Locating a site on the maize B chromosome that controls preferential fertilization

Genome ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 578-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne R. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
B Chromosome ◽  
B Chromosomes ◽  
Chromosome 9 ◽  
Chromosome Deletion ◽  
Pollen Mitosis ◽  
Preferential Fertilization ◽  
Second Pollen Mitosis ◽  
A Site ◽  
Derivatives Of

In maize, the B chromosome can undergo nondisjunction at the second pollen mitosis, producing sperm with two B chromosomes and sperm with zero B chromosomes. Preferential fertilization is the ability of the sperm carrying two B chromosomes to transmit more frequently to the embryo of a kernel than the sperm lacking the B chromosome. A translocation involving the B chromosome and chromosome 9, TB-9Sb, has been used to study preferential fertilization. The B-9 chromosome has the same properties of nondisjunction and preferential fertilization as the standard B chromosome. Deletion derivatives of B-9, which lack the centric heterochromatin and possibly some adjacent euchromatin, were tested for their ability to induce preferential fertilization. They were found to lack the capacity for preferential fertilization.

scholarly journals B CHROMOSOME NONDISJUNCTION IN CORN: CONTROL BY FACTORS NEAR THE CENTROMERE

Genetics ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-389
Author(s):  
Wayne R Carlson ◽  
Tau-San Chou
Keyword(s):  
B Chromosome ◽  
B Chromosomes ◽  
Translocation Chromosome ◽  
Pollen Mitosis ◽  
Second Pollen Mitosis ◽  
Chromosome Nondisjunction

ABSTRACT B chromosomes of corn are stable at all mitotic and meiotic divisions of the plant except the second pollen mitosis. In the latter division, B chromosomes undego mitotic nondisjunction at rates as high as 98%. Studies by several workers on B-A translocation chromosomes have provided evidence for the existence of four factors on the B chromosome that control nondisjunction and are separable from the centromere. Two of these factors, referred to here as factors 3 and 4, flank the B chromosome centromere. Factor 3 is the centromere-adjacent heterochromatin in the long arm of the B chromosome; factor 4 is located in the minute short arm. Evidence is presented here supporting the existence of factors 3 and 4. Deficiencies that include each factor were identified following centromeric misdivision events, with breaks at or near the centromere of a B-translocation chromosome. B chromosomes lacking factors 3 or 4 show much less nondisjunction than do chromosomes containing them. The possible function of factor 4 in nondisjuntion is also discussed.

Unstable inheritance of maize B-type chromosomes that lack centric heterochromatin

Genome ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 420-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne R Carlson
Keyword(s):  
B Chromosome ◽  
Chromosome 9 ◽  
Pollen Mitosis ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Telocentric Chromosome ◽  
Deletion Derivative ◽  
Translocation Heterozygote ◽  
Second Pollen Mitosis

The B chromosome of maize undergoes frequent non-disjunction at the second pollen mitosis. In B–A translocations, the B–A chromosome retains the capacity for non-disjunction. We have collected deletion-derivative TB-9Sb stocks. One derivative, the "type 1 telocentric", has a B–9 chromosome that lacks centric heterochromatin. It produces few recessive (non-disjunctional) phenotypes in pollen parent testcrosses of the translocation heterozygote, 9 9–B telo B–9. The finding helped demonstrate the role of centric heterochromatin in non-disjunction. An isochromo some derivative of the type 1 telocentric was also recovered. It was tested in the 9–B 9–B iso B–9 constitution. This is equivalent to 9 9–B telo B–9 in terms of chromosome 9 dosage. Surprisingly, crosses with the isochromosome gave significant levels of recessive phenotypes. In addition, high levels of variegated phenotypes were found. Recently, a circumstance was found that makes inheritance of the type 1 telocentric chromosome somewhat similar to that of the isochromosome. Crosses with hypoploid 9–B 9–B telo B–9 plants showed significant levels of recessive and variegated phenotypes. These crosses were investigated to help explain the source(s) of the phenotypes. Cytological and genetic studies were performed. Centric misdivision was found to account for the variegated phenotypes. A mixture of conventional B non-disjunction and centric misdivision produced the recessive phenotypes. The significance of conventional non-disjunction in the absence of centric heterochromatin is discussed.Key words: cytogenetics, B chromosome, centromere, maize.

scholarly journals De novo centromere formation on chromosome fragments with an inactive centromere in maize (Zea mays)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan N. Douglas ◽  
Hua Yang ◽  
Bing Zhang ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
Fangpu Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
B Chromosome ◽  
Chromosome 9 ◽  
Centromere Region ◽  
Pollen Mitosis ◽  
Accumulation Mechanism ◽  
Chromosome Fragments ◽  
Breakpoint Determination ◽  
Second Pollen Mitosis

AbstractThe B chromosome of maize undergoes nondisjunction at the second pollen mitosis as part of its accumulation mechanism. Previous work identified 9-Bic-1 (9-B inactivated centromere-1), which comprises an epigenetically silenced B chromosome centromere that was translocated to the short arm of chromosome 9(9S). This chromosome is stable in isolation, but when normal B chromosomes are added to the genotype, it will attempt to undergo nondisjunction during the second pollen mitosis and usually fractures the chromosome in 9S. These broken chromosomes allow a test of whether the inactive centromere is reactivated or whether a de novo centromere is formed elsewhere on the chromosome to allow recovery of fragments. Breakpoint determination on the B chromosome and chromosome 9 showed that mini chromosome B1104 has the same breakpoint as 9-Bic-1 in the B centromere region and includes a portion of 9S. CENH3 binding was found on the B centromere region and on 9S, suggesting both centromere reactivation and de novo centromere formation. Another mini chromosome, B496, showed evidence of rearrangement, but it also only showed evidence for a de novo centromere. Other mini chromosome fragments recovered were directly derived from the B chromosome with breakpoints concentrated near the centromeric knob region, which suggests that the B chromosome is broken at a low frequency due to the failure of the sister chromatids to separate at the second pollen mitosis. Our results indicate that both reactivation and de novo centromere formation could occur on fragments derived from the progenitor possessing an inactive centromere.

Time Course Study of the Chromosome-Type Breakage-Fusion-Bridge Cycle in Maize

Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 1435-1444
Author(s):  
Yin-Zhou Zheng ◽  
Robin R Roseman ◽  
Wayne R Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
B Chromosome ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Chromosome 9 ◽  
Pollen Mitosis ◽  
Chromosome Type ◽  
Root Cells ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Time Course Study ◽  
Second Pollen Mitosis

Abstract The B chromosome of maize has been used in a study of dicentric chromosomes. TB-9Sb is a translocation between the B and chromosome 9. The B-9 of TB-9Sb carries 60% of the short arm of 9. For construction of dicentrics, a modified B-9 chromosome was used, B-9-Dp9. It consists of the B-9 chromosome plus a duplicated 9S region attached to the distal end. In meiosis, fold-back pairing and crossing over in the duplicated region gives a chromatid-type dicentric B-9 that subsequently initiates a chromatid-type breakage-fusion-bridge cycle. In the male, it forms a single bridge in anaphase II of meiosis and at the first pollen mitosis. However, the cycle is interrupted by nondisjunction of the B centromere at the second pollen mitosis, which sends the B-9 dicentric to one pole and converts it from a chromatid dicentric to a chromosome dicentric. As expected, the new dicentric undergoes the chromosome-type breakage-fusion-bridge cycle and produces double bridges. A large number of plants with chromosome dicentrics were produced in this way. The presence of double bridges in the root cells of plants with a chromosome dicentric was studied during the first 10 wk of development. It was found that the number of plants and cells showing double bridges declined steadily over the 10-wk period. Several lines of evidence indicate that there was no specific developmental time for dicentric loss. “Healing” of broken chromosomes produced by dicentric breakage accounted for much of the dicentric loss. Healing produced a wide range of derived B-9 chromosomes, some large and some small. A group of minichromosomes found in these experiments probably represents the small end of the scale for B-9 derivatives.

A new method for producing homozygous duplications in maize

1986 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1034-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Carlson ◽  
C. Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Gene Dosage ◽  
B Chromosome ◽  
Chromosome 9 ◽  
New Method ◽  
Maize Genome ◽  
Pollen Mitosis ◽  
Normal Pattern ◽  
Key Words Maize ◽  
Second Pollen Mitosis ◽  
Chromosome Segments

Translocations between the B chromosomes of maize and standard (A) chromosomes have been widely used to manipulate the dosage of A chromosome segments. The B chromosome frequently undergoes nondisjunction at the second pollen mitosis as part of its normal pattern of inheritance. BA chromosomes also undergo nondisjunction and, therefore, are used to produce duplications and deficiencies of A-chromatin. Duplications are useful in gene dosage studies and some may have agronomic value if they are associated with useful phenotypes. However, duplications produced by BA nondisjunction cannot be easily maintained during propagation. The BA undergoes nondisjunction each generation, destabilizing its inheritance. A new method is presented here for systematically duplicating segments of the maize genome using B–A translocations. The method uses meiotic segregation rather than nondisjunction to produce duplications. It employs AB chromosomes instead of BA chromosomes. As a test of the method, homozygous duplications (segmental tetrasomics) were constructed for a region on chromosome 3 and for another region on chromosome 9.Key words: maize, B chromosome, duplication.

scholarly journals Sequential de novo centromere formation and inactivation on a chromosomal fragment in maize

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. E1263-E1271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yalin Liu ◽  
Handong Su ◽  
Junling Pang ◽  
Zhi Gao ◽  
Xiu-Jie Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
De Novo ◽  
B Chromosome ◽  
Chromosome 9 ◽  
Centromeric Dna ◽  
Repeat Sequences ◽  
Centromeric Repeat ◽  
And Function ◽  
Centromere Assembly ◽  
Derivatives Of

The ability of centromeres to alternate between active and inactive states indicates significant epigenetic aspects controlling centromere assembly and function. In maize (Zea mays), misdivision of the B chromosome centromere on a translocation with the short arm of chromosome 9 (TB-9Sb) can produce many variants with varying centromere sizes and centromeric DNA sequences. In such derivatives of TB-9Sb, we found a de novo centromere on chromosome derivative 3-3, which has no canonical centromeric repeat sequences. This centromere is derived from a 288-kb region on the short arm of chromosome 9, and is 19 megabases (Mb) removed from the translocation breakpoint of chromosome 9 in TB-9Sb. The functional B centromere in progenitor telo2-2 is deleted from derivative 3-3, but some B-repeat sequences remain. The de novo centromere of derivative 3-3 becomes inactive in three further derivatives with new centromeres being formed elsewhere on each chromosome. Our results suggest that de novo centromere initiation is quite common and can persist on chromosomal fragments without a canonical centromere. However, we hypothesize that when de novo centromeres are initiated in opposition to a larger normal centromere, they are cleared from the chromosome by inactivation, thus maintaining karyotype integrity.

scholarly journals A new property of the maize B chromosome.

Genetics ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
W R Carlson ◽  
R R Roseman
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
Sharp Decrease ◽  
Genetic System ◽  
B Chromosome ◽  
B Chromosomes ◽  
Chromosome 9 ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
Very High Frequencies ◽  
Very High ◽  
Chromosome Regions

Abstract TB-9Sb is a translocation between the B chromosome and chromosome 9 in maize. Certain deletions of B chromatin from the translocation cause a sharp decrease in B-9 transmission compared to the rate for standard TB-9Sb. The deletions remove components of a B chromosome genetic system that serves to suppress meiotic loss in the female. At least two distinct B-chromosome regions suppress meiotic loss: one on the B-9 and one on 9-B. The system operates by stabilizing univalent B-type chromosomes. It allows the univalents to migrate to one pole in meiosis, despite the absence of a pairing partner. The findings reported here are the first evidence for genetic control of meiotic loss by a B chromosome. However, it is proposed that the practice of suppressing meiotic loss is common to the B chromosomes of all species. The need to suppress meiotic loss results from the fact that B chromosomes are frequently unpaired in meiosis and subject to very high frequencies of loss. B chromosomes may utilize one or more of the following methods to suppress meiotic loss: (a) regular migration of univalent B's to one pole in meiosis, (b) enhanced recombination between B chromosomes and (c) mitotic nondisjunction.

Factors affecting the meiotic pairing behaviour of B chromosomes in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans

1984 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 664-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Henriques-Gil ◽  
P. Arana ◽  
J. L. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Chiasma Frequency ◽  
Chiasma Formation ◽  
B Chromosome ◽  
B Chromosomes ◽  
Meiotic Pairing ◽  
Eyprepocnemis Plorans ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Chiasma Localization ◽  
A Site ◽  
Pairing Behaviour

A study of the meiotic behaviour of different B-chromosome variants in the acridid grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans demonstrates that pairing and chiasma formation in these supernumerary chromosomes depend both on genotypic factors and on the structure of the B chromosomes themselves. Genotypic effects are evidenced by the differences in chiasma frequency which the same B-chromosome combinations show in different individuals. Structural effects can be inferred from the fact that 9 of the 14 known known B variants carry a unique site to which interstitial chiasmata are confined, whereas such a site is lacking in the other five variants.Key words: B chromosomes, C-bands, chiasma frequency, chiasma localization.

scholarly journals The supernumerary B chromosome of maize: drive and genomic conflict

Open Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Birchler ◽  
Hua Yang
Keyword(s):  
Centromeric Region ◽  
B Chromosome ◽  
Supernumerary Chromosome ◽  
Divergence Times ◽  
Sperm Cells ◽  
Double Fertilization ◽  
Pollen Mitosis ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Genomic Conflict ◽  
Preferential Fertilization

The supernumerary B chromosome of maize is dispensable, containing no vital genes, and thus is variable in number and presence in lines of maize. In order to be maintained in populations, it has a drive mechanism consisting of nondisjunction at the pollen mitosis that produces the two sperm cells, and then the sperm with the two B chromosomes has a preference for fertilizing the egg as opposed to the central cell in the process of double fertilization. The sequence of the B chromosome coupled with B chromosomal aberrations has localized features involved with nondisjunction and preferential fertilization, which are present at the centromeric region. The predicted genes from the sequence have paralogues dispersed across all A chromosomes and have widely different divergence times suggesting that they have transposed to the B chromosome over evolutionary time followed by degradation or have been co-opted for the selfish functions of the supernumerary chromosome.

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