Interchange quadrivalents and chromosome order at meiotic metaphase I in Briza L. (Gramineae)

Chromosoma ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian G. Murray
1990 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-570
Author(s):  
JANET M. MOSS ◽  
BRIAN G. MURRAY

Pollen mother cells at metaphase I have been reconstructed from serial sections in normal and interchange heterozygotes of Briza humilis. The pollen mother cells have an irregular shape with a prominent projection from the tangential face into the anther loculus. The seven bivalents of the normal plant are usually arranged with one bivalent in a central position surrounded by a ring of the remaining six or as a ring of all seven bivalents. The central:peripheral distribution of quadrivalents is different in two different interchange plants; in a sector analysis, where cells are divided into four quarters relative to the tangential face of the pollen mother cell, the two plants also show differences in quadrivalent distribution, indicating that individual chromosomes occupy different positions in the cell. The relevance of these results to the positioning of quadrivalents in lateral squashes of meiotic metaphase I are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir A. Lukhtanov

In karyotype of many organisms, chromosomes form two distinct size groups: macrochromosomes and microchromosomes. During cell divisions, the position of the macro- and microchromosomes is often ordered within metaphase plate. In many reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects of the orthopteran family Tettigoniidae and in some plants, a so called “reptilian” type organization is found, with microchromosomes situated in the center of metaphase plate and with macrochromosomes situated at the periphery. An opposite, “lepidopteran” type is known in butterflies and moths (i.e. in the order Lepidoptera) and is characterized by macrochromosomes situated in the center and by microchromosomes situated at the periphery. The anomalous arrangement found in Lepidoptera was previously explained by holocentric organization of their chromosomes. Here I analyse the structure of meiotic metaphase I plates in ithomiine butterfly, Forbestraolivencia (H. Bates, 1862) (Nymphalidae, Danainae, Ithomiini) which has a clear “reptilian” organization, contrary to previous observations in Lepidoptera. In this species large bivalents (i.e. macrochromosomes) form a regular peripheral circle, whereas the minute bivalents (i.e. microchromosomes) occupy the center of this circle. The reasons and possible mechanisms resulting in two drastically different spatial chromosome organization in butterflies are discussed.


Genome ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-238
Author(s):  
J. Sybenga

To prevent unbalanced chromosome segregation, meiotic metaphase I – anaphase I transition is carefully regulated by delaying anaphase until all kinetochores are well oriented (anaphase checkpoint) in mammals and insects. In plants this has not yet been established. In heterozygotes of two reciprocal translocations of Secale cereale, with one chromosome replaced by its two telocentric arms, anaphase delay was correlated with the orientation of the kinetochores of the complex of five chromosomes. The terminal kinetochores of the half chromosomes were readily elongated and pole oriented. Chains of five chromosomes with all five kinetochores orienting on alternate poles where the first to start anaphase. Kinetochores of two adjacent chromosomes when oriented on the same pole were partly shielded and less well pole directed. Anaphase was delayed. Cells with this configuration accumulated during anther development. Kinetochores in metacentric chromosomes lacking chiasmata in one arm (in trivalents and bivalents) were slightly better pole oriented and delayed anaphase less. Release of chromatid cohesion as triggered by kinetochore stretch is apparently delayed by inadequate exposition and pole orientation of the kinetochores. It is a mild form of an anaphase checkpoint, in normal material synchronizing bivalent segregation.


Genome ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Goicoechea ◽  
A. Roca ◽  
A. R. Linde ◽  
T. Naranjo ◽  
R. Giraldez

The relative positioning of bivalents and (or) quadrivalents in flattened lateral views of metaphase I (linear metaphase plates) has been analyzed in three different plant types of rye: normal plants (type 1); heterozygotes for translocation T305W (type 2); and double heterozygotes for translocations T305W and TR01 (type 3). In all plant types all bivalents and (or) quadrivalents were identified using C-banding. The results indicate that quadrivalents show a preference towards being located in marginal positions of the linear plate, and there are also differences in position preferences between specific bivalents. Adjacently oriented quadrivalents and rod bivalents show a stronger preference for marginal positions than alternate quadrivalents and ring bivalents, respectively, but this does not indicate the existence of a fixed or ordered arrangement of chromosomes in the spindle since bivalents and (or) quadrivalents are independently located relative to each other.Key words: Secale, meiosis, metaphase, arrangement, multivalents, bivalents.


Genome ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 706-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Rufas ◽  
J. Gimenez-Abian ◽  
J. A. Suja ◽  
C. Garcia De La Vega

Three species of grasshoppers have been analyzed by means of a modified silver impregnation technique that reveals the presence of a chromatid core that identifies chiasmata at first meiotic metaphase. In terms of the behaviour of the chromatid core most of the configurations observed at diplotene with orcein are easily recognized in metaphase I silver-stained bivalents. Some "hidden" configurations, as well as simple chromatin associations, that do not appear to represent chiasmata have also been detected. The disposition and behaviour of the chromatid cores in metaphase I and anaphase I provide grounds to support a reorganization of half-bivalents between first and second division. Key words: chromatid core, meiotic chromosome organization, chiasma formation, insect cytogenetics.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Xun Jin ◽  
Hyo-Sang Lee ◽  
Xi-Jun Yin ◽  
Xiang-Shun Cui ◽  
Il-Keun Kong ◽  
...  

In the present study, we observed chromatin, microtubule and microfilament distribution in canine oocytes. The germinal vesicle (GV) chromatin of canine oocytes was classified into four configurations (GV-I, -II, -III and -IV) based on the degree of chromatin separation and condensation. Oocytes recovered from follicular phase ovaries had a greater amount (68%, P < 0.05) of GV-III or GV-IV chromatin than did those from non-follicular phase ovaries (35%). The majority (86.7%) of in vivo ovulated oocytes were at GV-IV. The rates of development to GV breakdown/metaphase I/metaphase II were higher in oocytes recovered from follicular ovaries than from non-follicular ovaries. Immunostaining results revealed cytoplasmic microtubules present in all GV-stage oocytes. Following GV breakdown, microtubular asters were produced from condensed chromatin. The asters appeared to be elongated, and encompassed condensed chromatin particles to form meiotic metaphase chromatin. Microfilaments were located in the cortex and around the GV. During meiotic maturation, a microfilament-rich area, in which the chromatin is allocated, was observed in the oocyte. Our results indicate that oocytes recovered from follicular ovaries were in an advanced stage of GV, and were more competent to complete maturation compared to those from non-follicular phase ovaries. Both microtubules and microfilaments are closely associated with reconstruction of chromatin during meiotic maturation in canine oocytes.


Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 165-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Polanski

Univalents at the first meiotic metaphase in mouse spermatocytes occur mainly in the XY pair, making it difficult to compare the amounts of univalency in males and females. In this study, the amounts of autosomal univalency in male and female meiosis were compared using the model strain CBA-T6, in which univalency of the small marker autosome pair T6 has been shown to occur very frequently in spermatocytes. Mice from inbred CBA and DBA strains were also analysed. The total frequencies of univalency (sex chromosomes plus autosomes) in metaphase I spermatocytes were 45.6% in CBA, 36.9% in CBA-T6, and 37.3% in DBA males. The aneuploidy in metaphase II spermatocytes ranged from 1.4 to 3% in these strains, which was in agreement with previous findings that most primary spermatocytes with abnormal chromosome configurations are arrested in their development before metaphase II. In the CBA-T6 strain, autosomal univalency at metaphase I mostly involved chromosome pair T6; however, its frequency differed significantly between the sexes, amounting to 18.9% in spermatocytes and 4.3% in oocytes. In the CBA strain, autosomal univalents at metaphase I were seen in 7.7% of the spermatocytes and 1.4% of the oocytes and, in DBA mice, in 4.9% of the spermatocytes and 3.8% of the oocytes. However, in DBA oocytes, when univalency occurred it usually concerned a greater number of bivalents in one cell (range: 2-19 disjoined bivalents), a phenomenon very rare in males of this strain. This study shows that univalent formation differs between the male and female types of meiosis.


Genome ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 612-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sybenga ◽  
G. K. Rickards

During a workshop with 13 participants, several aspects of multivalent orientation at meiotic (pro)metaphase were discussed in an attempt to resolve some of the most prominent controversies with respect to terminology, interpretation of observations, and the validity of hypotheses and theories. For several terms and concepts, descriptive definitions were formulated that are recommended for general use. In the analysis of the behaviour of the multivalent in meiosis preprometaphase shape and position as important factors in final orientation were discussed, as well as the first contact between spindle and kinetochores and the role of reorientation. Specific characteristics of different multivalents and expected frequencies of different orientation types were considered. Finally, a few remarks on data collection and analytical procedures were made Key words: meiosis, multivalents, orientation, workshop.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana M Grishaeva ◽  
Darya Kulichenko ◽  
Yuri F Bogdanov

Background. Shugoshins (SGOs) are proteins that protect cohesins located at the centromeres of sister chromatids from their early cleavage during mitosis and meiosis in plants, fungi, and animals. Their function is to prevent premature sister-chromatid disjunction and segregation. Meiotic SGOs prevent segregation of sister chromatids in meiosis I, thus permitting homologous chromosomes to segregate and reduce chromosome number to haploid set. The study focused on the structural differences among shugoshins acting during mitosis and meiosis that cause differences in chromosome behavior in these two types of cell division in different organisms. Methods. A bioinformatics analysis of protein domains, conserved amino acid motifs, and physicochemical properties of 32 proteins from 25 species of plants, fungi, and animals was performed. Results. We identified a C-terminal arginine-reach amino acid motif that is highly evolutionarily conserved among the shugoshins protecting centromere cohesion of sister chromatids in meiotic anaphase I, but not among mitotic shugoshins. The motif looks like “arginine comb” capable of interaction by hydrogen bonds with guanine bases in the small groove of DNA helix. Shugoshins in different eukaryotic kingdoms differ also in the sets and location of amino acid motifs and the number of α-helical regions in the protein molecule. Discussion. Meiosis-specific arginine-reach motif may be responsible for formation of SGO-DNA nucleoprotein complex, thus protecting meiotic shugoshins from degradation during meiotic metaphase I and anaphase I, while mitotic SGOs have a motif with less number of arginine residues. This structural difference between meiotic and mitotic shugoshins, probably, could be a key molecular element of the prolonged shugoshin resistance to degradation during meiotic metaphase I and anaphase I and be one of the molecular elements causing the difference in chromosome behavior in meiosis and mitosis. The finding of differences in SGO structure in plant, fungi and animals supports idea of independent evolution of meiosis in different lineages of multicellular organisms.


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