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Allopolyploidy alters gene expression in the highly stable hexaploid wheat.

Hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) contains triplicated genomes derived from three distinct species. To better understand how different genomes are coordinated in the same nucleus of the hexaploid wheat, we globally compared gene expression of a synthetic hexaploid wheat with its diploid (Aegilops tauschii) and tetraploid (T. turgidum) parents by cDNA-AFLP display. The results suggested that the expression of a significant fraction of genes was altered in the synthetic hexaploid; most appeared to be diminished and some were activated. We characterized nine cDNA clones in details. Cytogenetic as well as genomic sequence analyses indicated that the gene silencing was not due to chromosome/DNA loss but was caused by gene regulation. Northern and RT-PCR divided these genes into three groups: (I) four genes were down-regulated nonspecifically, likely involving both parental orthologues; (II) four genes were down-regulated in an orthologue-dependent manner; (III) one gene was activated specifically in the synthetic hexaploid wheat. These genes were often altered non-randomly in different synthetic hexaploids as well as natural hexaploid wheat, suggesting that many of the gene expression changes were intrinsically associated with polyploidy.

Blotting, Northern↗

Yesterday's polyploids and the mystery of diploidization.

Thirty years after Susumu Ohno proposed that vertebrate genomes are degenerate polyploids, the extent to which genome duplication contributed to the evolution of the vertebrate genome, if at all, is still uncertain. Sequence-level studies on model organisms whose genomes show clearer evidence of ancient polyploidy are invaluable because they indicate what the evolutionary products of genome duplication can look like. The greatest mystery is the molecular basis of diploidization, the evolutionary process by which a polyploid genome turns into a diploid one.

Animals↗

Pleiotropic cell-division defects and apoptosis induced by interference with survivin function.

Here we investigate the role of the control of apoptosis in normal cell division. We show that interference with the expression or function of the apoptosis inhibitor survivin causes caspase-dependent cell death in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and a cell-division defect characterized by centrosome dysregulation, multipolar mitotic spindles and multinucleated, polyploid cells. Use of a dominant-negative survivin mutant or antisense survivin complementary DNA disrupts a supramolecular assembly of survivin, caspase-3 and the cyclin-dependent-kinase inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1 within centrosomes, and results in caspase-dependent cleavage of p21. Polyploidy induced by survivin antagonists is accentuated in p21-deficient cells, and corrected by exogenous expression of p21. These findings show that control of apoptosis and preservation of p21 integrity within centrosomes by survivin are required for normal mitotic progression.

Apoptosis↗

Unravelling angiosperm genome evolution by phylogenetic analysis of chromosomal duplication events.

Conservation of gene order in vertebrates is evident after hundreds of millions of years of divergence, but comparisons of the Arabidopsis thaliana sequence to partial gene orders of other angiosperms (flowering plants) sharing common ancestry approximately 170-235 million years ago yield conflicting results. This difference may be largely due to the propensity of angiosperms to undergo chromosomal duplication ('polyploidization') and subsequent gene loss ('diploidization'); these evolutionary mechanisms have profound consequences for comparative biology. Here we integrate a phylogenetic approach (relating chromosomal duplications to the tree of life) with a genomic approach (mitigating information lost to diploidization) to show that a genome-wide duplication post-dates the divergence of Arabidopsis from most dicots. We also show that an inferred ancestral gene order for Arabidopsis reveals more synteny with other dicots (exemplified by cotton), and that additional, more ancient duplication events affect more distant taxonomic comparisons. By using partial sequence data for many diverse taxa to better relate the evolutionary history of completely sequenced genomes to the tree of life, we foster comparative approaches to the study of genome organization, consequences of polyploidy, and the molecular basis of quantitative traits.

Arabidopsis↗

Extensive genomic duplication during early chordate evolution.

Opinions on the hypothesis that ancient genome duplications contributed to the vertebrate genome range from strong skepticism to strong credence. Previous studies concentrated on small numbers of gene families or chromosomal regions that might not have been representative of the whole genome, or used subjective methods to identify paralogous genes and regions. Here we report a systematic and objective analysis of the draft human genome sequence to identify paralogous chromosomal regions (paralogons) formed during chordate evolution and to estimate the ages of duplicate genes. We found that the human genome contains many more paralogons than would be expected by chance. Molecular clock analysis of all protein families in humans that have orthologs in the fly and nematode indicated that a burst of gene duplication activity took place in the period 350 650 Myr ago and that many of the duplicate genes formed at this time are located within paralogons. Our results support the contention that many of the gene families in vertebrates were formed or expanded by large-scale DNA duplications in an early chordate. Considering the incompleteness of the sequence data and the antiquity of the event, the results are compatible with at least one round of polyploidy.

Animals↗

Uncovering the mechanism of female restitution in sugarcane hybrids.

Variations of meiosis, which normally halve genetic complements prior to fertilization, can have profound consequences. For example, whole-genome duplications (polyploidy) have shaped the evolution and diversification of most angiosperm lineages. The century-long success of sugarcane interspecific hybrids has been attributed to unusual female restitution-an unreduced maternal gamete fusing with a normal haploid paternal gamete1,2. Here we generated haplotype-resolved genomes of octoploid Saccharum officinarum LA Purple and decaploid Saccharum spontaneum US56-14-4. Eight F1 hybrids between these species exhibited 2:1 maternal to paternal genomic ratios, with 2 assemblies revealing canonical haploid sets of approximately 40 paternal and approximately 80 maternal chromosomes. The maternal chromosomes comprise 40 pairs of duplicated, partially recombined sister chromatids that retain around 62.5% of maternal genetic diversity, characteristic of second division restitution. Using single-molecule long-read sequencing and a novel algorithm that is broadly applicable to polyploid genomes, we identified two classes of recombination breakpoints, including a previously unrecognized configuration supported by both recombinant and non-recombinant reads, across all hybrids and diagnostic of second division restitution. These findings resolve a century-old cytological debate, add new insights into meiotic variations, and offer a genomic approach to accelerate genetic gain in this globally critical sugar and bioenergy crop.

Chimera↗

Outcrossing rate and inbreeding depression in the herbaceous autotetraploid, Campanula americana.

Polyploidy in angiosperms is frequently associated with an increase in self-compatibility. Self-fertilization can enhance polyploid establishment, and theory predicts reduced inbreeding depression in polyploids relative to diploids. Therefore, we may expect mating systems that promote self-fertilization or mixed-mating in polyploid species. However, few studies have measured polyploid mating systems and inbreeding depression. We report the outcrossing rate and inbreeding depression for Campanula americana, a self-compatible protandrous herb. Allozyme genotypes suggest that C. americana is an autotetraploid with tetrasomic inheritance. We found that the multilocus outcrossing rate, t(m)=0.938, did not differ from unity. This result was unexpected since previous work demonstrated that pollinators frequently move from male- to female-phase flowers on the same plant, that is, geitonogamy. Self and outcross pollinations were conducted for three populations. Offspring were germinated in controlled conditions and grown to maturity in pots in nature. Inbreeding depression was not significant for most seed and germination characters. However, all later life traits except flowering date differed between inbred and outcrossed individuals resulting in a 26% reduction in cumulative fitness for inbred plants. Limited early- and moderate later-life inbreeding depression suggest that it is buffered by the higher levels of heterozygosity found in an autotetraploid. C. americana appears to have a flexible mating system where within flower protandry and/or cryptic self-incompatibility result in a high outcrossing rate when pollinators are abundant, but self-compatibility and limited inbreeding depression maintain reproductive success when mates are limited.

Campanulaceae↗

Inheritance and dominance of self-incompatibility alleles in polyploid Arabidopsis lyrata.

Natural populations of diploid Arabidopsis lyrata exhibit the sporophytic type of self-incompatibility system characteristic of Brassicaceae, in which complicated dominance interactions among alleles in the diploid parent determine self-recognition phenotypes of both pollen and stigma. The purpose of this study was to investigate how polyploidy affects this already complex system. One tetraploid population (Arabidopsis lyrata ssp kawasakiana from Japan) showed complete self-compatibility and produced viable selfed progeny for at least three generations subsequent to field collection. In contrast, individuals from a second tetraploid population (A. lyrata ssp petraea from Austria) were strongly self-incompatible (SI). Segregation of SI genotypes in this population followed Mendelian patterns based on a tetrasomic model of inheritance, with two to four alleles per individual, independent segregation of alleles, and little evidence of dosage effects of alleles found in multiple copies. Similar to results from diploids, anomalous compatibility patterns involving particular combinations of individuals occurred at a low frequency in the tetraploids, suggesting altered dominance in certain genetic backgrounds that could be due to the influence of a modifier locus. Overall, dominance relationships among S-alleles in self-incompatible tetraploid families were remarkably similar to those in related diploids, suggesting that this very important and complicated locus has not undergone extensive modification subsequent to polyploidization.

Alleles↗

Estimation of allele frequencies in polyploids under certain patterns of inheritance.

Allele frequencies have long been studied by biologists interested in evolution and speciation. More recently, with the application of molecular markers in human DNA profiling we have also seen the need for reliable population allele frequency estimates for making probabilistic inferences. There is now interest in applying the same DNA profiling technology to identification of plant varieties. HortResearch maintains a large germplasm of horticultural plant species. It is becoming evident that accurate identification of these accessions through DNA fingerprinting is essential for effective utilisation and maintenance of this germplasm. Microsatellites are the markers of choice for this fingerprinting. However, such markers do not reveal the dosage of alleles in a polyploid. Polyploidy is common amongst horticultural plants. Estimating allele frequencies in a polyploid population is, therefore, complicated because of some marker genotypes being phenotypically indistinguishable. For example, in a tetraploid, with four alleles at a locus showing polysomic inheritance, although 35 genotypes are possible, these will fall into only 15 marker phenotypic classes. Furthermore 'null' individuals are rarely detected in polyploids. Furthermore, some polyploids can be cryptic exhibiting disomy, instead of the polysomic inheritance. We will discuss the implications of these factors and present an EM-type algorithm for estimating allele frequencies of a polyploid population under certain patterns of inheritance. The method will be demonstrated on simulated data. We also discuss the nature of some of the additional problems that may be encountered with estimating allele frequencies in polyploids for which other solutions still need to be developed.

Algorithms↗

Unreduced gametes and neopolyploids in natural populations of Achillea borealis (Asteraceae).

Polyploidy is a major mechanism of speciation and adaptation, yet little is known about the origins of polyploids in natural species. I investigated gametic nonreduction and neopolyploid formation in natural tetraploid populations of Achillea borealis (Asteraceae), an autopolyploid complex consisting of tetraploid and hexaploid cytotypes. Cytological analyses of tetraploid populations revealed the occurrence of reduced (n=2x) as well as unreduced 'big' (2n=4x) and 'jumbo' (4n=8x) pollen grains, which were clearly distinguished by size. Production of unreduced pollen was monitored in two tetraploid populations in 1997 and 1998. Mean population-level frequencies of unreduced pollen ranged from 0.030 to 0.538%, with as few as one-third and as many as one-half of sampled plants producing unreduced grains. Eight individuals were found to produce >1% unreduced pollen, with highest observed frequencies of 7.0, 13.2 and 15.8%. Experimental crosses using high unreduced pollen producers as male parents generated viable seeds. However, the frequency of neohexaploids in the progeny of experimental crosses (0.388%) was similar to that observed in progeny of randomly selected, open-pollinated control parents (0.465%). These results suggest that unreduced eggs are the most likely source of new polyploids. In spite of the inefficiency of unreduced pollen in unilateral sexual polyploidization, the overall rate of neohexaploid formation (one in 233) was several orders of magnitude greater than estimates of genic mutation rates.

Achillea↗

P53-dependent effects of RAS oncogene on chromosome stability and cell cycle checkpoints.

Mutations activating the function of ras proto-oncogenes are often observed in human tumors. Their oncogenic potential is mainly due to permanent stimulation of cellular proliferation and dramatic changes in morphogenic reactions of the cell. To learn more on the role of ras activation in cancerogenesis we studied its effects on chromosome stability and cell cycle checkpoints. Since the ability of ras oncogenes to cause cell transformation may be dependent on activity of the p53 tumor-suppressor the cells with different p53 state were analysed. Ectopic expression of N-ras(asp12) caused in p53-deficient MDAH041 cell line an augmentation in the number of chromosome breaks in mitogenic cells, significant increase in the frequency of metaphases showing chromosome endoreduplication and accumulation of polyploid cells. Similar effects were induced by different exogenous ras genes (N-ras(asp12), H-ras(leu12), N-ras proto-oncogene) in Rat1 and Rat2 cells which have a defect in p53-upstream pathways. In contrast, in REF52 and human LIM1215 cells showing ras-induced p53 up-regulation, ras expression caused only slight increase in the number of chromosome breaks and did not enhance the frequency of endoreduplication and polyploidy. Inactivation in these cells of p53 function by transduction of dominant-negative C-terminal p53 fragment (genetic suppressor element #22, GSE22) or mutant p53s significantly increased the frequency of both spontaneous and ras-induced karyotypic changes. In concordance with these observations we have found that expression of ras oncogene caused in p53-defective cells further mitigation of ethyl-metansulphonate-induced G1 and G2 cell cycle arrest, but did not abrogate G1 and G2 cell cycle checkpoints in cells with normal p53 function. These data indicate that along with stimulation of cell proliferation and morphological transformation ras activation can contribute to cancerogenesis by increasing genetic instability.

Animals↗

C-myc overexpression and p53 loss cooperate to promote genomic instability.

p53 monitors genomic integrity at the G1 and G2/M cell cycle checkpoints. Cells lacking p53 may show gene amplification as well as the polyploidy or aneuploidy typical of many tumors. The pathways through which this develops, however, are not well defined. We demonstrate here that the combination of p53 inactivation and c-myc overexpression in diploid cells markedly accelerates the spontaneous development of tetraploidy. This is not seen with either N-myc or L-myc. Tetraploidy is accompanied by significantly higher levels of cyclin B and its associated cdc2 kinase activity. Mitotic spindle poisons accelerate the appearance of tetraploidy in cells either lacking functional p53 or overexpressing c-myc whereas the combination is additive. Restoration of p53 function in cells overexpressing c-myc causing rapid apoptosis, indicating that cells yet to become tetraploid have nonetheless suffered irreversible genomic and/or mitotic spindle damage. In the face of normal p53 function, such damage would either be repaired or trigger apoptotis. We propose that loss of p53 and overexpression of c-myc permits the emergence and survival of cells with increasingly severe damage and the eventual development of tetraploidy.

Animals↗

Normal and c-Myc-promoted human keratinocyte differentiation both occur via a novel cell cycle involving cellular growth and endoreplication.

The relationship between cell cycle and differentiation in human keratinocytes is poorly understood. It is believed that keratinocytes suppress DNA replication and cell cycle arrest in G0 before they initiate terminal differentiation. However, a temporal separation between both events has not been established. Moreover, c-Myc promotes keratinocyte differentiation without causing cell cycle arrest. To address these paradoxes we have analysed cell cycle control during normal and c-Myc-promoted differentiation. Continuous activation of c-Myc or initiation of terminal differentiation results in a block of G2/M, cellular growth, endoreplication and polyploidy. Keratinocytes abandon G1, continue replicating DNA as they differentiate terminally and become polyploid. In fact, simply blocking mitosis with nocodazole resulted in increased cell size, terminal differentiation and endoreplication. This indicates that terminal differentiation associates with defective cell cycle progression and provides a novel insight into c-Myc biology.

Cell Cycle↗

Centrosome overduplication, increased ploidy and transformation in cells expressing endoplasmic reticulum-associated cyclin A2.

Cyclin A2 is predominantly, but not exclusively, localized in the nucleus from G1/S transition onwards. It is degraded when cells enter mitosis after nuclear envelope breakdown. We previously showed that a fusion protein (S2A) between the hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen protein and a non-degradable fragment of human cyclin A2 (Delta152) resides in the endoplasmic reticulum membranes, escapes degradation and transforms normal rat fibroblasts. The present study investigates whether cytoplasmic cyclin A2 may play a role in oncogenesis. We show that the sequestration of non-degradable cyclin A2-Delta152 by a cellular ER targeting domain (PRL-A2) leads to cell transformation when coexpressed with activated Ha-ras. REF52 cells constitutively expressing PRL-A2 are found to have a high incidence of multinucleate giant cells, polyploidy and abnormal centrosome numbers, giving rise to the nucleation of multipolar spindles. Injection of these cells into athymic nude mice causes tumors, even in the absence of a cooperating Ha-ras oncogene. These results demonstrate that, independently of any viral context, an intracellular redistribution of non-degradable cyclin A2 is capable of deregulating the normal cell cycle to the point where it promotes aneuploidy and cancer.

Animals↗

Additive effect of p53, p21 and Rb deletion in triple knockout primary hepatocytes.

Using Cre-Lox technology to inducibly delete Rb from wild-type, p21- and/or p53-deficient primary hepatocytes, we investigated the role of p53, p21 and pRb in the regulation of liver cell proliferation, polyploidization and death. These cellular decisions are critical to maintaining liver cell replacement in disease, and in determining the likelihood of carcinogenesis in chronic liver injury. Clearly, the present study shows a complex interplay between p53, p21 and pRb, which regulates the likelihood of hepatocytes stimulated from quiescence, to proliferate, undergo polyploidy or die. It reveals that these proteins act both in concert and independently, demonstrating that a small set of key cellular players is common to diverse cell decisions of fundamental importance to disease.

Animals↗

Genetic diversity in tetraploid populations of the endangered daisy Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides and implications for its conservation.

Polyploidy is an important variable in assessing the genetics of endangered plant species. Species consisting of populations with different chromosome numbers pose questions as to the mode of inheritance, relative variability status, population divergence and gene flow. The self-incompatible species Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides (Asteraceae) in south-eastern Australia is a good example. The remnant populations in the northern sector of the species range are diploid, whereas southern ones are either diploid or tetraploid. Allozyme analysis of the tetraploid populations showed tetrasomic inheritance confirming an autopolyploid genetic system, a modest increase in their allelic richness over diploid populations in the same region and a lack of genetic divergence. Conservation and replenishment strategies should take account of these genetic features of mixed ploidy.

Asteraceae↗

Recurrent polyploid origins and chloroplast phylogeography in the Arabis holboellii complex (Brassicaceae).

Arabis holboellii is a North American member of the Brassicaceae that can reproduce via sex or apomixis. Previous studies have shown sexual individuals to be diploid, whilst apomictic individuals can be diploid (and aneuploid) or polyploid (typically 3x). Apomictic individuals can furthermore be facultative (i.e. both sexual and apomictic seed production in a single individual). Using flow cytometry, ploidy variation in 245 accessions of A. holboellii and A. drummondii from western North America and Greenland has been examined. Additionally, the chloroplast trnL intron region from each accession was sequenced for phylogenetic analysis of ploidy variation. Based upon 17 informative single nucleotide and insertion-deletion polymorphisms, we identified seven and 14 chloroplast haplotypes for A. drummondii and A. holboellii, respectively. Six of the haplotypes were found in both species. Ten of the chloroplast haplotypes were characterized by diploid, aneuploid, and triploid individuals, and thus we conclude that polyploidy has repeatedly and independently arisen within the species complex. As triploid individuals, which undergo normal meiosis, can only reproduce through apomixis, this may imply that the phenotype apomixis has also arisen multiple times. Arabis holboellii thus appears to have some predisposition to evolve apomictic reproduction.

Base Sequence↗

Density and variability of dinucleotide microsatellites in the parthenogenetic polyploid snail Melanoides tuberculata.

Characterization of microsatellites in the parthenogenetic polyploid snail Melanoides tuberculata revealed an unusual high density of dinucleotide repeats. Multiple banding patterns were obtained at these loci, and interpreted as a consequence of polyploidy. Microsatellite variability was low within, but high between, shell morphotypes. Genotypes were wholly transmitted from mothers to offspring. These results suggest that reproduction is strictly apomictic, and that shell morphotypes are genetic clones.

Animals↗