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The analysis of sex segregation: when is index measurement not index measurement?

In their paper in this issue, Grusky and Charles (1998) make a number of dubious claims about the measurement and interpretation of sex segregation. First, they incorrectly claim that only log-odds measures yield margin-free measures of segregation. Second, the estimation and testing of a limited class of log-linear models does not provide an independent test of the appropriateness of a log-odds ratio index to measure segregation. Their estimation in forms them of the statistically justifiable degree of occupational disaggregation, not whether a log-odds ratio is superior to, say, a linear index in the measurement of segregation. Finally, their index A is beset with problems of interpretation, not withstanding their arguments, and their additional measures, AW and AB, suffer similar problems. Grusky and Charles are, however, correct in arguing that measurement procedures should be margin-free. Further, I concur with the view that the adoption of a single annual summary measure of segregation cannot be justified, because it is premised on the assumption that individual occupations, or groups of occupations, exhibit similar trends in sex segregation.

Female↗

Meiotic pairing and segregation of translocation quadrivalents in yeast.

Meiotic pairing and segregation were studied in three different heterozygous reciprocal translocation strains of the baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Pachytene translocation quadrivalents were identified by a combination of immunofluorescence and fluorescence in situ hybridization and the karyotypes of meiotic products were determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The translocations differed with respect to the relative sizes of the chromosomes involved and the positions of translocation breakpoints, and produced translocation quadrivalents of widely different shapes. This allowed us to study the influence of the morphology of quadrivalents on their segregation behaviour. In all cases alternate predominated over adjacent segregation. 3:1 disjunction of chromosomes was more frequent when translocation breakpoints were close to the centromeres. If a translocation breakpoint was distant from the centromere, the occurrence of an intervening chiasma influenced the pattern of segregation. In general, quadrivalent formation and segregation resembled the behaviour of translocation heterozygotes in most higher eukaryotes. We therefore conclude that, although chromosome condensation does not occur in yeast metaphase, centromere orientation and chromosome disjunction are governed in a way similar to that of higher eukaryotes.

Centromere↗

Segregational fidelity of chromosomes in human thyroid tumour cells.

Using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) we have analysed the segregational fidelity of all the human chromosomes during mitotic cell division. The losses and gains of chromosomes were analysed in human polyploid cell lines derived from a well-differentiated papillary thyroid cancer. These thyroid cells can be cultured for more than 300 population doublings. For the purpose of our study the polyploid nature of the cells may act as a protective buffer against the cell-lethal effects of the loss of individual chromosomes. To evaluate the role of the p53 gene product in maintaining the fidelity of chromosome segregation we compared the frequencies of chromosome loss and gain in cultures with wild-type p53 activity (K1E7neo3) and cultures transfected with plasmids expressing a mutant p53 product (K1E7scx6). Cultures were analysed for the presence of both structurally normal and rearranged chromosomes at both early and late passages. Cell cultures with defective p53 activity showed progressive chromosome loss from a median chromosome number of 87-97 to 75-86. Cell growth in cultures with wild-type p53 activity showed the loss of chromosomes 6, 7, and 8 and the gain of 17 and 20. Cultures expressing mutant p53 activity showed the loss of chromosomes 2, 5, 14 and 17 and the gain of 4 and 22. The combination of defective p53 and growth resulted in further destabilisation with the additional losses of chromosomes 3, 11, 15, 16 and 21. Chromosomes 1, 9, 10, 12, 13, 18, 19, X and Y segregated stably under all the culture conditions as did the structurally rearranged marker chromosomes. The study has demonstrated variation in the fidelity of mitotic chromosome segregation and the influence of p53 gene activity upon the segregation of individual human chromosomes.

Chromosome Segregation↗

Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis of chromosome segregation and interchromosomal effect in spermatozoa of a reciprocal translocation t(9,10)(q11;p11.1) carrier.

A couple was referred for exploration of repetitive abortions. The man was found to be a carrier of a balanced reciprocal translocation t(9;10)(q11;p11.1). The meiotic segregation of chromosomes 9 and 10 was analysed in 5,157 spermatozoa from this translocation carrier and in 15,255 spermatozoa from three control donors using three-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). The theoretical viability of the different segregation patterns was performed using the computer system HC Forum developed by the Department of Cytogenetics at the Grenoble University Medical School, La Tronche, France. A normal or balanced constitution was found in 56.25% of the analysed spermatozoa. The tertiary 3:1 segregation mode was the most frequently observed (14.37%). The frequencies of adjacent-1, adjacent-2 and 3:1 interchange modes were 12.85, 9.38 and 7.14% respectively. The cumulative frequency of non-viable imbalance was estimated at 20.91% according to the theorical viability of the different segregation patterns. Spermatozoa aneuploidy frequency was also evaluated for chromosomes X, Y and 18, and there was no evidence of interchromosomal effect in spermatozoa from the translocation carrier. FISH analysis of spermatozoa in combination with the viability theorical estimation of the different segregation patterns could be considered a useful tool for genetic counselling in carriers of reciprocal translocation.

Adult↗

Segregation and linkage analysis of 75 novel microsatellite DNA markers in pair crosses of Japanese abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) using the 5'-tailed primer method.

We present novel microsatellite markers of the Japanese abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) for general mapping studies in this species. A total of 75 microsatellite markers were developed, and the allele-transmission patterns of these markers were studied in three families generated by pair crosses. For allele scoring, we employed the 5'-tailed primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, which substantially reduces the cost for fluorescent labeling of primers. Of the 225 possible marker-family combinations (75 markers x 3 families), 18 cases of informative null-allele segregation were inferred. When such null-allele segregations were allowed, more than 70% of the 75 markers in the families turned out to be markers with an expected segregation ratio of 1:1:1:1, allowing maximal exploitation of the codominant nature of microsatellite markers. There were 16 instances of segregation distortion at the 5% significance level. The test for independence of segregation assigned the 75 markers into 17 linkage groups, which is in close agreement with the haploid chromosome number of H. discus hannai (n = 18). Six markers could not be placed into any linkage group. We suggest that these markers could help construct a H. discus hannai linkage map.

Animals↗

The occurrence of chromosome segregational defects is an intrinsic and heritable property of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

Chromosomal segregational defects are commonly observed in cancer cells and are an important source of genetic instability. It is currently unknown whether these mitotic defects are the result of a subpopulation of defective cells or reflect characteristics of the population of cells as a whole. In this study, we compared chromosomal segregational defects in two oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and five single-cell clones from each of those cell lines. We used immunofluorescence microscopy to quantitate the occurrence of multipolar metaphase spindles, lagging chromosomes at metaphase and anaphase, and anaphase bridges. We conclude that chromosome segregational defects in these cancer cell lines represent an intrinsic and inherited tendency toward segregational defects in the general cell population, rather than the existence of a subpopulation of cells with segregational defects.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

MreB actin-mediated segregation of a specific region of a bacterial chromosome.

Faithful chromosome segregation is an essential component of cell division in all organisms. The eukaryotic mitotic machinery uses the cytoskeleton to move specific chromosomal regions. To investigate the potential role of the actin-like MreB protein in bacterial chromosome segregation, we first demonstrate that MreB is the direct target of the small molecule A22. We then demonstrate that A22 completely blocks the movement of newly replicated loci near the origin of replication but has no qualitative or quantitative effect on the segregation of other loci if added after origin segregation. MreB selectively interacts, directly or indirectly, with origin-proximal regions of the chromosome, arguing that the origin-proximal region segregates via an MreB-dependent mechanism not used by the rest of the chromosome.

Actins↗

The meiotic defects of mutants in the Drosophila mps1 gene reveal a critical role of Mps1 in the segregation of achiasmate homologs.

The conserved kinase Mps1 is necessary for the proper functioning of the mitotic and meiotic spindle checkpoints (MSCs), which monitor the integrity of the spindle apparatus and prevent cells from progressing into anaphase until chromosomes are properly aligned on the metaphase plate. In Drosophila melanogaster, a null allele of the gene encoding Mps1 was recently shown to be required for the proper functioning of the MSC, but it did not appear to exhibit a defect in female meiosis. We demonstrate here that the meiotic mutant ald1 is a hypomorphic allele of the mps1 gene. Both ald1 and a P-insertion allele of mps1 exhibit defects in female meiotic chromosome segregation. The observed segregational defects are substantially more severe for pairs of achiasmate homologs, which are normally segregated by the achiasmate (or distributive) segregation system, than they are for chiasmate bivalents. Furthermore, cytological analysis of ald1 mutant oocytes reveals both a failure in the coorientation of achiasmate homologs at metaphase I and a defect in the maintenance of the chiasmate homolog associations that are normally observed at metaphase I. We conclude that Mps1 plays an important role in Drosophila female meiosis by regulating processes that are especially critical for ensuring the proper segregation of nonexchange chromosomes.

Animals↗

The Cdc14 phosphatase and the FEAR network control meiotic spindle disassembly and chromosome segregation.

During meiosis, DNA replication is followed by two consecutive rounds of chromosome segregation. Cells lacking the protein phosphatase CDC14 or its regulators, SPO12 and SLK19, undergo only a single meiotic division, with some chromosomes segregating reductionally and others equationally. We find that this abnormal chromosome behavior is due to an uncoupling of meiotic events. Anaphase I spindle disassembly is delayed in cdc14-1, slk19Delta, or spo12Delta mutants, but the chromosome segregation cycle continues, so that both meiotic chromosome segregation phases take place on the persisting meiosis I spindle. Our results show that Cdc14, Slk19, and Spo12 are not only required for meiosis I spindle disassembly but also play a pivotal role in establishing two consecutive chromosome segregation phases, a key feature of the meiotic cell cycle.

Anaphase↗

The roles of MAD1, MAD2 and MAD3 in meiotic progression and the segregation of nonexchange chromosomes.

Errors in meiotic chromosome segregation are the leading cause of spontaneous abortions and birth defects. In humans, chromosomes that fail to experience crossovers (or exchanges) are error-prone, more likely than exchange chromosomes to mis-segregate in meiosis. We used a yeast model to investigate the mechanisms that partition nonexchange chromosomes. These studies showed that the spindle checkpoint genes MAD1, MAD2 and MAD3 have different roles. We identified a new meiotic role for MAD3; though dispensable for the segregation of exchange chromosomes, it is essential for the segregation of nonexchange chromosomes. This function of Mad3p could also be carried out by human BubR1. MAD1 and MAD2 act in a surveillance mechanism that mediates a metaphase delay in response to nonexchange chromosomes, whereas MAD3 acts as a crucial meiotic timer, mediating a prophase delay in every meiosis. These findings suggest plausible models for the basis of errant meiotic segregation in humans.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

The role of co-transcriptional translation and protein translocation (transertion) in bacterial chromosome segregation.

Many recent reviews in the field of bacterial chromosome segregation propose that newly replicated DNA is actively separated by the functioning of specific proteins. This view is primarily based on an interpretation of the position of fluorescently labelled DNA regions and proteins in analogy to the active segregation mechanism in eukaryotic cells, i.e. to mitosis. So far, physical aspects of DNA organization such as the diffusional movement of DNA supercoil segments and their interaction with soluble proteins, leading to a phase separation between cytoplasm and nucleoid, have received relatively little attention. Here, a quite different view is described taking into account DNA-protein interactions, the large variation in the cellular position of fluorescent foci and the compaction and fusion of segregated nucleoids upon inhibition of RNA or protein synthesis. It is proposed that the random diffusion of DNA supercoil segments is transiently constrained by the process of co- transcriptional translation and translocation (transertion) of membrane proteins. After initiation of DNA replication, a bias in the positioning of transertion areas creates a bidirectionality in chromosome segregation that becomes self-enhanced when neighbouring genes on the same daughter chromosome are expressed. This transertion-mediated segregation model is applicable to multifork replication during rapid growth and to multiple chromosomes and plasmids that occur in many bacteria.

Bacteria↗

Phosphorylation of the mitotic regulator protein Hec1 by Nek2 kinase is essential for faithful chromosome segregation.

Hec1 (highly expressed in cancer) plays essential roles in chromosome segregation by interacting through its coiled-coil domains with several proteins that modulate the G(2)/M phase. Hec1 localizes to kinetochores, and its inactivation either by genetic deletion or antibody neutralization leads to severe and lethal chromosomal segregation errors, indicating that Hec1 plays a critical role in chromosome segregation. The mechanisms by which Hec1 is regulated, however, are not known. Here we show that human Hec1 is a serine phosphoprotein and that it binds specifically to the mitotic regulatory kinase Nek2 during G(2)/M. Nek2 phosphorylates Hec1 on serine residue 165, both in vitro and in vivo. Yeast cells are viable without scNek2/Kin3, a close structural homolog of Nek2 that binds to both human and yeast Hec1. When the same yeasts carry an scNek2/Kin3 (D55G) or Nek2 (E38G) mutation to mimic a similar temperature-sensitive nima mutation in Aspergillus, their growth is arrested at the nonpermissive temperature, because the scNek2/Kin3 (D55G) mutant binds to Hec1 but fails to phosphorylate it. Whereas wild-type human Hec1 rescues lethality resulting from deletion of Hec1 in Saccharomyces cerevesiae, a human Hec1 mutant or yeast Hec1 mutant changing Ser(165) to Ala or yeast Hec1 mutant changing Ser(201) to Ala does not. Mutations changing the same Ser residues to Glu, to mimic the negative charge created by phosphorylation, partially rescue lethality but result in a high incidence of errors in chromosomal segregation. These results suggest that cell cycle-regulated serine phosphorylation of Hec1 by Nek2 is essential for faithful chromosome segregation.

Alanine↗

Genetic segregation analysis of alcohol and other substance-use disorders in families with recurrent, early-onset major depression.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to conduct a complex segregation analysis of alcohol and other substance-use disorders in families identified by probands with recurrent, early-onset major depression (RE-MDD). METHOD: Eighty-one families were identified through probands over the age of 18, who met criteria for recurrent (> or = 2 episodes), early-onset (< or = 25 years), nonpsychotic, unipolar major depression (RE-MDD) and included 407 first-degree relatives and 835 extended relatives. Psychiatric diagnoses for probands and their family members who provided blood samples were formulated from structured personal interviews, structured family history assessments, and available medical records. The remaining family members who participated and those who were deceased were evaluated through the family history method augmented by available medical records. Best estimate diagnoses were made during a consensus conference according to established diagnostic criteria. Segregation analyses were performed using the REGD routine in S.A.G.E. release 4.0. RESULTS: The best-fitting models for the transmission of "alcohol use disorders" or "alcohol/other substance use disorders" were sex-dependent Mendelian recessive models with significant residual spousal effects. Moreover, the parameter estimates for the models were very similar for these phenotypes. In contrast, the segregation analysis of "substance use disorder" supported a transmissible, but non-Mendelian, major effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that a major locus contributes to the expression of alcohol use disorders or alcohol/other substance-use disorders within families identified by probands with RE-MDD. Due to the limitations of the segregation analysis model, our results cannot address whether the same major locus is segregating across families in our sample or whether multiple major loci are involved (genetic heterogeneity). Previous studies supported single gene transmission of recurrent major depression and major mood disorders in these families [Marazita et al. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 1997, 61, 1370-1378; Maher et al. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 2002. 114 (2), 214-221]. Mounting evidence suggests that at.least some of this "comorbidity" may result from the effects of shared susceptibility genes or an overlap in the sets of genes that contribute to the vulnerability of developing these mental disorders [Zubenko, G.S. Mol. Psychiatry 2000, 5, 131-136].

Adult↗

Meiotic studies of a human male carrier of the common translocation, t(11;22), suggests postzygotic selection rather than preferential 3:1 MI segregation as the cause of liveborn offspring with an unbalanced translocation.

The t(11;22)(q23;q11) translocation is the only non-Robertsonian rearrangement for which there are a large number of unrelated families, apparently with the same breakpoints. These families most often have been ascertained through an abnormal child with the karyotype 47,XX or XY, +der(22) t(11;22)(q23;q11). To explain the high incidence of 3:1 segregants, rarely seen in offspring of carriers of other reciprocal translocations, a number of theoretical models have been suggested. We have used both electron microscope analysis of the synaptonemal complex (SC) and dual-color FISH to investigate the meiotic chromosome behavior in a male carrier of the translocation who has the karyotype 46,XY, t(11;22)(q23;q11). Chromosome synapsis, first-meiotic chiasma configuration, and segregation behavior of this translocation have been analyzed directly. Examination of SCs by electron microscopy showed pachytene-cross formation in 49/50 nuclei. Approximately 50% (26/50) revealed a classical fully synapsed quadrivalent. A proportion of these (10/26), however, showed some central asymmetry, suggesting heterologous synapsis. The remaining cells appeared to have incomplete synapsis. FISH analysis showed only quadrivalents in all 100 metaphase I nuclei. The chiasma frequency was increased within the interstitial segments, in comparison with the same region in normal bivalents. All types of segregation category were found in metaphase II nuclei. There was no indication of preferential 3:1 anaphase I segregation. We conclude that the +der(22) constitution in offspring of carriers of t(11;22)(q23;q11) is not likely to be due to meiotic 3:1 segregation being especially common. Rather, the +der(22) constitution is more likely to be the result of postzygotic selection against other unbalanced karyotypes.

Cell Nucleus↗

Segregation of malignant hyperthermia, central core disease and chromosome 19 markers.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an autosomal dominant disorder presenting under general anaesthesia. It is occasionally associated with a myopathy, central core disease (CCD), named after its predominant histochemical characteristic. The penetration of CCD is variable, but typically affected individuals show delayed motor milestones in infancy and remain physically compromised. It was thought until recently that individuals with CCD were always susceptible to MH. Individuals from eight CCD families were screened for the presence of 13 mutations in the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor gene, reported previously to be associated with MH and/or CCD: none was detected. In seven of these families, where CCD and MH co-existed, we examined the segregation of CCD, MH susceptibility and chromosome 19q markers. In four families, there was complete co-segregation between MH, CCD and the chromosome 19 markers, but in one large pedigree there was a clear lack of segregation of CCD with either MH or chromosome 19 markers and there was no segregation between MH and these markers. This is unequivocal evidence that CCD, in common with MH, is genetically heterogeneous. In the two other families, CCD segregated with chromosome 19 markers but not all individuals with CCD were susceptible to MH. We recommend determination of MH susceptibility in all patients with CCD, irrespective of the MH status of their relatives with CCD.

Adult↗

The advantages of segregation and the evolution of sex.

In diploids, sexual reproduction promotes both the segregation of alleles at the same locus and the recombination of alleles at different loci. This article is the first to investigate the possibility that sex might have evolved and been maintained to promote segregation, using a model that incorporates both a general selection regime and modifier alleles that alter an individual's allocation to sexual vs. asexual reproduction. The fate of different modifier alleles was found to depend strongly on the strength of selection at fitness loci and on the presence of inbreeding among individuals undergoing sexual reproduction. When selection is weak and mating occurs randomly among sexually produced gametes, reductions in the occurrence of sex are favored, but the genome-wide strength of selection is extremely small. In contrast, when selection is weak and some inbreeding occurs among gametes, increased allocation to sexual reproduction is expected as long as deleterious mutations are partially recessive and/or beneficial mutations are partially dominant. Under strong selection, the conditions under which increased allocation to sex evolves are reversed. Because deleterious mutations are typically considered to be partially recessive and weakly selected and because most populations exhibit some degree of inbreeding, this model predicts that higher frequencies of sex would evolve and be maintained as a consequence of the effects of segregation. Even with low levels of inbreeding, selection is stronger on a modifier that promotes segregation than on a modifier that promotes recombination, suggesting that the benefits of segregation are more likely than the benefits of recombination to have driven the evolution of sexual reproduction in diploids.

Alleles↗

Meiotic segregation patterns and ICSI pregnancy outcome of a rare (13;21) Robertsonian translocation carrier: a case report.

t(13;21) is an uncommon Robertsonian translocation (RT) with limited information in the literature. Hereby, we assessed the meiotic segregation and interchromosomal effect (ICE) in sperm nuclei from a t(13;21) carrier. The pregnancy outcome following ICSI was also included as reference for physicians and patients. Dual-colour fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was carried out to analyse the segregation pattern of chromosomes 13 and 21, while triple-colour FISH was used to investigate the possible concurrence of ICE. With respect to chromosomal constitutions of 13 and 21, 88.39% of the spermatozoa were normal or balanced due to alternative segregations, and 11.08% showed nullisomy or disomy as a result of adjacent segregations. However, for chromosome 18 and sex chromosomes, the proportion of normal haploids was 98.79%. The rate of disomy was not significantly higher than the controls for either chromosome 18 or X/Y. The rare t(13;21) case exhibited a similar pattern of meiotic segregation as in the common RTs. ICEs were not observed in the current case.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Meiotic segregation of rare Robertsonian translocations: sperm analysis of three t(14q;22q) cases.

BACKGROUND: The t(14;22) remains one of the rare Robertsonian translocations observed in human, with an occurrence estimated at 1.2%. Three cases of rare Robertsonian translocation t(14;22) were investigated for meiotic segregation in sperm samples from male carriers using the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure. The three carriers included two men with an abnormal semen analysis and one with normal semen parameters. METHODS: Both locus-specific probes and whole-chromosome painting probes, specific for chromosomes 14 and 22, were used in this study. The number of spermatozoa scored for each probe set ranged from 3279 to 10,024. RESULTS: In the three carriers, similar frequencies, ranging from 78.53 to 81.76%, were found for normal and balanced spermatozoa resulting from alternate segregation. The total proportion of unbalanced spermatozoa resulting from adjacent modes of segregation ranged from 17.59 to 20.94%. CONCLUSION: This finding confirmed the predominance of alternate segregation over other segregation types in all Robertsonian translocations and indicates a higher production of imbalances in the t(14;22) than in most of the Robertsonian translocations previously analysed. This could be related to the variable location of breakpoints in Robertsonian translocations. This breakpoint diversity could also play a role in the differences in reproductive status observed in male carriers of Robertsonian translocations.

Adult↗