploid (AAC) hybrids. Increased autosyndesis within B. napus haploids as compared to monoploid B. rapa and B. oleracea is another illustration of this process. All these observations may suggest that polyploidization overall boosts up crossover machinery and/or that the number of crossovers is modulated through inter-bivalents or univalent-bivalent cross-talk effects. The last part of this review gives an up-to-date account of what we know about the genetic control of homologous and homeologous crossover formation among Brassica species.     

Estimating Tempo and Mode of Y Chromosome Turnover: Explaining Y Chromosome Loss With the Fragile Y Hypothesis

Chromosomal sex determination is phylogenetically widespread, having arisen independently in many lineages. Decades of theoretical work provide predictions about sex chromosome differentiation that are well supported by observations in both XY and ZW systems. However, the phylogenetic scope of previous work gives us a limited understanding of the pace of sex chromosome gain and loss and why Y or W chromosomes are more often lost in some lineages than others, creating XO or ZO systems. To gain phylogenetic breadth we therefore assembled a database of 4724 beetle species’ karyotypes and found substantial variation in sex chromosome systems. We used the data to estimate rates of Y chromosome gain and loss across a phylogeny of 1126 taxa estimated from seven genes. Contrary to our initial expectations, we find that highly degenerated Y chromosomes of many members of the suborder Polyphaga are rarely lost, and that cases of Y chromosome loss are strongly associated with chiasmatic segregation during male meiosis. We propose the “fragile Y” hypothesis, that recurrent selection to reduce recombination between the X and Y chromosome leads to the evolution of a small pseudoautosomal region (PAR), which, in taxa that require XY chiasmata for proper segregation during meiosis, increases the probability of aneuploid gamete production, with Y chromosome loss. This hypothesis predicts that taxa that evolve achiasmatic segregation during male meiosis will rarely lose the Y chromosome. We discuss data from mammals, which are consistent with our prediction.