Transient homologous chromosome pairing marks the onset of X inactivation

Mammalian X inactivation turns off one female X chromosome to enact dosage compensation between XX and XY individuals. X inactivation is known to be regulated in cis by Xite, Tsix, and Xist, but in principle the two Xs must also be regulated in trans to ensure mutually exclusive silencing. Here, we demonstrate that interchromosomal pairing mediates this communication. Pairing occurs transiently at the onset of X inactivation and is specific to the X-inactivation center. Deleting Xite and Tsix perturbs pairing and counting/choice, whereas their autosomal insertion induces de novo X-autosome pairing. Ectopic X-autosome interactions inhibit endogenous X-X pairing and block the initiation of X-chromosome inactivation. Thus, Tsix and Xite function both in cis and in trans. We propose that Tsix and Xite regulate counting and mutually exclusive choice through X-X pairing.     

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.     

Cytological study on haploid male fertility in maize

Doubled haploid(DH) breeding technology, which relies on haploid genome doubling, is widely used in commercial maize breeding. Spontaneous haploid genome doubling(SHGD), a more simplified and straightforward method, is gaining popularity among maize breeders. However, the cytological mechanism of SHGD remains unclear. This study crossed inbred lines RL36 and RL7, which have differing SHGD abilities, with inducer line YHI-1 to obtain haploid kernels. The meiotic processes of pollen mother cells(P...     

Homoeologous chromosome pairing: frequency differences in inbred and intraspecific hybrid polyploid ferns

The homosporous fern Ceratopteris thalictroides (Parkeriaceae) has evolved a polyploid genetic system that serves to store and release genetic variability in spite of self-fertilization and Mendelian homozygosity. This is demonstrated by the segregation of a gametophyte mutant within two inbred tetraploid lines and in their intraspecific hybrid. The segregation behavior can be explained by a model involving a duplicated locus and regular homoeologous chromosome pairing. Homoeologous pairing occurs at low levels in the inbred lines and at a high level in the hybrid, indicating intraspecific differences in chromosome pairing affinities.     

Epigenetic transgenerational actions of endocrine disruptors and male fertility

Transgenerational effects of environmental toxins require either a chromosomal or epigenetic alteration in the germ line. Transient exposure of a gestating female rat during the period of gonadal sex determination to the endocrine disruptors vinclozolin (an antiandrogenic compound) or methoxychlor (an estrogenic compound) induced an adult phenotype in the F1 generation of decreased spermatogenic capacity (cell number and viability) and increased incidence of male infertility. These effects were transferred through the male germ line to nearly all males of all subsequent generations examined (that is, F1 to F4). The effects on reproduction correlate with altered DNA methylation patterns in the germ line. The ability of an environmental factor (for example, endocrine disruptor) to reprogram the germ line and to promote a transgenerational disease state has significant implications for evolutionary biology and disease etiology.     

Requirement of the spindle checkpoint for proper chromosome segregation in budding yeast meiosis

The spindle checkpoint was characterized in meiosis of budding yeast. In the absence of the checkpoint, the frequency of meiosis I missegregation increased with increasing chromosome length, reaching 19% for the longest chromosome. Meiosis I nondisjunction in spindle checkpoint mutants could be prevented by delaying the onset of anaphase. In a recombination-defective mutant (spo11Delta), the checkpoint delays the biochemical events of anaphase I, suggesting that chromosomes that are attached to microtubules but are not under tension can activate the spindle checkpoint. Spindle checkpoint mutants reduce the accuracy of chromosome segregation in meiosis I much more than that in meiosis II, suggesting that checkpoint defects may contribute to Down syndrome.     

棉花质核互作雄性不育与育性恢复的研究及利用现状

利用质核互作雄性不育系实现强优势组合三系配套是解决目前棉花杂交制种瓶颈,促进棉花杂种优势利用的有效途径之一。本文综述了棉花质核互作雄性不育与育性恢复的研究现状,介绍了棉花质核互作雄性不育系和恢复系的类型;在细胞学和分子生物学水平上探讨了质核互作雄性不育产生的机理,阐述了育性恢复的遗传方式、恢复基因的分子标记和遗传定位、恢复基因的图位克隆及三系杂交棉的研究进展;对三系杂交棉今后的研究方向进行了展望。     

Distinct properties of the XY pseudoautosomal region crucial for male meiosis

Meiosis requires that each chromosome find its homologous partner and undergo at least one crossover. X-Y chromosome segregation hinges on efficient crossing-over in a very small region of homology, the pseudoautosomal region (PAR). We find that mouse PAR DNA occupies unusually long chromosome axes, potentially as shorter chromatin loops, predicted to promote double-strand break (DSB) formation. Most PARs show delayed appearance of RAD51/DMC1 foci, which mark DSB ends, and all PARs undergo delayed DSB-mediated homologous pairing. Analysis of Spo11β isoform-specific transgenic mice revealed that late RAD51/DMC1 foci in the PAR are genetically distinct from both early PAR foci and global foci and that late PAR foci promote efficient X-Y pairing, recombination, and male fertility. Our findings uncover specific mechanisms that surmount the unique challenges of X-Y recombination.     

普通白菜同源四倍体花粉母细胞减数分裂及其雄配子体发育研究

应用H33258荧光染色法研究普通白菜小孢子再生四倍体植株花粉母细胞减数分裂和雄配子体发育过程。结果表明:四倍体白菜花粉母细胞减数分裂过程及各时期染色体形态等变化与二倍体植株相似;4条同源染色体中期Ⅰ可出现四价体、二价体或配对二价体、少量三价体和单价体;终变期四价体呈棒状、环状、V形、L形、U形、S形、Y形等多种构型;中期Ⅰ多数细胞中出现10个四价体或配对二价体,个别细胞中出现多价体或单价体。四分体排列方式有垂直型和四面体型;花粉母细胞减数分裂的胞质分裂方式为同时型;成熟花粉粒为三核型,包括1个营养核和2个精核,具四萌发沟。从后期Ⅰ到末期Ⅱ,甚至小孢子有丝分裂,整个分裂过程中均观察到落后染色体等非正常染色体。     

棉花雄性不育与育性恢复的分子生物学研究进展

综述了棉花雄性不育系的来源及类型、雄性不育的分子基础及育性恢复机制、恢复基因的分子标记和基因定位的研究,并指出了其存在的问题和进一步的研究方向。     

小麦染色体配对遗传控制系统的作用研究

以各种能诱导部分同源染色体配对的遗传材料作为母本分别与易变山羊草测交,调查各测交一代花粉母细胞减数分裂中期Ⅰ的染色体配对。结果表明,ｐｈ１ｂ诱导部分同源染色体配对的能力最强,测交一代交叉结数为１３．０８;Ｎ５ＢＴ５Ｄ和ＰｈⅠ（Ｃ１１－５）次之,测交一代交叉结数分别为８．５７和８．１２;ｐｈ２ｂ、ｐｈ２ａ和Ｎ５ＢＴ５Ａ的作用较弱,其测交一代交叉结数分别为１．７７,３．９１和３．４９。在试图将ｐｈ１ｂ和ｐｈ２ａ组合于一体的研究中,随机从ｐｈ１ｂ／ｐｈ２ａ∥ｐｈ１ｂＢＣ１植株选取１５株用易变山羊草测交。在８６株测交后代中,有７株的交叉结数超过１５．００,比ｐｈ１ｂ与易变山羊草测交一代的交叉结数高３．４０,显示出有可能将ｐｈ１ｂ和ｐｈ２ａ组合于一体。     

缘蝽总科4种雄性昆虫减数分裂期染色体形态分析

【目的】探讨缘蝽总科精巢形态、减数分裂染色体行为差异,为半翅目的细胞分类学发展提供基础资料。【方法】采用显微形态解剖法和染色体制片法,分析了缘蝽总科4种昆虫黄边迷缘蝽Myrmus lateralis Hsioa,1964、褐伊缘蝽Rhopalus sapporensis(Matsumura,1905)、稻棘缘蝽Cletus punctiger(Dallas,1852)和斑背安缘蝽An-oplocnemis binotata Distant,1918的精巢和减数分裂期染色体及精子形态的差异。【结果】减数分裂各期缘蝽总科3亚科间和4属种间精巢在腹腔中的位置无明显差异,但其排列方式、形状、大小、颜色及输精管粗细均具明显差异,精巢大小与个体大小成反比。各亚科、属种减数分裂各期染色体行为相似,但形态不同。减数分裂各期染色体形态、排列方式具有亚科、属种间差异性。缘蝽总科昆虫单倍染色体数为n(♂)=7(5A+m+XO),均具有典型"O"型交叉。褐伊缘蝽和稻棘缘蝽具有B染色体。精子形态相似,但弯曲度大小在亚科间、属种间有差异。【结论】缘蝽总科精巢形态、减数分裂各期染色体形态可作为缘蝽总科的科、亚科、属种间的分类特征。     

Caenorhabditis elegans p53: role in apoptosis, meiosis, and stress resistance

We have identified a homolog of the mammalian p53 tumor suppressor protein in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that is expressed ubiquitously in embryos. The gene encoding this protein, cep-1, promotes DNA damage-induced apoptosis and is required for normal meiotic chromosome segregation in the germ line. Moreover, although somatic apoptosis is unaffected, cep-1 mutants show hypersensitivity to hypoxia-induced lethality and decreased longevity in response to starvation-induced stress. Overexpression of CEP-1 promotes widespread caspase-independent cell death, demonstrating the critical importance of regulating p53 function at appropriate levels. These findings show that C. elegans p53 mediates multiple stress responses in the soma, and mediates apoptosis and meiotic chromosome segregation in the germ line.     

An active role for tRNA in decoding beyond codon:anticodon pairing

During transfer RNA (tRNA) selection, a cognate codon:anticodon interaction triggers a series of events that ultimately results in the acceptance of that tRNA into the ribosome for peptide-bond formation. High-fidelity discrimination between the cognate tRNA and near- and noncognate ones depends both on their differential dissociation rates from the ribosome and on specific acceleration of forward rate constants by cognate species. Here we show that a mutant tRNA(Trp) carrying a single substitution in its D-arm achieves elevated levels of miscoding by accelerating these forward rate constants independent of codon:anticodon pairing in the decoding center. These data provide evidence for a direct role for tRNA in signaling its own acceptance during decoding and support its fundamental role during the evolution of protein synthesis.     

K型雄性不育小麦育性恢复基因的遗传特点及育性稳定性研究

利用2个K型小麦雄性不育系、21个恢复系及2个对照材料,组配杂交组合,经杂交、自交获得F1(AXR)和F2等世代材料,并考查其自交结实率,结合植物数量性状主基因+多基因混合遗传模型进行遗传分析,同时对部分组合的育性稳定性进行研究。结果表明:K型小麦雄性不育系的育性基因rf主要由雌配子传递,属配子体雄性不育类型;育性受2对加性-显性主基因+加性-显性多基因共同控制,且第1对主基因控制育性的作用强于第2对主基因;在F2群体中主基因的遗传率为62.44%,多基因遗传率为0,环境方差占表现型方差的37.56%,说明该类型小麦雄性不育性以主基因遗传为主,同时受多基因和环境的影响。育性稳定性研究表明,虽然K型细胞质雄性不育小麦的育性恢复年际间波动很大,但通过筛选可以获得恢复度高且稳定的恢复系,进而为杂交小麦的育种提供支持。     

粳稻光敏核不育系选育中育性转换的观察与选择

通过对组织N422S／武运粳7号、29130S／武运粳7号后代光敏核不育株系的育性观察，表明F5以上家系内各株系育性转换特性相近，因此认为通过对一个家系中一、二个株系育性的考察可以基本上确定该家系基他姊妹系的育性转换规律，从而提出了结合系谱法的育性初步筛选步骤，该文中还初步拟定了太湖稻区光敏核不育系可以实际应用的不育期范围及育性转换特性模式。