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S Luke

Publications and source records attributed to S Luke.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Telomeric repeat [TTAGGG]n sequences of human chromosomes are conserved in chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).

Using a series of genetic parameters, attempts have been made for more than two decades to establish the close kinship of human (Homo sapiens) with chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). Molecular and cytogenetic data presently suggest that the two species are closely related. The recent isolation of a human telomeric probe (P5097-B.5) has prompted us to cross hybridize it to chimpanzee chromosomes in order to explore convergence and/or divergence of the telomeric repeat sequences (TTAGGG)n. On hybridization, the human probe bound to both ends (telomeres) of chimpanzee chromosomes, suggesting a concerted evolution of tandemly repeated short simple sequences (TTAGGG)n. Even the terminal heterochromatin of chimpanzee chromosomes was found to be endowed with telomeric repeats, suggesting that evolution of heterochromatin and capping with tandemly repeated short sequences are highly complex phenomena.

Animals↗

The genomic synteny at DNA level between human and chimpanzee chromosomes.

The evolutionary relationship between human (Homo sapiens) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) has been the subject of debate and scrutiny for over two decades. The close relationship established by numerous parameters may or may not reflect homology at the DNA level. The recent advent of a molecular method termed the chromosome in situ suppression hybridization (CISS)-technique has prompted us to explore the phylogenetic relationship at the DNA sequence level. Cross-hybridization data using human-derived whole chromosome paints (WCPs) suggests an apparent genomic synteny with chimpanzee chromosomes at the DNA level, thus providing a better understanding of an evolutionary relationship between humans and chimpanzees.

Animals↗

Molecular topography of the secondary constriction region (qh) of human chromosome 9 with an unusual euchromatic band.

Heterochromatin confined to pericentromeric (c) and secondary constriction (qh) regions plays a major role in morphological variation of chromosome 9, because of its size and affinity for pericentric inversion. Consequently, pairing at pachytene may lead to some disturbances between homologous chromosomes having such extreme variations and may result in abnormalities involving bands adjacent to the qh region. We encountered such a case, where a G-positive band has originated de novo, suggesting a maternal origin from the chromosome 9 that has had a complete pericentric inversion. In previously reported cases, the presence of an extra G-positive band within the 9qh region has been familial, and in the majority of those cases it was not associated with any clinical consequences. Therefore, this anomaly has been referred to as a "rare" variant. The qh region consists of a mixture of various tandemly repeated DNA sequences, and routine banding techniques have failed to characterize the origin of this extra genetic material. By the chromosome in situ suppression hybridization technique using whole chromosome paint, the probe annealed with the extra G-band, suggesting a euchromatic origin from chromosome 9, presumably band p12. By the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique using alpha- and beta-satellite probes, the dicentric nature was further revealed, supporting the concept of unequal crossing-over during maternal meiosis I, which could account for a duplication of the h region. The G-positive band most likely became genetically inert when it was sandwiched between two blocks of heterochromatin, resulting in a phenotypically normal child. Therefore, an earlier hypothesis, suggesting its origin from heterochromatin through so-called euchromatinization, is refuted here.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Detection of the heteromorphic spectrum of heterochromatin in the human genome by in situ digestion using restriction endonuclease AluI.

A battery of selective banding techniques has been utilized to identify the heteromorphic markers in the human genome. The recent addition of the AluI/Giemsa (G)-technique has helped not only in identifying the variable sites, but in characterizing their heteromorphic spectra. In the present investigation, we classified the pericentromeric heterochromatin by the AluI/G-technique by its size and position using 50 normal individuals and suggested the potential uses of this banding technique over earlier methods.

Chromosome Banding↗

Evolution of pericentromeric heterochromatin of human X chromosome.

An unusual large heterochromatic segment around the pericentromeric region of the X-chromosome is reported. In normal circumstances, the pericentromeric region of the X-chromosome is negative by the restriction endonuclease AluI/Giemsa technique. However, this unusual X-chromosome was found to have AluI resistant (positive) chromatin. The evolution of extra heterochromatin is a postzygotic event as substantiated by the presence of a normal cell line.

Biological Evolution↗

Molecular characterization of "inverted" pericentromeric heterochromatin of chromosome 3.

Inversion of the pericentromeric region of human chromosome 3 [inv (3) (p11q11.2)] is a rare event. Initially, this inversion was identified with staining for Q-bands by fluorescence using quinacrine (QFQ) and later characterized with staining for C-bands by CBG technique. The molecular methods of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and AluI/Giemsa and TaqI/Giemsa techniques were utilized. The findings suggest that the variable band q11.2 on chromosome 3 contains alphoid DNA sequences, which appear to be similar to those identified by conventional methods in the centromeric region (band p11).

Adolescent↗

Variations in alphoid DNA sequences escape detection of aneuploidy at interphase by FISH technique.

The advent of a new staining technique, termed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), allows the rapid identification of the genomic constitution of an individual with aneuploidy even in interphase nuclei through the use of a series of chromosome-specific DNA probes, an approach termed "interphase cytogenetics." However, alphoid DNA sequences of every centromere are polymorphic (heteromorphic), and the number of targeted sequences may be below the detection level of a specific DNA probe, thus escaping detection and resulting in the imprecise identification of the chromosomal constitution at interphase. The limitations associated with the FISH technique have dire consequences which are emphasized here with an example in which the presence of an additional chromosome 21 in two siblings born consecutively with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) was not detected by "interphase cytogenetics." The copy number of alphoid DNA sequences of one of the paternal chromosomes 21 was low and resulted in discordance between domain numbers at interphase and actual chromosome numbers at metaphase in both children. This is an isolated incident that could have led to a misdiagnosis if FISH were the only test employed. Although the advantages of this technology are undeniably enormous, the present finding has made it apparent that precise standards and reliability of the procedure must be established prior to its routine application.

DNA Probes↗

Deciphering the fluorescent variability of human genomic heterochromatin by DA/DAPI technique.

A number of selective staining techniques have been utilized to decipher the variability of pericentromeric heterochromatin. One such technique is called DA/DAPI and it is believed to be stain specific. However, we demonstrate otherwise and suggest that pericentromeric regions of all human chromosomes stain positive by DA/DAPI-technique. It must be emphasized that the incidence of DA/DAPI positive stained chromosomes, other than 1, 9, 15, 16 and Y, is a rare occurrence and only a small portion of the pericentromeric region is DA/DAPI positive, as reported here using 50 normal individuals.

Distamycins↗

Pericentric inversion of chromosome 7 (inv(7) (p22q11.2)) and ring chromosome 8 (r(8) (p23q24.3)) in a girl with minor anomalies.

A 13 year old girl was referred with congenital microcephaly, developmental delay, a prominent nose, highly arched palate, and an apparently low set left ear. She was found to have a pericentric inversion of one chromosome 7 and a ring chromosome 8, 46,XX,inv(7) (pter----p22::q11.23----p22::q11.23----qter), r(8) (p23q24.3). The concurrence of these two abnormalities is a rare event and has not been reported previously.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Molecular characterization of the secondary constriction region (qh) of human chromosome 9 with pericentric inversion.

Pericentric inversion of the secondary constriction region (qh) of human chromosome 9 is a frequent occurrence. This structural alteration is regarded as a normal familial variant, termed heteromorphism, and is inherited in a Mendelian fashion without any apparent phenotypic consequences. We characterized the qh region of chromosome 9 from five individuals using a series of molecular cytogenetic techniques. Four out of the five individuals have an additional area composed of alphoid DNA sequences on the inverted chromosome 9 while one case was found to have an apparently intact alphoid DNA sequence. Although the direct function(s) of alphoid DNA sequences remain unclear, the centromeric breakage involving these sequences in inverted chromosome 9 raises a series of questions pertaining to the monocentric, dicentric and pseudodicentric nature of pericentric inversions. Nevertheless, these findings have prompted us to suggest that the structural organization of alphoid DNA sequences of the centromeric region of chromosome 9 are apparently "breakage prone" and may be associated with a higher incidence of pericentric inversions. Furthermore, the hierarchical organization of various satellite DNA families (alpha-satellite, beta-satellite and satellite III) within the primary and secondary constriction regions of chromosomes 9 are elucidated here.

Adult↗

A new case of monosomy for 17q25----qter due to a maternal translocation [t(3;17)(p12;q24)].

An 18-month-old girl was found to have monosomy for 17q25----qter which resulted from an unequal crossing-over in the mother carrying an apparently balanced translocation 46, XX, t(3;17) (p12;q24). Clinical features of the proband included: cleft palate, micrognathia and glossoptosis. It seems to be the first reported case where a single band deletion in the long arm of chromosome 17 has ever been noted.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17↗

Inversion-duplication of bands q13----q21 of human chromosome 9.

Structural abnormalities involving heterochromatic regions of the human genome are difficult to characterize because these segments are G-band negative by GTG technique, a routinely used procedure in clinical cytogenetic laboratories. Chromosome abnormalities of such cases have gone undetected or were incorrectly characterized because these regions are so-called heteromorphisms or variants. Consequently, much anxiety has been aroused by the confusion between a chromosome abnormality and a normal heteromorphic variant. We report the first documented case with a so-called highly unusual h region of chromosome 9 which is not a variation but a structural rearrangement involving a paracentric inversion and a duplication. The major clinical features were psychomotor retardation, microcephaly, narrow palpebral fissures, renal and genital anomalies, vertebral anomalies, protruding tongue, and learning and behavioral problems. A concise review of variable duplicated segments of 9q is also provided.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Heteromorphisms of pericentromeric heterochromatin of chromosome 19.

The pericentromeric heterochromatin of chromosome 19 exhibits considerable variation even by the G-banding technique. Nevertheless, the C-banding technique has been universally employed to investigate pericentromeric hetromorphisms. We demonstrate that optimal expression of the pericentromeric region can be achieved by using the AluI/G technique. The pericentromeric heterochromatin of chromosome 19 is classified into four classes (I-IV). Fifty normal individuals were evaluated and the incidence of types I-IV were 26%, 17%, 51%, and 6%, respectively. No consistent relationship was observed between the types of heterochromatin identified by the AluI/G technique when compared with the other routinely used procedures.

Chromosome Banding↗

Molecular characterization of the smallest secondary constriction region (qh) of human chromosome 16.

We report the smallest secondary constriction region (h) in human chromosome 16. The cytochemical, cytogenetic, and molecular techniques revealed the complex heterogeneity of heterochromatin observed in this region. The heteromorphisms can be found due to the variation in centromeric (c) region alone or in combination with the h region. Routine selective staining techniques fail to differentiate the C region from the h region. However, the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique clearly demonstrated that the centromere of chromosome 16, which is composed of 340-base-pair dimers arranged in a tandem array of 1.7-kb higher-order repeat units, is not heteromorphic in the present case, but other molecular cytogenetic techniques demonstrated the presence of a very small h region. The evolution of heterochromatin of this region is discussed.

Centromere↗