scholarly journals Satellite DNA at the Centromere is Dispensable for Segregation Fidelity

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberti ◽  
Bensi ◽  
Mazzagatti ◽  
Piras ◽  
Nergadze ◽  
...  

The typical vertebrate centromeres contain long stretches of highly repeated DNA sequences (satellite DNA). We previously demonstrated that the karyotypes of the species belonging to the genus Equus are characterized by the presence of satellite-free and satellite-based centromeres and represent a unique biological model for the study of centromere organization and behavior. Using horse primary fibroblasts cultured in vitro, we compared the segregation fidelity of chromosome 11, whose centromere is satellite-free, with that of chromosome 13, which has similar size and a centromere containing long stretches of satellite DNA. The mitotic stability of the two chromosomes was compared under normal conditions and under mitotic stress induced by the spindle inhibitor, nocodazole. Two independent molecular-cytogenetic approaches were used—the interphase aneuploidy analysis and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. Both assays were coupled to fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome specific probes in order to identify chromosome 11 and chromosome 13, respectively. In addition, we tested if the lack of centromeric satellite DNA affected chromatid cohesion under normal and stress conditions. We demonstrated that, in our system, the segregation fidelity of a chromosome is not influenced by the presence of long stretches of tandem repeats at its centromere. To our knowledge, the present study is the first analysis of the mitotic behavior of a natural satellite-free centromere.

Genome ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
J B Buntjer ◽  
J A Lenstra

We describe a PCR-like reaction in which genomic DNA acts as a template as well as a primer. Interaction between genomic tandem repeat units leads to self-amplification of satellite DNA. This genomic self-priming PCR (GSP-PCR) allowed the rapid amplification of species-specific tandem repeats of horse, cattle, dolphin, and chicken. A novel specific satellite of ostrich with a repeat unit of 60 bp was isolated using this method.Key words: satellite DNA, amplification, isolation, species-specific probes.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 4009-4020 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Kipling ◽  
A R Mitchell ◽  
H Masumoto ◽  
H E Wilson ◽  
L Nicol ◽  
...  

Minor satellite DNA, found at Mus musculus centromeres, is not present in the genome of the Asian mouse Mus caroli. This repetitive sequence family is speculated to have a role in centromere function by providing an array of binding sites for the centromere-associated protein CENP-B. The apparent absence of CENP-B binding sites in the M. caroli genome poses a major challenge to this hypothesis. Here we describe two abundant satellite DNA sequences present at M. caroli centromeres. These satellites are organized as tandem repeat arrays, over 1 Mb in size, of either 60- or 79-bp monomers. All autosomes carry both satellites and small amounts of a sequence related to the M. musculus major satellite. The Y chromosome contains small amounts of both major satellite and the 60-bp satellite, whereas the X chromosome carries only major satellite sequences. M. caroli chromosomes segregate in M. caroli x M. musculus interspecific hybrid cell lines, indicating that the two sets of chromosomes can interact with the same mitotic spindle. Using a polyclonal CENP-B antiserum, we demonstrate that M. caroli centromeres can bind murine CENP-B in such an interspecific cell line, despite the absence of canonical 17-bp CENP-B binding sites in the M. caroli genome. Sequence analysis of the 79-bp M. caroli satellite reveals a 17-bp motif that contains all nine bases previously shown to be necessary for in vitro binding of CENP-B. This M. caroli motif binds CENP-B from HeLa cell nuclear extract in vitro, as indicated by gel mobility shift analysis. We therefore suggest that this motif also causes CENP-B to associate with M. caroli centromeres in vivo. Despite the sequence differences, M. caroli presents a third, novel mammalian centromeric sequence producing an array of binding sites for CENP-B.


2002 ◽  
Vol 115 (11) ◽  
pp. 2317-2327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Politi ◽  
Giovanni Perini ◽  
Stefania Trazzi ◽  
Artem Pliss ◽  
Ivan Raska ◽  
...  

CENP-C is a fundamental component of the centromere, highly conserved among species and necessary for the proper assembly of the kinetochore structure and for the metaphase-anaphase transition. Although CENP-C can bind DNA in vitro,the identification of the DNA sequences associated with it in vivo and the significance of such an interaction have been, until now, elusive. To address this problem we took advantage of a chromatin-immunoprecipitation procedure and applied this technique to human HeLa cells. Through this approach we could establish that: (1) CENP-C binds the alpha-satellite DNA selectively; (2) the CENP-C region between amino acids 410 and 537, previously supposed to contain a DNA-binding domain, is indeed required to perform such a function in vivo;and (3) the profile of the alpha-satellite DNA associated with CENP-C is essentially identical to that recognized by CENP-B. However, further biochemical and ultrastructural characterization of CENP-B/DNA and CENP-C/DNA complexes, relative to their DNA components and specific spatial distribution in interphase nuclei, surprisingly reveals that CENP-C and CENP-B associate with the same types of alpha-satellite arrays but in distinct non-overlapping centromere domains. Our results, besides extending previous observations on the role of CENP-C in the formation of active centromeres, show, for the first time, that CENP-C can associate with the centromeric DNA sequences in vivo and, together with CENP-B, defines a highly structured organization of the alpha-satellite DNA within the human centromere.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4309
Author(s):  
Jitendra Thakur ◽  
Jenika Packiaraj ◽  
Steven Henikoff

Satellite DNA consists of abundant tandem repeats that play important roles in cellular processes, including chromosome segregation, genome organization and chromosome end protection. Most satellite DNA repeat units are either of nucleosomal length or 5–10 bp long and occupy centromeric, pericentromeric or telomeric regions. Due to high repetitiveness, satellite DNA sequences have largely been absent from genome assemblies. Although few conserved satellite-specific sequence motifs have been identified, DNA curvature, dyad symmetries and inverted repeats are features of various satellite DNAs in several organisms. Satellite DNA sequences are either embedded in highly compact gene-poor heterochromatin or specialized chromatin that is distinct from euchromatin. Nevertheless, some satellite DNAs are transcribed into non-coding RNAs that may play important roles in satellite DNA function. Intriguingly, satellite DNAs are among the most rapidly evolving genomic elements, such that a large fraction is species-specific in most organisms. Here we describe the different classes of satellite DNA sequences, their satellite-specific chromatin features, and how these features may contribute to satellite DNA biology and evolution. We also discuss how the evolution of functional satellite DNA classes may contribute to speciation in plants and animals.


Genome ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 737-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huntington F. Willard

At least 10% of DNA in the human genome consists of long arrays of repeated sequences, arranged in tandem head-to-tail arrays in a number of discrete, highly localized chromosomal regions. Different families of these so-called "satellite DNA" sequences have been defined, organized in diverged subsets on different chromosomes. The molecular, cytogenetic, and evolutionary analysis of the hierarchical organization of such sequences in the human and other complex genomes encompasses a variety of approaches, including chromosomal mapping, in situ hybridization, genetic linkage analysis, long-range restriction mapping, and DNA sequencing. Investigation of the organization of satellite arrays constitutes a necessary first step towards eventual elucidation of the origin, evolution, and maintenance of these sequences and their contribution to the structure and behavior of human chromosomes.Key words: human genome, satellite DNA, chromosomes, genome analysis.


Zygote ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Urrego ◽  
S.M. Bernal-Ulloa ◽  
N.A. Chavarría ◽  
E. Herrera-Puerta ◽  
A. Lucas-Hahn ◽  
...  

SummaryBovine embryos produced in vivo and in vitro differ with respect to molecular profiles, including epigenetic marks and gene expression profiles. This study investigated the CpG methylation status in bovine testis satellite I (BTS) and Bos taurus alpha satellite I (BTαS) DNA sequences, and concomitantly the relative abundance of transcripts, critically involved in DNA methylation (DNMT1 and DNMT3A), growth and development (IGF2R) and pluripotency (POU5F1) in Bos indicus embryos produced in vitro or in vivo. Results revealed that methylation of BTS were higher (P < 0.05) in embryos produced in vitro compared with their in vivo produced counterparts, while the methylation status of BTαS was similar in both groups. There were no significant differences in transcript abundance for DNMT3A, IGF2R and POU5F1 between blastocysts produced in vivo and in vitro. However, a significantly lower amount of DNMT1 transcripts was found in the in vitro cultured embryos (P < 0.05) compared with their in vivo derived counterparts. In conclusion, this study reported only minor changes in the expression of developmentally important genes and satellite DNA methylation related to the in vitro embryo production system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dubravka S. Strac ◽  
Marcela Konjevod ◽  
Matea N. Perkovic ◽  
Lucija Tudor ◽  
Gordana N. Erjavec ◽  
...  

Background: Neurosteroids Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate (DHEAS) are involved in many important brain functions, including neuronal plasticity and survival, cognition and behavior, demonstrating preventive and therapeutic potential in different neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. Objective: The aim of the article was to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature on the involvement of DHEA and DHEAS in Alzheimer’s disease. Method: PubMed and MEDLINE databases were searched for relevant literature. The articles were selected considering their titles and abstracts. In the selected full texts, lists of references were searched manually for additional articles. Results: We performed a systematic review of the studies investigating the role of DHEA and DHEAS in various in vitro and animal models, as well as in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and provided a comprehensive discussion on their potential preventive and therapeutic applications. Conclusion: Despite mixed results, the findings of various preclinical studies are generally supportive of the involvement of DHEA and DHEAS in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease, showing some promise for potential benefits of these neurosteroids in the prevention and treatment. However, so far small clinical trials brought little evidence to support their therapy in AD. Therefore, large-scale human studies are needed to elucidate the specific effects of DHEA and DHEAS and their mechanisms of action, prior to their applications in clinical practice.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 1356-1363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara P. Schick ◽  
David Maslow ◽  
Adrianna Moshinski ◽  
James D. San Antonio

Abstract Patients given unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for prophylaxis or treatment of thrombosis sometimes suffer serious bleeding. We showed previously that peptides containing 3 or more tandem repeats of heparin-binding consensus sequences have high affinity for LMWH and neutralize LMWH (enoxaparin) in vivo in rats and in vitro in citrate. We have now modified the (ARKKAAKA)n tandem repeat peptides by cyclization or by inclusion of hydrophobic tails or cysteines to promote multimerization. These peptides exhibit high-affinity binding to LMWH (dissociation constant [Kd], ≈ 50 nM), similar potencies in neutralizing anti–Factor Xa activity of UFH and enoxaparin added to normal plasma in vitro, and efficacy equivalent to or greater than protamine. Peptide (ARKKAAKA)3VLVLVLVL was most effective in all plasmas from enoxaparin-treated patients, and was 4- to 20-fold more effective than protamine. Several other peptide structures were effective in some patients' plasmas. All high-affinity peptides reversed inhibition of thrombin-induced clot formation by UFH. These peptides (1 mg/300 g rat) neutralized 1 U/mL anti–Factor Xa activity of enoxaparin in rats within 1 to 2 minutes. Direct blood pressure and heart rate measurements showed little or no hemodynamic effect. These heparin-binding peptides, singly or in combination, are potential candidates for clinical reversal of UFH and LMWH in humans.


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