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In situ detection of supernumerary aberrations of chromosome-specific repetitive DNA targets in interphase nuclei in human melanoma cell lines and tissue sections.

The use of non-radioactive in situ hybridization (ISH) with chromosome-specific repetitive DNA probes to study genomic changes, aneuploidy, and heterogeneity during melanocytic tumor progression, relies on its applicability to non-mitotic interphase nuclei, present in cell suspensions and tissue sections. Therefore, we studied the feasibility of detecting numerical aberrations with respect to the (peri-) centromere regions of chromosomes 1 and 7 in intact nuclei of two human melanoma cell lines with different metastatic behavior in nude mice. In addition, we used paraffin sections from xenograft lesions, obtained by inoculation of these cell lines in nude mice (subcutaneous tumors and spontaneous lung metastases). Paraffin sections from the original primary cutaneous melanoma (with a subepidermal and a dermal part) and two loco-regional metastases were also studied, one of which was the source for the cell lines. These cells and tissues represent examples of materials used in different approaches to the study of melanocytic tumor progression. Regarding the targeted sequences, ISH analysis showed that both cell lines were heterogeneous and aneuploid. The results correlated well with those obtained by ISH on metaphase spreads. Differences between the lines, which could not be detected by flow-cytometric or conventional karyotyping analysis, included data suggestive of a polyploid subpopulation and an extra copy of chromosome 7 in the metastasizing cell line. The polyploid population could be detected also in the paraffin sections of the corresponding subcutaneous xenografts and lung metastases in the mice. Both areas in the patients' primary melanoma could be evaluated separately and showed similar supernumerary aberrations of the chromosome-specific targets. These abnormalities matched those found in both metastases. Our results demonstrate that ISH can be used to visualize genomic abnormalities at the single-cell level in melanocytic nuclei in their natural context, which makes it a promising tool in the histopathology of melanocytic lesions and in the study of melanocytic tumor progression.

Aged↗

Porokeratosis has neoplastic clones in the epidermis: microfluorometric analysis of DNA content of epidermal cell nuclei.

Clinical evidence of malignant epithelial tumors developing on the lesions of porokeratosis has accumulated. To determine the cytologic basis for the malignant change of porokeratosis, the nuclear DNA content of epidermal cells from porokeratosis lesions was measured using microfluorometry. A total of 42% of 33 porokeratosis skin lesions in eight of the 16 patients showed DNA polyploidization in the epidermis. Most of the porokeratosis skin lesions, with or without DNA polyploidization, increased cell proportions in the S and G2/M phase range. These findings suggest that porokeratosis is undergoing the neoplastic process, and is the precursor skin manifestation of malignant tumors.

Adult↗

Evolution and biogeography of the woody Hawaiian violets (Viola, Violaceae): arctic origins, herbaceous ancestry and bird dispersal.

Specialists studying the genus Viola have consistently allied the Hawaiian violets comprising section Nosphinium--most of which are subshrubs or treelets--with putatively primitive subshrubs in certain South American violet groups. Hawaiian violets also possess inflorescences, a floral disposition otherwise found only in other genera of the Violaceae, thus strengthening the hypothesis of a very ancient origin for the Hawaiian species. A survey of phylogenetic relationships among infrageneric groups of Viola worldwide using nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences revealed a dramatically different biogeographic origin for the Hawaiian violets: A monophyletic Hawaiian clade was placed in a close sister relationship with the amphi-Beringian tundra violet, V. langsdorffii s. 1., in a highly derived position. This remarkable and unforeseen relationship received strong clade support values across analyses, and monophyly of the Hawaiian lineage was further indicated by a unique 26-base-pair deletion in section Nosphinium. The high polyploid base chromosome number (n approximately equal to 40) in the Hawaiian violets relates them to Alaskan and eastern Siberian populations in the polyploid V. langsdorffii complex. More than 50 species of the 260 allochthonous birds wintering in the Hawaiian Islands are found to breed in the Arctic, occupying habitats in which individual birds might have encountered ancestral V. langsdorffii populations and served as dispersers to the central Pacific region. Acquisition of derived morphological traits (e.g., arborescence and inflorescences), significance of a confirmed Arctic origin for a component of the Hawaiian flora, and the likelihood of other "cryptic" Arctic elements in the Hawaiian flora deserving independent molecular phylogenetic corroboration are discussed.

Animals↗

Phenotypic consequences of genetic variation in a gynogenetic complex of Phoxinus eos-neogaeus clonal fish (Pisces: Cyprinidae) inhabiting a heterogeneous environment.

We examined the genetic composition, habitat use, and morphological variation of a Phoxinus eos-neogaeus unisexual hybrid complex and its sexually reproducing progenitor species inhabiting beaver-modified drainages of Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. In addition to the single diploid P. eos-neogaeus gynogenetic clone, triploid and diploid-triploid mosaic biotypes were present at our study sites. Both P. eos and P. neogaeus, and all three hybrid biotypes were ubiquitous throughout one intensively surveyed drainage, but abundances and relative frequencies of the parental species and hybrids varied considerably within and among successional environments. Data from a large number of additional sites indicated that the proportion of polyploid hybrids within an environment was negatively related to hybrid relative frequency, implying that the genomic constitution of hybrids is an important determinant of clonal fitness among successional environments. Statistical comparisons of variation along size-free multivariate body shape axes indicated that despite its genetic uniformity, the P. eos-neogaeus clone is no less variable than its sexual progenitors, suggesting that a single genotype may actually respond to environmental variation with as much phenotypic variation as a genetically variable sexual population. The incorporation and expression of a third genome in triploid and diploid-triploid mosaic biotypes derived from the gynogenetic clone significantly expanded phenotypic variation of the clone. This additional variation results in greater similarities in habitat use and morphological overlap with the parental species, primarily P. eos, the predominant sperm donor for gynogenetic hybrid females in this complex. Polyploid augmentation of a diploid gynogenetic clone appears to be typical in the P. eos-neogaeus complex, and the additional genetic and phenotypic variation that it generates has potentially significant ecological and evolutionary consequences for the success and persistence of a single genotype in highly variable environments.

Animals↗

Accumulation of abnormally high ploid nuclei in the liver of LEC rats developing spontaneous hepatitis.

Enlarged hepatocytes with huge nuclei were found in LEC rats with hereditary hepatitis. Flow cytometric analysis of the DNA content of nuclei from jaundiced LEC rats revealed the presence of very high polyploids, such as 32n and 64n. At the age of 12 weeks, before the onset of hepatitis, 8n polyploid nuclei were more frequent in LEC rats than in LEA rats, a sibling line of LEC rats. Binucleated hepatocytes were also more frequent in LEC rats than in LEA rats at week 4. Bi-, tri- and tetra-nucleated cells whose nuclei were sometimes different in size were observed when jaundice became manifest. The number of proliferating liver cells, determined by pulse labeling with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), was higher in LEC rats than in LEA rats at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 14 weeks, with a maximum at week 4. A remarkable increase of BrdU uptake was observed at week 16, when jaundice developed. The possible involvement of abnormal cytokinesis and kariokinesis in the manifestation of hepatitis was suggested.

Age Factors↗

Changes in liver cells ploidy of young rats following isoprenaline treatment.

Cell proliferation induced by isoprenaline (IPR) stimulation in very high doses was assayed in the liver of young rats, and the formation of polyploid cells was studied form the 15th to the 70th day of life. A general stimulatory effect on a complex process of cellular multiplication, leading to a population of tetraploid cells, was found to be accelerated; the earlier appearance of binucleate cells and the subsequent significant variations in their incidence confirmed the role of this cell type as an intermediate step in the process of polyploidization. Evidence was found of concomitant size changes of the hepatocytes, which might be partially independent of the effect of DNA content. The stimulation was no longer evident 20--30 days from the end of treatment, by when the cells which had come into contact with IPR should have completed the whole sequence of events leading to the formation of tetraploid mononucleate cells.

Animals↗

Megakaryocytes: origin of bleeding and thrombotic disorders.

Thrombocytes of lower vertebrates are nucleated diploid cells, which differentiate directly from stem cells without an interposed megakaryocytic maturation program. With increased complexity of circulatory systems and higher blood pressures, more efficient haemostasis was required. In higher vertebrates and man, megakaryocytes developed which, by way of endomitotic polyploidization, can amplify genes relevant for haemostasis and adapt platelets to different haemostatic demands. As endomitotic polyploidization is regulated by cytokines, it is also influenced by inflammatory or malignant cell growth. The responsiveness of the megakaryocyte system to various stimuli is a possible explanation for the high incidence of thrombohaemorrhagic and thromboembolic disorders in man. For example, thrombotic complications in tumour patients are due to pathologic overstimulation of megakaryocytes. Atherosclerosis is another process which may be caused by inappropriate stimulation of the megakaryocyte system. As this complication does not manifest itself during reproductive ages, it is not going to be corrected by evolution.

Animals↗

A simple method for the calculation of microsatellite genotype distances irrespective of ploidy level.

Abstract Microsatellites are powerful molecular markers, used commonly to estimate intraspecific genetic distances. With the exception of band sharing similarity index, available distance measures were developed specifically for diploid organisms and are unsuited for comparisons of polyploids. Here, we present a simple method for calculation of microsatellite genotype distances, which takes into account mutation processes and permits comparison of individuals with different ploidy levels. This method should provide a valuable tool for intraspecific analyses of polyploid organisms, which are widespread among plants and some animal taxa. An illustration is given using data from the planarian flatworm Schmidtea polychroa (Platyhelminthes).

Animals↗

Genetic enrichment of the arctic clonal plant Saxifraga cernua at its southern periphery via the alpine sexual Saxifraga sibirica.

Isolation of populations at the margins of a species range may lead to decreasing genetic diversity via genetic drift and inbreeding. Hybridization between peripheral populations of two species can, however, counteract genetic impoverishment. The mainly clonal, polyploid plant Saxifraga cernua has a wide arctic distribution but also extends southwards into alpine sites. In the Ural Mountains, its peripheral distribution overlaps with that of its sexually reproducing, diploid relative Saxifraga sibirica, and fertile polyploids of more or less intermediate appearance are found in this overlap zone. We used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis to address the potential impact of interspecific gene flow on genetic diversity in the peripheral populations. A total of 149 plants from 17 populations along a 1650 km south-north gradient were analysed for 253 markers. The results suggest that three Middle Ural populations containing fertile and morphologically more or less intermediate plants have been affected by hybridization. All of these plants formed a strongly supported (100%) group with S. cernua in a neighbour-joining tree, but their AFLP phenotypes assigned either to S. cernua or to artificial (simulated) F(1) hybrids between S. cernua and S. sibirica in multilocus assignment tests. The three populations were highly diverse with virtually every plant representing a distinct AFLP phenotype, providing additional evidence for formation of later-generation hybrids and/or backcrossing to S. cernua. In contrast, other peripheral populations of S. cernua were typically monoclonal, suggesting that hybridization with S. sibirica can increase genetic diversity in S. cernua at its southern periphery.

Arctic Regions↗

Elimination of deleterious mutations in plastid genomes by gene conversion.

Asexual reproduction is believed to be detrimental, mainly because of the accumulation of deleterious mutations over time, a hypothesis known as Muller's ratchet. In seed plants, most asexually reproducing genetic systems are polyploid, with apomictic species (plants forming seeds without fertilization) as well as plastids and mitochondria providing prominent examples. Whether or not polyploidy helps asexual genetic systems to escape Muller's ratchet is unknown. Gene conversion, particularly when slightly biased, represents a potential mechanism that could allow asexual genetic systems to reduce their mutation load in a genome copy number-dependent manner. However, direct experimental evidence for the operation of gene conversion between genome molecules to correct mutations is largely lacking. Here we describe an experimental system based on transgenic tobacco chloroplasts that allows us to analyze gene conversion events in higher plant plastid genomes. We provide evidence for gene conversion acting as a highly efficient mechanism by which the polyploid plastid genetic system can correct deleterious mutations and make one good genome out of two bad ones. Our finding that gene conversion can be biased may provide a molecular link between asexual reproduction, high genome copy numbers and low mutation rates.

Base Sequence↗

Homoeologous gene silencing in hexaploid wheat.

The vast majority of angiosperms are (or were once) polyploid, and as hexaploid bread wheat has undergone two ploidy events separated by approximately 0.5 million years, it represents an elegant model to study gene silencing over time in polyploids. Using an SSCP platform, we have analysed patterns of transcriptional silencing (frequency, genome identity and organ specificity) within 236 single-copy genes, each mapping to one locus on one of the three homoeologous chromosomes within groups 1, 2, 3 and 7 of wheat. In about 27% of unigenes expressed in leaf, and about 26% of those in root, one (rarely two) members of a gene set (homoeoalleles) were not present in the cDNA template. Organ-specific regulation is commonplace, with many homoeoalleles transcribed in leaf but not root (and vice versa). There was little indication of extensive bias towards selective silencing of a particular genome copy. Expression of some of the silenced homoeoalleles was restored in certain aneuploid lines and varieties, and these displayed a significant degree of genetic variation for the silencing of a given homoeoallele. We propose that a substantial proportion of this phenomenon is effected by an epigenetic mechanism, and suggest that this form of genetic variation may be a significant player in the determination of phenotypic diversity in breeding populations.

Expressed Sequence Tags↗

Characterizing the composition and evolution of homoeologous genomes in hexaploid wheat through BAC-end sequencing on chromosome 3B.

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important crops worldwide. However, because of its large, hexaploid, highly repetitive genome it is a challenge to develop efficient means for molecular analysis and genetic improvement in wheat. To better understand the composition and molecular evolution of the hexaploid wheat homoeologous genomes and to evaluate the potential of BAC-end sequences (BES) for marker development, we have followed a chromosome-specific strategy and generated 11 Mb of random BES from chromosome 3B, the largest chromosome of bread wheat. The sequence consisted of about 86% of repetitive elements, 1.2% of coding regions, and 13% remained unknown. With 1.2% of the sequence length corresponding to coding sequences, 6000 genes were estimated for chromosome 3B. New repetitive sequences were identified, including a Triticineae-specific tandem repeat (Fat) that represents 0.6% of the B-genome and has been differentially amplified in the homoeologous genomes before polyploidization. About 10% of the BES contained junctions between nested transposable elements that were used to develop chromosome-specific markers for physical and genetic mapping. Finally, sequence comparison with 2.9 Mb of random sequences from the D-genome of Aegilops tauschii suggested that the larger size of the B-genome is due to a higher content in repetitive elements. It also indicated which families of transposable elements are mostly responsible for differential expansion of the homoeologous wheat genomes during evolution. Our data demonstrate that BAC-end sequencing from flow-sorted chromosomes is a powerful tool for analysing the structure and evolution of polyploid and highly repetitive genomes.

Base Sequence↗

Comparative genomics and repetitive sequence divergence in the species of diploid Nicotiana section Alatae.

Combining phylogenetic reconstructions of species relationships with comparative genomic approaches is a powerful way to decipher evolutionary events associated with genome divergence. Here, we reconstruct the history of karyotype and tandem repeat evolution in species of diploid Nicotiana section Alatae. By analysis of plastid DNA, we resolved two clades with high bootstrap support, one containing N. alata, N. langsdorffii, N. forgetiana and N. bonariensis (called the n = 9 group) and another containing N. plumbaginifolia and N. longiflora (called the n = 10 group). Despite little plastid DNA sequence divergence, we observed, via fluorescent in situ hybridization, substantial chromosomal repatterning, including altered chromosome numbers, structure and distribution of repeats. Effort was focussed on 35S and 5S nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and the HRS60 satellite family of tandem repeats comprising the elements HRS60, NP3R and NP4R. We compared divergence of these repeats in diploids and polyploids of Nicotiana. There are dramatic shifts in the distribution of the satellite repeats and complete replacement of intergenic spacers (IGSs) of 35S rDNA associated with divergence of the species in section Alatae. We suggest that sequence homogenization has replaced HRS60 family repeats at sub-telomeric regions, but that this process may not occur, or occurs more slowly, when the repeats are found at intercalary locations. Sequence homogenization acts more rapidly (at least two orders of magnitude) on 35S rDNA than 5S rDNA and sub-telomeric satellite sequences. This rapid rate of divergence is analogous to that found in polyploid species, and is therefore, in plants, not only associated with polyploidy.

Chromosomes, Plant↗

Fertilization and preimplantation development in vitro of mouse eggs obtained following stimulation with different doses of pregnant mare serum: a comparison of the responses in two strains.

Unfertilized eggs were recovered from TO and (C57BL/10 X CBA)F1 females, induced to ovulate with 0.75--10.0 IU PMS and 5.0 IU HCG/mouse, and mixed with TO sperm in vitro. Among the groups of F1 eggs, there were no significant differences in either fertilization or development to the blastocyst stage in vitro. With TO eggs, however, there was significantly lower fertility in the 0.74 and 1.5 IU PMS groups than in the higher PMS dose groups. Conversely, preimplantation development was significantly better withe low doses. To determine whether polyploidy migh affect viability in vitro, digynic polyploidy was experimentally induced in both F1 and TO eggs with cytochalasin B. Development of polyploid F1 X TO embryos to the blastocyst stage did not differ significantly form that of untreated embryos. Development of polyploid TO X TO embryos obtained from eggs stimulated with 1.5 IU PMS was still higher than that for eggs stimulated with 7.5 IU PMS. This suggests that cytoplasmic inadequacies, rather than genome imbalance, are responsible for the reduced ability of the eggs stimulated with high doses of PMS to reach the blastocyst stage in vitro.

Animals↗

Differential effect of renal wrap hypertension on aortic smooth muscle polyploidy in the rat and rabbit.

1. The incidence of aortic smooth muscle cell polyploidy was investigated in rabbits and rats with renal wrap induced (cellophane perinephritic) chronic hypertension. 2. Bilateral renal cellophane wrapping was performed in young adult animals. Blood pressure was measured intra-arterially in the rabbits twice during the experimental period and tail-cuff blood pressure measured twice weekly in the rats. At 8 weeks post-surgery the incidence of aortic smooth muscle cell polyploidy was determined in enzymatically isolated cells by flow cytometric DNA analysis. 3. Systolic blood pressure was significantly increased in the bilateral renal wrapped rabbits and rats compared to the shams, such that at 8 weeks post-surgery, systolic blood pressure was 139 +/- 2 mmHg and 84 +/- 2 mmHg, respectively, in the rabbits and 188 +/- 6 mmHg and 155 +/- 4 mmHg, respectively, in the rats. 4. The incidence of polyploid smooth muscle cells was significantly higher in the hypertensive renal wrapped rat compared to the sham (20.9 +/- 1.5% and 8.1 +/- 0.5%, respectively). However, the incidence of polyploid cells was low in the rabbit aortae with no significant difference in the incidence of aortic smooth muscle polyploidy in the hypertensive rabbit compared to the sham (2.6 +/- 0.6% and 2.7 +/- 0.6%, respectively). 5. This study demonstrates a species difference in the induction of polyploidy during the same model of experimental hypertension in aortic smooth muscle derived from the rabbit and rat.

Animals↗

Breeding system variation, genetics and evolution in the Turneraceae.

We review the genetics and evolution of breeding systems in the Turneraceae. Distyly occurs in seven of 10 genera and 81% of species. The remaining species are homostylous. Polyploid evolution has been significant in Turnera. Approximately 60% of species are polyploid ranging from diploid through decaploid. No relationship between breeding system and polyploidy is evident. The genetics of distyly involves a one-locus two-allele system (S and s). Evidence from crosses with homostylous species and mutants is consistent with the possibility that a "Primula-type" supergene underlies distyly but does not prove this to be the case. A polygalacturonase, and an alpha-dioxygenase specific to the transmitting tissue of short-styled plants both exhibit morph-limited expression in concert with predictions from an evolutionary model. The function of the proteins in distyly, if any, is unknown. We have begun constructing a fine-scale genetic map of Turnera. Two genetic markers lie within 0.2 cm of the distyly locus. This should provide a starting point for positional cloning of the distyly locus and reveal the genetic architecture and molecular basis of distyly.

Biological Evolution↗

Endosperm formation in aposporous Crataegus (Rosaceae, Spiraeoideae, tribe Pyreae): parallels to Ranunculaceae and Poaceae.

Apomixis in Crataegus is primarily aposporous and requires pollination. The embryo sac is of the Polygonum type. A combination of meiotically unreduced embryo sacs with apparently reduced pollen would violate the usual requirement for a 2 : 1 ratio of maternal to paternal contributions to the endosperm. We therefore investigated the origin of endosperm in seeds of sexual diploids and apomictic polyploids of the sister genera Crataegus and Mespilus. Flow-cytometric DNA measurements from embryo and endosperm in mature seeds were converted to ploidy levels using leaf-tissue information. The diploids had triploid endosperm. In c. 60% of seed from polyploids, one sperm apparently contributes to the endosperm, while 25% or more may involve two sperm. Additional results suggest that trinucleate central cells also occur. Fertilization of meiotically unreduced eggs is indicated. The ratio of maternal to paternal contributions to the endosperm in these apomictic Crataegus is not constrained to 2 : 1. They thus resemble some Sorbus (Pyreae) and very distantly related Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae). It is suggested that Paspalum (Poaceae) may have similarly flexible endosperm ploidy levels.

Crataegus↗

Streaming liver. VII: DNA turnover in acinus zone-3.

Livers of four young, male, random-bred rats weighing 250 g were fixed in formalin and stained with Feulgen. In each section, 50 hepatocytes were randomly selected and their distance from the nearest terminal hepatic vein was measured with an eye-piece micrometer. Distance was expressed in two units: 1. micrometer and, 2. cell location, or the cell number separating a sampled cell from the terminal hepatic rim. The sections were scanned with an image cytometer. The tissue was magnified x 400 and digitized into 512 x 512 pixels. The software determined the nuclear boundary and estimated its area and optical absorbance, which was expressed in relative DNA units. One unit equals the absorbance of a diploid lymphocyte. Nuclear area and optical absorbance measurements were made up to 220 microns distance from the terminal hepatic vein which roughly covers zones 2 and 3. Previously we have shown that in zones 1 and 2 hepatocyte nucleus enlarges and becomes polyploid. The present study demonstrates that in zone-3 this trend is reversed, nuclear area and DNA absorbance decline. The average hepatocyte advances 2 microns daily. In zone-1 it accumulates daily 0.005 DNA absorbance units and in zone-3 it loses daily 0.24 DNA absorbance units. It is proposed that in zone-3 DNA leaves the intact cell in a physiological way. DNA accumulation and polyploid are regarded here as forms of gene amplification which may be reversed, so that under these circumstances amplified DNA may be "deamplified" and the excess DNA leaves the cell.

Animals↗