KEY MESSAGE: Fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes for 45 cDNAs and five tandem repeats revealed homoeologous relationships of Agropyron cristatum with wheat. The results will contribute to alien gene introgression in wheat improvement. Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L. Gaertn.) is a wild relative of wheat and a promising source of novel genes for wheat improvement. To date, identification of A. cristatum chromosomes has not been possible, and its molecular karyotype has not been available. Furthermore, homoeologous relationship between the genomes of A. cristatum and wheat has not been determined. To develop chromosome-specific landmarks, A. cristatum genomic DNA was sequenced, and new tandem repeats were discovered. Their distribution on mitotic chromosomes was studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which revealed specific patterns for five repeats in addition to 5S and 45S ribosomal DNA and rye subtelomeric repeats pSc119.2 and pSc200. FISH with one tandem repeat together with 45S rDNA enabled identification of all A. cristatum chromosomes. To analyze the structure and cross-species homoeology of A. cristatum chromosomes with wheat, probes for 45 mapped wheat cDNAs covering all seven chromosome groups were localized by FISH. Thirty-four cDNAs hybridized to homoeologous chromosomes of A. cristatum, nine hybridized to homoeologous and non-homoeologous chromosomes, and two hybridized to unique positions on non-homoeologous chromosomes. FISH using single-gene probes revealed that the wheat-A. cristatum collinearity was distorted, and important structural rearrangements were observed for chromosomes 2P, 4P, 5P, 6P and 7P. Chromosomal inversions were found for pericentric region of 4P and whole chromosome arm 6PL. Furthermore, reciprocal translocations between 2PS and 4PL were detected. These results provide new insights into the genome evolution within Triticeae and will facilitate the use of crested wheatgrass in alien gene introgression into wheat.

• MeSH
• Agropyron genetika   MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin * MeSH
• diploidie MeSH
• DNA sondy MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• karyotyp * MeSH
• pšenice genetika   MeSH
• tandemové repetitivní sekvence * MeSH
• translokace genetická MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

• Allopolyploidy, a driving force in plant evolution, can induce rapid structural changes in parental subgenomes. Here, we examined the fate of homologous subtelomeric satellites in intrasection allotetraploid Nicotiana arentsii formed from N. undulata and N. wigandioides progenitors < 200,000 yr ago. • We cloned and sequenced a number of monomers from progenitors and the allotetraploid. Structural features of both cloned and genomic monomers were studied using double-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. • Two homologous satellites were isolated from N. undulata (called NUNSSP) and N. wigandioides (NWISSP). While the NUNSSP monomers were highly homogeneous in nucleotide sequences, the NWISSP monomers formed two separate clades. Likewise, the genomic NUNSSP monomers showed less DNA conformation heterogeneity than NWISSP monomers, with distinct conformations. While both satellites predominantly occupy subtelomeric positions, a fraction of the NWISSP repeats was found in an intercalary location, supporting the hypothesis that dispersion prevents the repeats becoming homogeneous. Sequence, structural and chromosomal features of the parental satellites were faithfully inherited by N. arentsii. • Our study revealed that intergenomic homogenization of subtelomeric satellite repeats does not occur in N. arentsii allotetraploid. We propose that the sequence and structural divergence of subtelomeric satellites may render allopolyploid chromosomes less vulnerable to intergenomic exchanges.

• MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin genetika   MeSH
• diploidie MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genom rostlinný genetika   MeSH
• karyotypizace MeSH
• konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• polymorfismus genetický MeSH
• polyploidie MeSH
• repetitivní sekvence nukleových kyselin genetika   MeSH
• satelitní DNA genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA metody   MeSH
• Southernův blotting MeSH
• tabák genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

FISH is a useful method to identify individual chromosomes in a karyotype and to discover their structural changes accompanying genome evolution and speciation. DNA probes for FISH should be chromosome specific and/or exhibit specific patterns of distribution along each chromosome. Such probes are not available in many plants including meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.), an important forage grass species. In the present study, various DNA repeats identified in Illumina shotgun sequences specific to chromosome 4F of F. pratensis were used as probes for FISH to develop the molecular karyotype of meadow fescue and to reveal a long-range molecular organization of its chromosomes. Five tandem repeats produced specific patterns on individual chromosomes. Their use in combination with probes for rRNA genes enabled the establishment of the molecular karyotype of meadow fescue. Most of the mobile genetic elements were dispersed along all the chromosomes except for the DNA transposon CACTA, which was localized preferentially to telomeric and subtelomeric regions, and a putative LTR element, which was localized to (peri)centromeric regions. Cytogenetic mapping of the 5 tandem repeats in other accessions of meadow fescue showed a highly similar distribution and confirmed the versatility and robustness of these probes.

• MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin MeSH
• DNA rostlinná MeSH
• Festuca genetika   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• karyotyp MeSH
• karyotypizace metody   MeSH
• tandemové repetitivní sekvence * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: A prominent and distinctive feature of the rye (Secale cereale) chromosomes is the presence of massive blocks of subtelomeric heterochromatin, the size of which is correlated with the copy number of tandem arrays. The rapidity with which these regions have formed over the period of speciation remains unexplained. RESULTS: Using a BAC library created from the short arm telosome of rye chromosome 1R we uncovered numerous arrays of the pSc200 and pSc250 tandem repeat families which are concentrated in subtelomeric heterochromatin and identified the adjacent DNA sequences. The arrays show significant heterogeneity in monomer organization. 454 reads were used to gain a representation of the expansion of these tandem repeats across the whole rye genome. The presence of multiple, relatively short monomer arrays, coupled with the mainly star-like topology of the monomer phylogenetic trees, was taken as indicative of a rapid expansion of the pSc200 and pSc250 arrays. The evolution of subtelomeric heterochromatin appears to have included a significant contribution of illegitimate recombination. The composition of transposable elements (TEs) within the regions flanking the pSc200 and pSc250 arrays differed markedly from that in the genome a whole. Solo-LTRs were strongly enriched, suggestive of a history of active ectopic exchange. Several DNA motifs were over-represented within the LTR sequences. CONCLUSION: The large blocks of subtelomeric heterochromatin have arisen from the combined activity of TEs and the expansion of the tandem repeats. The expansion was likely based on a highly complex network of recombination mechanisms.

• MeSH
• amplifikace genu * MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin genetika   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genová knihovna MeSH
• heterochromatin genetika   MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• komponenty genomu MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• sekvenční analýza hybridizací s uspořádaným souborem oligonukleotidů MeSH
• tandemové repetitivní sekvence * MeSH
• transpozibilní elementy DNA * MeSH
• umělé bakteriální chromozomy MeSH
• žito genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Telomere homeostasis is regulated at multiple levels, including the local chromatin structure of telomeres and subtelomeres. Recent reports demonstrated that a decrease in repressive chromatin marks, such as levels of cytosine methylation in subtelomeric regions, results in telomere elongation in mouse cells. Here we show that a considerable fraction of cytosines is methylated not only in subtelomeric, but also in telomeric DNA of tobacco BY-2 cells. Drug-induced hypomethylation (demonstrated at subtelomeric, telomeric, and global DNA levels) results in activation of telomerase. However, in contrast to mouse cells, the decrease in 5-methylcytosine levels and upregulation of telomerase do not result in any changes of telomere lengths. These results demonstrate the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the multilevel process of regulation of telomerase activity in plant cells and, at the same time, they indicate that changes in telomerase activity can be overridden by other factors governing telomere length stability.

• MeSH
• adenin analogy a deriváty   farmakologie   MeSH
• aktivace enzymů účinky léků   MeSH
• cytidin analogy a deriváty   farmakologie   MeSH
• DNA rostlinná chemie   účinky léků   MeSH
• epigeneze genetická MeSH
• genetická transkripce účinky léků   MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• metylace DNA účinky léků   MeSH
• nukleozomy účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• tabák cytologie   účinky léků   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• telomerasa metabolismus   MeSH
• telomery chemie   účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a dioecious shrub commonly used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and environmental industry as a source of oil, minerals and vitamins. In this study, we analyzed the transposable elements and satellites in its genome. We carried out Illumina DNA sequencing and reconstructed the main repetitive DNA sequences. For data analysis, we developed a new bioinformatics approach for advanced satellite DNA analysis and showed that about 25% of the genome consists of satellite DNA and about 24% is formed of transposable elements, dominated by Ty3/Gypsy and Ty1/Copia LTR retrotransposons. FISH mapping revealed X chromosome-accumulated, Y chromosome-specific or both sex chromosomes-accumulated satellites but most satellites were found on autosomes. Transposable elements were located mostly in the subtelomeres of all chromosomes. The 5S rDNA and 45S rDNA were localized on one autosomal locus each. Although we demonstrated the small size of the Y chromosome of the seabuckthorn and accumulated satellite DNA there, we were unable to estimate the age and extent of the Y chromosome degeneration. Analysis of dioecious relatives such as Shepherdia would shed more light on the evolution of these sex chromosomes.

• MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin * MeSH
• DNA rostlinná genetika   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genom rostlinný MeSH
• Hippophae genetika   MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• pohlavní chromozomy * MeSH
• satelitní DNA * MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA metody   MeSH
• transpozibilní elementy DNA * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Allopolyploids represent natural experiments in which DNA sequences from different species are combined into a single nucleus and then coevolve, enabling us to follow the parental genomes, their interactions and evolution over time. Here, we examine the fate of satellite DNA over 5 million yr of divergence in plant genus Nicotiana (family Solanaceae). We isolated subtelomeric, tandemly repeated satellite DNA from Nicotiana diploid and allopolyploid species and analysed patterns of inheritance and divergence by sequence analysis, Southern blot hybridization and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). We observed that parental satellite sequences redistribute around the genome in allopolyploids of Nicotiana section Polydicliae, formed c. 1 million yr ago (Mya), and that new satellite repeats evolved and amplified in section Repandae, which was formed c. 5 Mya. In some cases that process involved the complete replacement of parental satellite sequences. The rate of satellite repeat replacement is faster than theoretical predictions assuming the mechanism involved is unequal recombination and crossing-over. Instead we propose that this mechanism occurs with the deletion of large chromatin blocks and reamplification, perhaps via rolling circle replication.

• MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• diploidie MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• hybridizace in situ fluorescenční MeSH
• klonování DNA MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• polyploidie MeSH
• repetitivní sekvence nukleových kyselin genetika   MeSH
• satelitní DNA genetika   MeSH
• Southernův blotting MeSH
• tabák cytologie   genetika   MeSH
• typy dědičnosti genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Although the impact of telomeres on physiology stands well established, a question remains: how do telomeres impact cellular functions at a molecular level? This is because current understanding limits the influence of telomeres to adjacent subtelomeric regions despite the wide-ranging impact of telomeres. Emerging work in two distinct aspects offers opportunities to bridge this gap. First, telomere-binding factors were found with non-telomeric functions. Second, locally induced DNA secondary structures called G-quadruplexes are notably abundant in telomeres, and gene regulatory regions genome wide. Many telomeric factors bind to G-quadruplexes for non-telomeric functions. Here we discuss a more general model of how telomeres impact the non-telomeric genome - through factors that associate at telomeres and genome wide - and influence cell-intrinsic functions, particularly aging, cancer, and pluripotency.

• MeSH
• DNA metabolismus   MeSH
• G-kvadruplexy * MeSH
• heterochromatin MeSH
• telomery * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH