Nucleolar Expression and Chromosomal Associations in Robertsonian Spermatocytes of Mus musculus domesticus.

We studied and compared the nucleolar expression or nucleoli from specific bivalents in spermatocytes of the standard Mus musculus domesticus 2n=40, of Robertsonian (Rb) homozygotes 2n = 24 and heterozygotes 2n = 32. We analyzed 200 nuclear microspreads of each specific nucleolar chromosome and spermatocyte karyotype, using FISH to identify specific nucleolar bivalents, immunofluorescence for both fibrillarin of the nucleolus and the synaptonemal complex of the bivalents, and DAPI for heterochromatin. There was nucleolar expression in all the chromosomal conditions studied. By specific nucleolar bivalent, the quantitative relative nucleolar expression was higher in the bivalent 12 than in its derivatives, lower in the bivalent 15 than in its derivatives and higher in the bivalent 16 than its Rb derivatives. In the interactions between non-homologous chromosomal domains, the nucleolar bivalents were preferentially associated through pericentromeric heterochromatin with other bivalents of similar morphology and sometimes with other nucleolar bivalents. We suggest that the nucleolar expression in Rb nucleolar chromosomes is modified as a consequence of different localization of ribosomal genes (NOR) in the Rb chromosomes, its proximity to heterochromatin and its associations with chromosomes of the same morphology.

A separable domain of the p150 subunit of human chromatin assembly factor-1 promotes protein and chromosome associations with nucleoli

Chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1) is a three-subunit protein complex conserved throughout eukaryotes that deposits histones during DNA synthesis. Here we present a novel role for the human p150 subunit in regulating nucleolar macromolecular interactions. Acute depletion of p150 causes redistribution of multiple nucleolar proteins and reduces nucleolar association with several repetitive element–containing loci. Of note, a point mutation in a SUMO-interacting motif (SIM) within p150 abolishes nucleolar associations, whereas PCNA or HP1 interaction sites within p150 are not required for these interactions. In addition, acute depletion of SUMO-2 or the SUMO E2 ligase Ubc9 reduces α-satellite DNA association with nucleoli. The nucleolar functions of p150 are separable from its interactions with the other subunits of the CAF-1 complex because an N-terminal fragment of p150 (p150N) that cannot interact with other CAF-1 subunits is sufficient for maintaining nucleolar chromosome and protein associations. Therefore these data define novel functions for a separable domain of the p150 protein, regulating protein and DNA interactions at the nucleolus.

Meiotic studies on a Brassica campestris–alboglabra monosomic addition line and derived B. campestris primary trisomics

Diakinesis chromosomes were studied in pollen mother cells of Brassica campestris (2n = 20, genome AA), B. alboglabra (2n = 18, genome CC), a B. campestris–alboglabra monosomic addition line (AA + 1 chromosome from the C genome), and four derived B. campestris primary trisomics. The nucleolar chromosomes of B. campestris were distinguishable by their morphology at diakinesis. The alien C-genome chromosome in the addition line paired preferentially with the nucleolar chromosome of the A genome. Very rarely, it paired with another pair of the A genome. Thus, it was concluded that the alien C-genome chromosome of the addition line is primarily homoeologous to the nucleolar chromosome and secondarily to another chromosome of the A genome. Three of the four derived B. campestris trisomic plants were identified as B campestris nucleolar trisomics. Trisomy in the fourth plant involved another chromosome. The cytological mechanism underlying the origin of trisomics in the addition line and chromosome homoeology relationships between B. campestris and B. alboglabra are envisaged.Key words: Brassica campestris–alboglabra addition line, Brassica campestris trisomics, diakinesis, intergenomic chromosome homoeology.