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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

An enzymic method of preparing plant chromosomes for in situ hybridization.

A method of preparing chromosomes from plant root tips for in situ hybridization with tritiated DNA is described. The technique relies on the enzymic hydrolysis of plant cell walls with a pectinase-cellulase mixture. It is shown that, despite the enzymic mixture possessing nuclease activity, there is no detectable degradation of DNA within fixed root tips. To demonstrate the suitability of this method of preparing plant chromosomes for in situ hybridization, a cloned repetitive DNA sequence has been hybridized to Allium sativum chromosomes. Chromosomes prepared using this technique also can be readily C-banded.

Chromosomes↗

Through a genome, darkly: comparative analysis of plant chromosomal DNA.

Plant nuclear genomes encompass a wide range of variation in size and nucleotide composition with diverse arrangements of chromosomal segments, repetitive sequences and distribution of genes. Comparative genomic analysis may be undertaken at different levels of organisation, which are reflected in this review, together with a focus on the genetic and functional significance of the observed variation. Patterns of genome organisation have been revealed which reflect the different underlying mechanisms and constraints driving change. Thus comparative issues of genome size, nucleotide sequence composition and genome heterogeneity are provided as a background to understanding the different levels of segmental and repetitive sequence duplication and distribution of genes. The extent of synteny and collinearity revealed by recent genetic and sequence comparisons is discussed, together with a consideration of problems associated with such analyses. The possible origins and mechanisms of variation in genome size and organisation are covered, including the prevalence of duplication at different levels of organisation. The likely genetic, functional and adaptive consequences of replicated loci are discussed with evidence from comparative studies. The scope for comparative analysis of epigenetic plant genome variation is considered. Finally, opportunities for applying comparative genomics to isolating genes and understanding complex crop genomes are addressed.

DNA, Plant↗

A yeast artificial chromosome-splitting vector designed for precise manipulation of specific plant chromosome region.

A yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) splitting vector, pKI01, was constructed for manipulating plant chromosome fragments cloned as YACs in order to transfer specific regions of the fragments into plant cells. Vector pKI01 consists of Km(r) and ADE2 genes (selective markers for plant and yeast transformants, respectively), inverted telomeric repeats Tr and CEN4. To demonstrate the utility of pKI01, YAC CIC9e2 harboring a 590-kb fragment from Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 5 was split into specific fragments. A 1-kb target region positioned 100 kb from the right end of the 590 kb fragment was cloned into pKI01. The resultant plasmid, pKY03, was introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae harboring YAC CIC9e2. The Ade+ transformants were found to contain two new YACs of 490 and 100 kb, and to lack the original 590 kb YAC, consistent with the expected splitting event. To release the desired middle region of YAC CIC9e2, two additional splitting vectors were constructed, pKY11 and pKY14. By conducting two rounds of splitting, i.e., the first round 100 kb from the right end of YAC CIC9e2 with pKY11 to generate 490 and 100 kb YACs and a second round 50 kb from the right end of the new 490 kb YAC to generate 440 and 50 kb YACs, the middle 50 kb region of a plant chromosome fragment harboring Km(r) was successfully released as a split YAC. These results indicate that YAC splitting vectors as constructed in this study are useful for generating any desired plant chromosome fragment as a YAC for eventual re-introduction into plant cells.

Arabidopsis↗

[History of modern chromosomal analysis. Differential staining of plant chromosomes].

Differential staining methods found extensive use in karyotype studies of many plant and animal species and provide for reliable identification of all chromosomes of the organism. Below we describe the most widespread methods and history of their advent. In addition, we discuss specific structure of the chromosomes and possible mechanisms responsible for differential segmentation.

Chromosomes, Plant↗

Recent development of image analysis methods in plant chromosome research.

Image analysis methods have provided effective tools in chromosome research along with the development both in computer software and hardware. A chromosome image analyzing system, CHIAS, for plant chromosomes was developed in 1985 and was subsequently revised so that with CHIAS3 one can take advantage of Internet use for downloading the program. In this review, the recent developments of imaging methods in plant chromosome research for automating chromosome identification, constructing a map of a pachytene chromosome, and patterning of interphase nuclei are described.

Automation↗

Rapid identification and determination of purity of flow-sorted plant chromosomes using C-PRINS.

BACKGROUND: Flow-sorted plant chromosomes are being increasingly used in plant genome analysis and mapping. Consequently, there is a need for a rapid method for identification of sorted chromosomes and for determination of their purity. We report on optimization of procedures for primed in situ DNA labeling (PRINS) and cycling-PRINS (C-PRINS) for fluorescent labeling of repetitive DNA sequences on sorted plant chromosomes suitable for their identification. METHODS: Chromosomes of barley, wheat, and field bean were sorted onto microscope slides, dried, and subjected to PRINS or C-PRINS with primers for GAA microsatellites (barley and wheat) or FokI repeat (field bean). The following parameters were optimized to achieve the highest specificity and intensity of fluorescent labeling: ratio of labeled versus unlabeled nucleotides, nucleotide concentration, and the number and concentration of primers. RESULTS: Under optimal conditions, C-PRINS resulted in strong and specific labeling of GAA microsatellites on sorted barley and wheat chromosomes and FokI repeats on sorted field bean chromosomes. The labeling patterns were characteristic for each chromosome and permitted their unequivocal identification as well as determination of purity after sorting, which ranged from 96% to 99%. A standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with chromosome-specific primers was not sensitive enough to detect low-frequency contamination. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that a single C-PRINS assay with primers that give chromosome-specific labeling pattern is sufficient not only to determine chromosome content of peaks on flow karyotype but also to determine the purity of sorted chromosome fractions. The whole procedure can be performed in less than 3 h on the next day after sorting. Numerous applications are expected in the area of plant flow cytogenetics.

Chromosomes↗

Effects of acetic acid treatment on plant chromosome structures analyzed by atomic force microscopy.

Acetic acid treatment has been frequently used to remove cellular contaminants from plant chromosome samples for structural analyses by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We evaluated the effects of various concentrations of acetic acid treatments on barley chromosome structures by using AFM. The long-term 45% acetic acid treatment significantly damaged the chromosome structures, although the treatment effectively removed the cellular contaminants. On the other hand, the treatment with 15% acetic acid could not obtain sufficiently clean chromosome samples and the chromosome surface structures could not be observed. In contrast, we obtained clean chromosome preparation without severe damage by using an intermediate concentration (30%) of acetic acid treatment. In the centromeric region, we could observe fiber structures with a width of 100 nm, which were composed of ca. 50-nm granules and aligned to the axes of chromosomes. Thus, AFM analysis of chromosomes appropriately treated with acetic acid will provide important insights into the organization of higher-order structures of plant chromosomes.

Acetic Acid↗

Atomic force microscopic imaging of 30 nm chromatin fiber from partially relaxed plant chromosomes.

We have developed a procedure for partially relaxing the barley metaphase chromosomes and exposing fibrous structures from the chromosomes. The observation by atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the fibrous structures are typically 0.5 to 1 microm long and 40 to 50 nm in diameter. In higher magnification imaging, we found the fibrous structures were composed of aligned granules and looked like "knobby fiber." These observations are consistent with previously reported features of chromatin fiber observed by AFM and scanning electron microscopy, suggesting that the structures correspond to 30 nm chromatin fibers. We observed the chromatin fiber extending straight from the periphery of the chromosomes in most cases, but fibers with different shapes, such as loop and spiral, were also observed. The procedure reported here will provide a new approach for observing the organization of chromatin fiber to higher-order structures by AFM and other high-resolution microscopy.

Acetic Acid↗

A modified mordant technique for staining plant chromosomes.

The ability to produce ferric acetate in house has provided a new mordant source for use in Newcomer's fluid (6:3:1:1:1 isopropanol, propionic acid, acetone, petroleum ether, 1,4-dioxane) for species with small chromosomes. This method improves on one first published in 1970.

Chromosomes, Plant↗

Fluorescent labeling of plant chromosomes in suspension by FISH.

By optimizing the concentration and time of treatment with hydroxyurea (HU), a DNA synthesis inhibitor, and trifluralin, a microtubule inhibitor, a highly effective (over 60%) cell cycle synchronization method for rye and barley meristem cells was developed. Chromosome suspensions containing highly purified and morphologically intact rye and barley chromosomes were prepared from the meristems of their root tips by homogenization. Digoxigenin-labeled 5S rDNA was used as a probe in FISH for the rye chromosomes in the suspension, and biotin-labeled 17S rDNA and centromeric DNA were used in FISH for the rye and barley chromosome suspensions, respectively. Bright signals were detected at the specific regions of interest on the chromosomes. The results indicate that the method developed in this study is useful for selection and sorting of chromosomes that are not distinguishable by other means, using specific fluorescent labeling by FISH of the chromosomes in suspension.

Chromosomes, Plant↗

Efficient preparation of plant chromosomes for high-resolution scanning electron microscopy.

A highly reproducible technique to prepare plant chromosomes for high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy is presented. The procedure allows the production of relatively high numbers of chromosome spreads that can be viewed at high resolution, showing structural details below 10 nm. This preparation technique is not restricted to metaphase chromosomes, but also allows the observation of plant chromosomes during all stages of the cell cycle.

Chromosomes↗

Localisation of DNA sequences on plant chromosomes using PRINS and C-PRINS.

Localisation of DNA sequences to plant chromosomes in situ has traditionally been accomplished using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Although the method is suitable for most applications it is time-consuming and requires labelled probes. Recently, primed in situ labelling (PRINS) has been developed as an alternative to FISH. PRINS is based on annealing of unlabelled oligonucleotide primer(s) to chromosome DNA and its elongation by DNA polymerase in the presence of labelled nucleotide(s). The method was found useful to detect high-copy tandem repeats on plant chromosomes. Low copy repeats were detected after a more sensitive variant of PRINS called cycling PRINS (C-PRINS), which involves a sequence of thermal cycles analogous to polymerase chain reaction. This paper describes protocols of PRINS and C-PRINS, which have been optimised for chromosome spreads and for chromosomes purified using gradient centrifugation and/or flow sorting. The methods result in clear signals with negligible non-specific labelling. Further work is needed to improve the sensitivity to allow for reliable detection of single- copy DNA sequences.

DNA, Plant↗

Atomic force microscopy of plant chromosomes.

Atomic force microscopy has been used to image plant chromosomes from standard preparations without staining or coating. This has enabled the collection of high-resolution three-dimensional data on surface structure. The technique has been further applied to the imaging of C-banded chromosomes revealing structural changes resulting from the banding treatment. The bands were observed as localized areas of high relief.

Chromosome Banding↗

Trypsin-orcein banding in plant chromosomes.

A convenient and quick method using trypsin-orcein for banding plant chromosomes (O-banding) is suggested. The technique is directly applicable to meristematic tissues (e.g. root tips) and involves the treatment of root tips with 1-2% solution of trypsin either in buffer or in 0.5 N HCl for 5-10 minutes at 37 C or for 30-60 minutes near 0 C followed by staining with 1.5% acetic orcein: 1 N HCl (19:1). Dark staining bands are reproducible and species specific. These bands possibly represent specific DNA-protein-dye interaction.

Chromosome Banding↗

A technique for C-banding plant chromosomes with Wright stain.

A technique is presented for C-banding plant chromosomes with a modified Wright stain. This procedure consistently produces brightly stained, well defined telomeric and interstitial heterochromatic bands, identifiable centromeric constrictions, and lightly stained euchromatic areas on chromosomes of rye.

Chromosome Banding↗

Fluorescence in situ hybridization to localize transgenes in plant chromosomes.

Production of transgenic plants is now routine for many of our crop species. Methods for the detailed molecular analysis of transgenic plants are available, but often the exact location of the transgene within the crop genome is poorly understood. As a starting point to understanding more about the site of transgene insertion, transgenes can be physically located using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This technique allows transgenes to be located to specific chromosome regions following the hybridization of a fluorescent labelled probe to a chromosome spread. The technique is sensitive enough to detect single transgene copies and can reveal information about the complexity of a transgene insertion site as well as identifying plants homozygous for the transgene. A FISH method is described that has been used successfully to detect single-transgene copies in mitotic metaphase chromosome preparations of wheat and barley.

Chromosome Mapping↗

High-resolution FISH on super-stretched flow-sorted plant chromosomes.

A novel high-resolution fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) strategy, using super-stretched flow-sorted plant chromosomes as targets, is described. The technique that allows longitudinal extension of chromosomes of more than 100 times their original metaphase size is especially attractive for plant species with large chromosomes, whose pachytene chromosomes are generally too long and heterochromatin patterns too complex for FISH analysis. The protocol involves flow cytometric sorting of metaphase chromosomes, mild proteinase-K digestion of air-dried chromosomes on microscopic slides, followed by stretching with ethanol:acetic acid (3 : 1). Stretching ratios were assessed in a number of FISH experiments with super-stretched chromosomes from barley, wheat, rye and chickpea, hybridised with 45S and 5S ribosomal DNAs and the [GAA]n microsatellite, the [TTTAGGG]n telomeric repeat and a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone as probes. FISH signals on stretched chromosomes were brighter than those on the untreated control, resulting from better accessibility of the stretched chromatin and maximum observed sensitivity of 1 kbp. Spatial resolution of neighbouring loci was improved down to 70 kbp as compared to 5-10 Mbp after FISH on mitotic chromosomes, revealing details of adjacent DNA sequences hitherto not obtained with any other method. Stretched chromosomes are advantageous over extended DNA fibres from interphase nuclei as targets for FISH studies because they still retain chromosomal integrity. Although the method is confined to species for which chromosome flow sorting has been developed, it provides a unique system for controlling stretching degree of mitotic chromosomes and high-resolution bar-code FISH.

Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial↗

Organization and evolution of highly repeated satellite DNA sequences in plant chromosomes.

A major component of the plant nuclear genome is constituted by different classes of repetitive DNA sequences. The structural, functional and evolutionary aspects of the satellite repetitive DNA families, and their organization in the chromosomes is reviewed. The tandem satellite DNA sequences exhibit characteristic chromosomal locations, usually at subtelomeric and centromeric regions. The repetitive DNA family(ies) may be widely distributed in a taxonomic family or a genus, or may be specific for a species, genome or even a chromosome. They may acquire large-scale variations in their sequence and copy number over an evolutionary time-scale. These features have formed the basis of extensive utilization of repetitive sequences for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. Hybrid polyploids have especially proven to be excellent models for studying the evolution of repetitive DNA sequences. Recent studies explicitly show that some repetitive DNA families localized at the telomeres and centromeres have acquired important structural and functional significance. The repetitive elements are under different evolutionary constraints as compared to the genes. Satellite DNA families are thought to arise de novo as a consequence of molecular mechanisms such as unequal crossing over, rolling circle amplification, replication slippage and mutation that constitute "molecular drive".

Centromere↗