Requirement of heterochromatin for cohesion at centromeres

Centromeres are heterochromatic in many organisms, but the mitotic function of this silent chromatin remains unknown. During cell division, newly replicated sister chromatids must cohere until anaphase when Scc1/Rad21-mediated cohesion is destroyed. In metazoans, chromosome arm cohesins dissociate during prophase, leaving centromeres as the only linkage before anaphase. It is not known what distinguishes centromere cohesion from arm cohesion. Fission yeast Swi6 (a Heterochromatin protein 1 counterpart) is a component of silent heterochromatin. Here we show that this heterochromatin is specifically required for cohesion between sister centromeres. Swi6 is required for association of Rad21-cohesin with centromeres but not along chromosome arms and, thus, acts to distinguish centromere from arm cohesion. Therefore, one function of centromeric heterochromatin is to attract cohesin, thereby ensuring sister centromere cohesion and proper chromosome segregation.     

The centromere paradox: stable inheritance with rapidly evolving DNA

Every eukaryotic chromosome has a centromere, the locus responsible for poleward movement at mitosis and meiosis. Although conventional loci are specified by their DNA sequences, current evidence favors a chromatin-based inheritance mechanism for centromeres. The chromosome segregation machinery is highly conserved across all eukaryotes, but the DNA and protein components specific to centromeric chromatin are evolving rapidly. Incompatibilities between rapidly evolving centromeric components may be responsible for both the organization of centromeric regions and the reproductive isolation of emerging species.     

Genomic and genetic definition of a functional human centromere

The definition of centromeres of human chromosomes requires a complete genomic understanding of these regions. Toward this end, we report integration of physical mapping, genetic, and functional approaches, together with sequencing of selected regions, to define the centromere of the human X chromosome and to explore the evolution of sequences responsible for chromosome segregation. The transitional region between expressed sequences on the short arm of the X and the chromosome-specific alpha satellite array DXZ1 spans about 450 kilobases and is satellite-rich. At the junction between this satellite region and canonical DXZ1 repeats, diverged repeat units provide direct evidence of unequal crossover as the homogenizing force of these arrays. Results from deletion analysis of mitotically stable chromosome rearrangements and from a human artificial chromosome assay demonstrate that DXZ1 DNA is sufficient for centromere function. Evolutionary studies indicate that, while alpha satellite DNA present throughout the pericentromeric region of the X chromosome appears to be a descendant of an ancestral primate centromere, the current functional centromere based on DXZ1 sequences is the product of the much more recent concerted evolution of this satellite DNA.     

Chromosome alignment and segregation regulated by ubiquitination of survivin

Proper chromosome segregation requires the attachment of sister kinetochores to microtubules from opposite spindle poles to form bi-oriented chromosomes on the metaphase spindle. The chromosome passenger complex containing Survivin and the kinase Aurora B regulates this process from the centromeres. We report that a de-ubiquitinating enzyme, hFAM, regulates chromosome alignment and segregation by controlling both the dynamic association of Survivin with centromeres and the proper targeting of Survivin and Aurora B to centromeres. Survivin is ubiquitinated in mitosis through both Lys(48) and Lys(63) ubiquitin linkages. Lys(63) de-ubiquitination mediated by hFAM is required for the dissociation of Survivin from centromeres, whereas Lys(63) ubiquitination mediated by the ubiquitin binding protein Ufd1 is required for the association of Survivin with centromeres. Thus, ubiquitinaton regulates dynamic protein-protein interactions and chromosome segregation independently of protein degradation.     

植物着丝粒的研究进展

着丝粒是许多高等真核生物染色体的重要结构域之一,它的最内层是由串联重复的卫星DNA及其侧翼富集的中度重复元件组成。在整个真核生物类群中,不同物种间着丝粒的DNA序列千差万别,但其功能却相当保守,可确保在有丝分裂和减数分裂过程中染色体的正确分离和传递。近年来,植物着丝粒的结构、功能和进化方面的研究进展较快,故对此进行了综述。     

植物着丝粒区串联重复序列的研究进展

着丝粒是细胞染色体的重要结构组成,控制姊妹染色单体的结合、动粒的组装和纺锤丝的附着,确保真核生物细胞在有丝分裂和减数分裂过程中染色体的正常分离及遗传信息的稳定传递。植物着丝粒DNA序列主要由反转录转座子和串联重复序列构成。串联重复序列在着丝粒功能实现和基因组进化过程中起重要作用。随着测序技术的成熟,近年来对串联重复序列的研究取得了很大的进展。综述了植物串联重复序列结构、分析方法及在进化中的作用,以期为相关研究提供参考。     

高等植物着丝粒序列的结构与特征研究

着丝粒是染色体的重要组成成分之一,在细胞有丝分裂和减数分裂中行使重要的生物学功能,着丝粒在不同的物1种中保持着一致的功能,即在细胞分裂中期,着丝粒在纺锤丝的牵引下使染色体向两级运动,从而完成细胞的分裂。如此保守的功能,是乎暗示着丝粒序列不同物种间具有一定的保守性,然而随着测序技术的发展,越来越多的物种的基因组序列被释放,分析发现着丝粒序列主要由重复序列和反转录转座子组成,然而不同物种着丝粒序列比对发现,它们之间的同源性极低,此外染色体的着丝粒的序列的组成和大小都相差甚远。文中回顾了近些年在着丝粒研究方面所取得的进展,探讨维持着丝粒功能稳定性的序列结构特征。     

大别山五針松核型研究

大别山五针松的染色体基数X=12,除了第12对染色体最短且具亚中部着丝点以外,其余11对染色体长度相近且具中部着丝点。大别山五针松在核型上与红松、新疆五针松和华山松相似。     

同源四倍体的连锁遗传

同源四倍体的遗传比一般二倍体要复杂得多,本文介绍了同源四倍体不同基因型依染色体随机分离、依染色单体随机分离以及完全均衡分离的遗传方式。同时也讨论了“双减数值”以及利用它测定基因与着丝点之间重组值的方法。此外还讨论了测定基因与基因之间重组值的方法。这些对于同源四倍体的遗传育种研究都有重要参考价值。     

Evolutionary formation of new centromeres in macaque

A systematic fluorescence in situ hybridization comparison of macaque and human synteny organization disclosed five additional macaque evolutionary new centromeres (ENCs) for a total of nine ENCs. To understand the dynamics of ENC formation and progression, we compared the ENC of macaque chromosome 4 with the human orthologous region, at 6q24.3, that conserves the ancestral genomic organization. A 250-kilobase segment was extensively duplicated around the macaque centromere. These duplications were strictly intrachromosomal. Our results suggest that novel centromeres may trigger only local duplication activity and that the absence of genes in the seeding region may have been important in ENC maintenance and progression.     

Genetic definition and sequence analysis of Arabidopsis centromeres

High-precision genetic mapping was used to define the regions that contain centromere functions on each natural chromosome in Arabidopsis thaliana. These regions exhibited dramatic recombinational repression and contained complex DNA surrounding large arrays of 180-base pair repeats. Unexpectedly, the DNA within the centromeres was not merely structural but also encoded several expressed genes. The regions flanking the centromeres were densely populated by repetitive elements yet experienced normal levels of recombination. The genetically defined centromeres were well conserved among Arabidopsis ecotypes but displayed limited sequence homology between different chromosomes, excluding repetitive DNA. This investigation provides a platform for dissecting the role of individual sequences in centromeres in higher eukaryotes.     

Drosophila CENH3 is sufficient for centromere formation

CENH3 is a centromere-specific histone H3 variant essential for kinetochore assembly. Despite its central role in centromere function, there has been no conclusive evidence supporting CENH3 as sufficient to determine centromere identity. To address this question, we artificially targeted Drosophila CENH3 (CENP-A/CID) as a CID-GFP-LacI fusion protein to stably integrated lac operator (lacO) arrays. This ectopic CID focus assembles a functional kinetochore and directs incorporation of CID molecules without the LacI-anchor, providing evidence for the self-propagation of the epigenetic mark. CID-GFP-LacI-bound extrachromosomal lacO plasmids can assemble kinetochore proteins and bind microtubules, resulting in their stable transmission for several cell generations even after eliminating CID-GFP-LacI. We conclude that CID is both necessary and sufficient to serve as an epigenetic centromere mark and nucleate heritable centromere function.     

Centromeres. A journey to the center of the chromosome

The Arabidopsis genome project is the first to give a detailed picture of the centromeres in a higher eukaryote. The centromere, a crucial stretch of DNA buried in the knotty terrain at the center of the chromosome, has generally been ignored by other genome sequencing projects because it is highly repetitive, making it very difficult to sequence accurately. But the discovery of an Arabidopsis mutant whose pollen forms quartets has enabled the plant's centromeric regions to be defined with unprecedented accuracy.     

Role of Polo-like kinase CDC5 in programming meiosis I chromosome segregation

Meiosis is a specialized cell division in which two chromosome segregation phases follow a single DNA replication phase. The budding yeast Polo-like kinase Cdc5 was found to be instrumental in establishing the meiosis I chromosome segregation program. Cdc5 was required to phosphorylate and remove meiotic cohesin from chromosomes. Furthermore, in the absence of CDC5 kinetochores were bioriented during meiosis I, and Mam1, a protein essential for coorientation, failed to associate with kinetochores. Thus, sister-kinetochore coorientation and chromosome segregation during meiosis I are coupled through their dependence on CDC5.     

大白菜雄性核不育基因的染色体定位及AFLP分子标记筛选

 【目的】基因定位是遗传研究的重点内容,也是育种工作的重要基础。本研究以大白菜雄性不育两用系‘大阳AB系’和大白菜系列初级三体为材料,对决定大白菜雄性不育性的核基因（ms）进行染色体定位和分子标记筛选,旨在为其分子克隆和遗传利用奠定基础。【方法】基因的染色体定位采用初级三体遗传分析和χ2测验法,分子标记采用AFLP分析方法。【结果】大白菜‘大阳AB系’的雄性不育系（msms）×大白菜系列初级三体（Tri-1、Tri-2、Tri-3、Tri-4、Tri-5、Tri-6、Tri-7、Tri-8、Tri-9）的9个杂交组合中,F1均为可育株;从F1选出三体植株进行自交和测交,其自交子代（F2）和测交子代（Tc）中可育株与不育株的分离比例,只有Tri-4表现为15.5﹕1（F2）和3.24﹕1（Tc）、不符合孟德尔的单基因遗传分离比例（3﹕1和1﹕1）,其它三体在2.60﹕1～3.76﹕1（F2）和0.81﹕1～1.48﹕1（Tc）、均符合孟德尔的单基因遗传分离比例（3﹕1和1﹕1）,这表明该雄性不育性的遗传与Tri-4的遗传表现一致,即确定该雄性不育性的基因位于大白菜4号染色体上。基于染色体和染色单体分离的三体遗传分析表明,该雄性不育基因位于4号染色体的近着丝点区域,通过对124个AFLP引物组合的筛选,初步获得了一个与雄性核不育基因位点连锁的AFLP标记E34M49(398 bp),遗传距离约为1.2 cM。【结论】利用初级三体遗传分析首次将大白菜雄性核不育基因定位在第4号染色体上。     

On the mitotic movements of chromosomes

My conclusions, which, I confess, are tentative and based mainly on studies of one kind of cell, the grasshopper neuroblast, may be summarized as follows. The late prophase orientation of the chromosomes is a carry-over from the late telophase orientation. It is apparently maintained by means of the centromeres, which appear to be attached within a limited region of the nucleus throughout telophase, interphase, and prophase. Metaphase orientation of the chromosomes may be explained as the resultant of two forces: a force involving the centromere and spindle, which is responsible for keeping the centromeres in the equatorial plane of the spindle, and a repulsion force involving the noncentromeric portion of the chromosomes, which results in a tendency toward uniform spacing of the chromosomes outside the spindle. Anaphase separation of sister chromatids and their subsequent movement toward the poles of the spindle involves at least four distinct phases: (i) the initial poleward movement of the centromeres, which may be due to intrinsic repulsion or to a force acting between spindle and centromeres that produces an angle of almost 90 degrees between the separated and unseparated portions of the chromatids; (ii) the autonomous separation of the noncentromeric part of the chromosome; (iii) elongation of the spindle, beginning just after the sister chromatids are separated proximally and ending when the longer chromatids are about to lose contact distally; and (iv) the later movement apart of the daughter chromosomes, probably resulting from a pushing force exerted by elongation of the interzonal fibers.     

木薯中性/碱性转化酶基因家族11个成员在染色体上的定位

中性/碱性转化酶(Alkaline or neutral invertase,N/A-lnv)是木薯淀粉合成过程中的一种关键酶。笔者以木薯华南6号古铜期嫩叶为材料制备染色体标本,利用荧光原位杂交和原位PCR技术对N/A-lnv基因家族的11个成员进行了物理定位。结果表明,基因MeNINV5,MeNINV9和MeNINV10均位于第4号染色体上,其中基因MeNINV9和MeNINV10位于短臂上,到信号点的百分距离分别为68.52和95.35,基因MeNINV5位于长臂上,到着丝粒的百分距离为22.71;基因MeNINV4和nINV1均位于第6号染色体长臂上,到着丝粒的百分距离分别为43.16和80.71;基因MeNINV6和MeNINV7分别位于第7号和第17号染色体的长臂上,信号点到着丝粒的百分距离分别是15.38和57.97;基因MeNINV1,MeNIN,V2,MeNINV3和MeNINV8分别位于第11号、第9号、第5号和第16号染色体的短臂上,信号位点到着丝粒的百分距离分别是40.10,51.88,91.75和76.33。中性/碱性转化酶基因家族内部部分成员之间存在连锁关系。研究结果可为木薯淀粉的高效积累机制及木薯种质遗传改良提供分子细胞遗传学依据。     

Heterochromatin integrity affects chromosome reorganization after centromere dysfunction

The centromere is essential for the inheritance of genetic information on eukaryotic chromosomes. Epigenetic regulation of centromere identity has been implicated in genome stability, karyotype evolution, and speciation. However, little is known regarding the manner in which centromere dysfunction affects the chromosomal architectures. Here we show that in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the conditional deletion of the centromere produces survivors that carry either a neocentromere-acquired chromosome at the subtelomeric region or an acentric chromosome rescued by intertelomere fusion with either of the remaining chromosomes. The ratio of neocentromere formation to telomere fusion is considerably decreased by the inactivation of genes involved in RNA interference-dependent heterochromatin formation. By affecting the modes of chromosomal reorganization, the genomic distribution of heterochromatin may influence the fate of karyotype evolution.