Discrimination of the closely related A and B genomes in AABB tetraploid species of Avena

Fluorescent in situ (FISH) and Southern hybridization procedures were used to investigate the chromosomal distribution and genomic organization of the satellite DNA sequence As120a (specific to the A-genome chromosomes of hexaploid oats) in two tetraploid species, Avena barbata and Avena vaviloviana. These species have AB genomes. In situ hybridization of pAs120a to tetraploid oat species revealed elements of this repeated family to be distributed over both arms of 14 of the 28 chromosomes of these species. Genomes A and B were subsequently distinguished, indicating an allopolyploid origin for A. barbata. This was confirmed by assigning the satellited chromosomes to individual genomes, using the satellite itself and two ribosomal probes in simultaneous and sequential in situ hybridization analyses. Differences between A. barbata and A. vaviloviana genomes were also revealed by both FISH and Southern techniques using pAs120a probes. Whereas two B-genome chromosome pairs were found to be involved in intergenomic translocations in A. vaviloviana, FISH detected no intergenomic rearrangements in A. barbata. When using pAs120a as a probe, Southern hybridization also revealed differences in the hybridization patterns of the two genomes. A 1300-bp EcoRV fragment was present in A. barbata but absent in A. vaviloviana. This fragment was also detected in Southern analyses of A-genome diploid and hexaploid oat species. Received: 27 November 2000 / Accepted: 28 February 2001     

In situ hybridization (FISH) maps chromosomal homologies between Alouatta belzebul (Platyrrhini,Cebidae) and other primates and reveals extensive interchromosomal rearrangements between howler monkey genomes

We hybridized whole human chromosome specific probes to metaphases of the black-and-red howler monkey Alouatta belzebul in order to establish chromosomal homology between humans and black-and-red howlers. The results show that the black-and-red howler monkey has a highly rearranged genome and that the human chromosome homologs are often fragmented and translocated. The number of hybridization signals we obtained per haploid set was 40. Nine human chromosome probes gave multiple signals on different howler chromosomes, showing that their synteny is disturbed in A. Belzebul. Fourteen black-and-red howler autosomes were completely hybridized by one human autosomal paint, six had two signals, three had three signals, and one chromosome had four signals. Howler chromosomes with multiple signals have produced 12 chromosomal syntenies or hybridization associations which differ from those found in humans: 1/2, 2/20, 3/21, 4/15, 4/16, 5/7, 5/11, 8/18, 9/12, 10/16, 14/15, and 15/22. The hybridization pattern was then compared with those found in two red howler taxa and other mammals. The comparison shows that even within the genus Alouatta numerous interchromosomal rearrangements differentiate each taxa: A. belzebul has six unique apomorphic associations, A. seniculus sara and A. seniculus arctoidea share seven derived associations, and additionally A. seniculus sara has four apomorphic associations and A. seniculus arctoideaseven apomorphic associations. A. belzebul appears to have a more conserved karyotype than the red howlers. Both red and black-and-red howlers are characterized by Y-autosome translocations; the peculiar chromosomal sex system found in the red howler taxa could be considered a further transformation of the A. belzebul sex system. The finding that apparently morphologically similar or even identical taxa have such extreme genomic differences has important implications for speciation theory and neotropical primate conservation. Am. J. Primatol. 46:119–133, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Repositioning of ETO gene in cells treated with VP-16, an inhibitor of DNA-topoisomerase II

The translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22) affecting AML1 and ETO genes is known to be one of the frequent chromosome translocations in acute myeloid leukemia. But no data have been available up to date concerning mutual positioning of these particular genes in the nucleus of a living cell as well as the mechanism of their rapprochement and realignment. Here we show that there is no proximity between these two genes in the primary nuclei of normal human male fibroblasts and moreover that these genes are located in different nuclear layers. But we further show that treatment of cells with VP-16 (etoposide), an inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase II widely used in anticancer chemotherapy, causes the ETO gene repositioning which allows AML1 and ETO genes to be localized in the same nuclear layer. Inhibitor studies demonstrate that such an effect is likely to be connected with the formation of stalled cleavable complexes on DNA. Finally, inhibition of ETO gene repositioning by 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) suggests that this process depends on nuclear myosin. Together, our data corroborate the so called "breakage first" model of the origins of recurrent reciprocal translocation.     

Distribution and range expansion of deer in Ireland

• 1 Throughout Europe, the range of many deer species is expanding. We provide current distribution maps for red deer Cervus elaphus, sika Cervus nippon, fallow deer Dama dama and muntjac deer Muntiacus sp. in Ireland, and estimates of range expansion rates for red deer, sika and fallow deer.
• 2 There was a considerable expansion in the ranges of red deer, sika and fallow deer between 1978 and 2008. The compound annual rate of expansion was 7% for red deer, 5% for sika and 3% for fallow deer. The total range increase was 565% for red deer, 353% for sika and 174% for fallow deer. The potential implications of these expansions are discussed.
• 3 There are unknown numbers of red‐sika hybrid deer in some parts of Ireland. Range expansion is likely to lead to further hybridizations with implications for the genetic integrity of deer stocks.
• 4 Sightings of free‐roaming muntjac deer were first recorded in 2007. The distribution of confirmed sightings of single and multiple animals in the eastern region of Ireland suggests multiple releases.
• 5 Deer are already impacting on both the economic and biodiversity values of habitats in Ireland, where, at present, no sustainable deer management policy exists.

     

Characterisation of the double genome structure of modern sugarcane cultivars (Saccharum spp.) by molecular cytogenetics

Cultivated sugarcane clones (Saccharum spp., 2n=100 to 130) are derived from complex interspecific hybridizations between the speciesS. officinarum andS. spontaneum. Using comparative genomic DNA in situ hybridization, we demonstrated that it is possible to distinguish the chromosomes contributed by these two species in an interspecific F1 hybrid and a cultivated clone, R570. In the interspecific F1 studied, we observed n+n transmission of the parental chromosomes instead of the peculiar 2n+n transmission usually described in such crosses. Among the chromosomes of cultivar R570 (2n=107–115) about 10% were identified as originating fromS. spontaneum and about 10% were identified as recombinant chromosomes between the two speciesS. officinarum andS. spontaneum. This demonstrated for the first time the occurrence of recombination between the chromosomes of these two species. The rDNA sites were located by in situ hybridization in these two species and the cultivar R570. This supported different basic chromosome numbers and chromosome structural differences between the two species and provided a first bridge between physical and genetical mapping in sugarcane.     

Production and identification of new structural chromosome mutations in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

A total of 52 reciprocal translocations and 9 pericentric inversions were induced and identified in both standard and cytologically marked barley karyotypes using gamma-rays as the clastogenic agent. An analysis based upon Giemsa N-banding patterns and arm length measurements of the reconstructed chromosomes enabled a rather precise cytological localization of intra- and interchange breakpoints. This analysis was significantly facilitated and improved, especially for the identification of pericentric inversions, when the reconstructed karyotype T-1586 was used as starting material. The majority, if not all, of the aberration breakpoints proved to be localized in interband regions or in medial and terminal parts of the chromosomes, i.e., in regions which are deficient in constitutive heterochromatin. A great number of the structural mutations produced in this study contain specific cytological markers covering nearly all of the chromosomes of barley karyotype. This material might be of considerable interest in solving various problems of barley cytogenetics and chromosome engineering and especially in constructing a physical map of barley genome.     

Identification of the 1RS rye chromosomal segment in wheat by RAPD analysis

The introgression of rye DNA into the wheat genome was studied using random decamer and specific primers with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA from paired near-isolines in Chisholm and Arkan backgrounds differing with respect to the presence of a 1 RS.1 BL translocation was amplified with 120 arbitrary sequence primers. Two of the primers (OPR 19 and OPJ07) amplified rye-specific DNA fragments. The OPR19 primer amplified a 1.35-kb fragment that appeared to be specific to the 1 RS.1 BL translocation, based on its presence only in lines carrying the 1 RS. 1 BL translocation. A fragment of the same size was also amplified in 1 RS.1 AL translocation lines. This 1 RS. 1 BL marker locus was designated Ximc 1. The other primer, OPJ07, amplified a 1.2-kb DNA sequence, that was designated Ximc 2, specific to the wheat-rye translocation in various wheat backgrounds. The sequences of the two marker loci were found to be different from each other. The Ximc 1 locus was a low-copy sequence which was also present in Balboa rye genomic DNA. Through the use of specific primers, the presence of the rye-specific marker was confirmed in hexaploid as well as in tetraploid wheat backgrounds. The use of RAPDs for the study of smaller alien introgressions into wheat is discussed.     

Production and cytogenetics of Brassica campestris-alboglabra chromosome addition lines

 Four different Brassica campestris-alboglabra monosomic addition lines (AA+1 chromosome from C, 2n=21) were obtained after consecutive backcrosses between resynthesized B. napus (AACC, 2n=38) and the parental B. campestris (AA, 2n=20) accession. The alien chromosomes of B. alboglabra (CC, 2n=18) in the addition lines were distinguished by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker analysis and morphology of mitotic chromosomes. Four RAPD marker synteny groups were established, which represented the four different alien chromosomes of B. alboglabra in the four addition lines. Three of the four addition lines were identified to harbour chromosomes 4, 8 or 9 of B. alboglabra. Studies on meiotic pairing in the addition lines revealed intergenomic homoeology relationships among specific chromosome arms between the A- and C-genomes. The long arm of B. campestris chromosome 9 was homoeologous with the long arm of B. alboglabra chromosome 4, while its short arm with the short arms of B. alboglabra chromosomes 8 and 9. Such an intergenomic homoeology relationship supports the hypothesis that B. campestris and B. alboglabra share a common ancestor but that chromosomal rearrangements have occurred during the evolution of the two species. Intergenomic introgression was observed in the progenies of the addition lines. The introgression of an entire B. alboglabra marker synteny group into the B. campestris genome implied the possible occurrence of interspecific chromosomal substitution. Received: 30 May 1996 / Accepted: 18 October 1996     

Cytological characterization,powdery mildew resistance and storage protein composition of tetraploid and hexaploid 1BL/1RS wheat-rye translocation lines

Summary Progenies of a tetraploid 1BL/1RS wheat-rye translocation line, CV 256, selected from the cross Cando x Veery, were analyzed by means of Giemsa C-banding. CV 256 is cytologically stable for the presence of the 1BL/1RS translocation but still segregating for A- and B-genome chromosomes of Cando and Veery. In CV 256, nucleolar activity of the 1RS NOR locus is suppressed, as judged by the absence of a secondary constriction in that rye segment and the capability of organizing nucleoli. PAGE analysis of prolamins confirmed the presence of two 1RS secalins in all single seeds analyzed. SDS-PAGE analysis of reduced glutenins of single seeds indicated that some seeds contained the Cando Glu-B1 locus (subunits 6+8), some contained the Veery Glu-B1 locus (subunits 7+9) while others contained all four subunits, indicating that the material was heterozygous. Pm8 resistance is expressed in the tetraploid 1BL/1RS translocation line based on the reactions of six well-defined powdery mildew isolates. However, Pm8 resistance is not expressed in the hexaploid wheat cultivars Olymp, Heinrich and Florida, which also contain the 1BL/1RS translocation. Obviously, the existence of the 1BL/1RS translocation is not a proof for the expression of the associated genes. PAGE results did not show a clear linkage between powdery mildew resistance and the presence of 1RS secalins.