Genotypic control of centromere positions of parental genomes in Hordeum × Secale hybrid metaphases

1987 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-304
Author(s):  
TRUDE SCHWARZACHER-ROBINSON ◽  
R. A. FINCH ◽  
J. B. SMITH ◽  
M. D. BENNETT

The spatial disposition at metaphase of centromeres from Hordeum and Secale in root tip cells of H. chilense × S. africanum is described and compared with corresponding results for H. vulgare × S. africanum obtained previously. In both of these F1 sexual hybrids (2n = 2x = 14) each of the seven chromosome types from Secale was easily distinguished by its large size from any of the seven from Hordeum. In H. chilense × S. africanum, centromeres of Secale chromosomes tended to be nearer the centre of the metaphase plate than did centromeres of Hordeum chromosomes in both squash preparations seen by light microscopy and unsquashed cells examined using electron microscope three-dimensional serial thin section reconstructions. This difference was significant in some individual cells, and highly significant for pooled data for reconstructed cells and separately for squashed metaphases. In no cell were Hordeum centromeres on average significantly nearer the centre of the metaphase plate than Secale centromeres. These results agreed with those previously obtained for H. vulgare × S. africanum in that: (1) centromeres of the two parental haploid sets tended to be spatially separate; and (2) centromeres from one particular parent usually tended to be in the peripheral region of the metaphase plate that surrounded the central region containing the centromeres from the other parent. However, these results contrasted completely with those obtained previously in that Secale centromeres tended to be more central than Hordeum centromeres in H. chilense × S. africanum, but more peripheral than Hordeum centromeres in H. vulgare × S. africanum. As centromeres of the parental set with the larger chromosomes (i.e. Secale) can be either inside, or outside, centromeres from the parental genome with the smaller chromosomes (i.e. Hordeum), then clearly, a tendency for a concentric separation of parental genomes is not a packing phenomenon determined by chromosome size perse, but is presumably under genotypic control.

1983 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-177
Author(s):  
J.S. Heslop-Harrison ◽  
M.D. Bennett

Centromere positions on the metaphase plate of 48 root-tip cells of four grass species were analysed using metaphases reconstructed from electron micrographs of serial thin sections. Centromere alignment was almost perfect on a plane in 15 untreated metaphases of cereals where 2n = 14; only 2% of the total variance in centromere position was out of the plane of the metaphase plate. In 23 similar cells pretreated with ice-water, the mean out-of-plate variance was 9%, compared to an expectation of 18% if centromeres were positioned randomly in space. In cold-treated cells of Zea mays (2n = 20), the out-of-plate variance (14%) was significantly less than a random expectation of 20%. The distances of centromeres from the mean centromere position (MCP) were also analysed. They showed that the centromeres tended to be normally distributed about a circle around the MCP in all the species. Thus centromeres tend towards a ring arrangement in metaphase cells. Analysis of separation distances of all pairs of centromeres in each reconstructed cell showed that the distribution of distances between centromeres is not random: there are significantly fewer centromeres that are close together and more that are at medium separation distances than is expected on a random basis. This is different from previously published assumptions about centromere disposition in squashed metaphases.


2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 949-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Kwankua ◽  
S. Sengsai ◽  
C. Kuleung ◽  
N. Euawong

2007 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-You Li ◽  
Ai-Liang Jiang ◽  
Wei Zhang

Genome ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Kerby ◽  
J. Kuspira

To help elucidate the origin of the B genome in polyploid wheats, karyotypes of Triticum turgidum, Triticum monoccum, and all six purported B genome donors were compared. The analysis utilized a common cytological procedure that employed the most advanced equipment for the measurement of chromosome lengths at metaphase in root tip cells. A comparison of the karyotypes of T. turgidum and T. monococcum permitted the identification of B genome chromosomes of T. turgidum. These consist of two SAT pairs, one ST pair, three SM pairs, and one M pair of homologues. Comparisons of the chromosomes of the B genome of T. turgidum with the karyotypes of the six putative B genome donors showed that only the karyotype of Aegilops searsii was similar to the one deduced for the donor of the B genome in T. turgidum, suggesting that Ae. searsii is, therefore, the most likely donor of the B genome to the polyploid wheats. Support for this conclusion has been derived from geographic, DNA-hybridization, karyotype, morphological, and protein data reported since 1977. Reasons why the B genome donor has not been unequivocally identified are discussed.Key words: phylogeny, karyotypes, Triticum turgidum, Triticum monococcum, B genome, B genome donors.


Nature ◽  
1949 ◽  
Vol 164 (4178) ◽  
pp. 930-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. CHAYEN

1992 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 989-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.P. Eleftheriou ◽  
B.A. Palevitz

The relationship between microfilaments (Mfs) and microtubules (Mts) in the organization of the preprophase band (PPB) was investigated in Allium root tip cells subjected to treatment with cytochalasin D (CD). Mts and Mfs were visualized by indirect immunofluorescence and various parameters such as PPB width were analyzed quantitatively. In control samples, the PPB first appears as a wide Mt band that progressively narrows to an average width of 4 micrometre in mid-prophase. Randomly oriented Mfs are present throughout the cytoplasm of most interphase control cells. Preprophase and prophase cells, however, contain cortical Mfs arranged parallel to the PPB. The Mfs initially occupy much of the cortex but in most cells they progressively become restricted to an area wider than the PPB. In the presence of CD, the PPB fails to narrow and remains at least two-fold wider than in control cells. PPB width expressed as a percentage of nuclear or cell length also increases compared to controls. Widening is concentration dependent, and the effect of 10 micromolar CD is near maximal only 15 min after application of the drug. This rapid response suggests that a rebroadening of already condensed PPBs takes place. After as little as 15 min in CD, Mfs are replaced by many small specks and rods. Dual localizations of both Mts and Mfs show that prophase cells contain broad PPBs without Mfs. The rapid disorganization of Mfs, by CD, therefore coincides with the rebroadening of PPBs. CD-treated cells in metaphase, anaphase and telophase contain larger actin aggregates at the poles, as previously reported. The results indicate that Mfs play an important role in the narrowing of the PPB, which in turn is essential for determination of the exact position of the plane of division. They also indicate that movement of intact Mts is important in PPB organization.


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