Intra- and intergenomic chromosomal pairing in artificially polyploidized elephant grass and pearl millet hybrids

The objective of this work was to evaluate, by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), pairing configurations as potential indicators of recombination between chromosomes of different parental genomes, in two interspecific hybrids (elephant grass x pearl millet) artificially polyploidized. Anthers from young flower buds were used in the chromosomal preparations. The genomic probe was prepared with pearl millet DNA and labeled with biotin-16-dUTP by the nick translation reaction. Blocking DNA was prepared with genomic elephant grass DNA. The homoeologous intergenomic pairing, observed in the two hybrids, indicates the possibility of recombination between chromosomes of the parental genomes.

The genome composition of hexaploid Psammopyrum athericum and octoploid Psammopyrum pungens (Poaceae: Triticeae)

The genomic constitution of two species in the genus Psammopyrum, i.e., Ps. athericum (2n = 6x = 42) and Ps. pungens (2n = 8x = 56), was studied by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). In Ps. athericum, one diploid chromosome set hybridized to a genomic probe from Pseudoroegneria ferganensis (St genome), one diploid set to a probe from Agropyron cristatum (P genome), and one diploid set to a probe from Thinopyrum junceiforme (EbEe genomes) or Th. bessarabicum (Eb genome). Substituting the St-genome probe with an L-genome probe from Festucopsis serpentinii resulted in exactly the same hybridization pattern, suggesting a genomic constitution of EStP or ELP for Ps. athericum. The same probes used on Ps. pungens showed two diploid sets of chromosomes hybridizing to the St-genome probe, one diploid set hybridizing to the P-genome probe, and one diploid set hybridizing to the EbEe-genome probe. The L-genome probe hybridized to approximately 14 of the chromosomes that were labeled by the St-genome probe. Hence the genomic constitution for Ps. pungens is proposed to be EStStP or EStLP.Key Words: Psammopyrum athericum, Psammopyrum pungens, in situ hybridization, Elytrigia pycnantha, Elytrigia pungens, genome analysis.

Transcription Sites Are Not Correlated with Chromosome Territories in Wheat Nuclei

We have determined the relationship between overall nuclear architecture, chromosome territories, and transcription sites within the nucleus, using three-dimensional confocal microscopy of well preserved tissue sections of wheat roots. Chromosome territories were visualized by GISH using rye genomic probe in wheat/rye translocation and addition lines. The chromosomes appeared as elongated regions and showed a clear centromere–telomere polarization, with the two visualized chromosomes lying approximately parallel to one another across the nucleus. Labeling with probes to telomeres and centromeres confirmed a striking Rabl configuration in all cells, with a clear clustering of the centromeres, and cell files often maintained a common polarity through several division cycles. Transcription sites were detected by BrUTP incorporation in unfixed tissue sections and revealed a pattern of numerous foci uniformly distributed throughout the nucleoplasm, as well as more intensely labeled foci in the nucleoli. It has been suggested that the gene-rich regions in wheat chromosomes are clustered towards the telomeres. However, we found no indication of a difference in concentration of transcription sites between telomere and centromere poles of the nucleus. Neither could we detect any evidence that the transcription sites were preferentially localized with respect to the chromosome territorial boundaries.

Localization of the 68 000-Da human neurofilament gene (NF68) using a murine cDNA probe

A recent investigation, using a human genomic probe, has indicated that the 68 000 dalton neurofilament gene (NF68) is on the short arm of chromosome 8. We have used a murine cDNA probe on 65 metaphase spreads in situ to localize the human NF68 gene to 8p21 (20/370 grains; p < 0.0001). In addition, we have found secondary hybridization sites at the centromeric region of chromosome 2 and the long arm of chromosome 7, which are putative loci for other intermediate filaments.Key words: neurofilament, human, gene localization, murine cDNA.