Repetitive DNA sequences accelerate molecular cytogenetic research in plants with small chromosomes

Repetitive DNA sequences are highly abundant in plant genomes and are favorable probes for chromosome identification in plants. However, it is difficult to conduct studies on the details of metaphase chromosome structures in plants with small chromosomes due to their highly condensed status. Therefore, identification of homologous chromosomes for karyotyping and analyzing chromosome structures is a challenging issue for cytogeneticists without specific probes and precise chromosome stages. In this study, five repetitive DNA probes, i.e., 5S and 45S ribosomal DNAs (rDNAs), melon centromeric sequence (Cmcent), cucumber subtelomeric sequence (Type I), and microsatellite (CT)10 repeats, were used to identify primary constrictions and homologous chromosomes for karyotyping. Four and two loci of 45S rDNA were respectively observed on metaphase and pachytene chromosomes of Abelia × grandiflora. Cmcent was detected on both primary constrictions of melon pachytene and metaphase chromosomes. Furthermore, one pair of 5S rDNA signals were hybridized on melon metaphase chromosomes. Eight and two loci of 45S and 5S rDNA were respectively detected on cucumber chromosomes. Type I and (CT)10 probes were specifically hybridized on subtelomeric and interstitial regions on the chromosomes, respectively. These results suggest that repetitive DNA sequences are versatile probes for chromosome identification in plants with small chromosomes, particularly for karyotyping analyses.

Structural Variability of Subtelomeres Applied for Genotyping of Selected Potato Varieties

Subtelomeric regions reveal a relatively high degree of polymorphism due to the increased frequency of recombination events in these chromosome loci. In a search for molecular markers applicable to genotyping of potato varieties, we focused on two possible sources of polymorphism occurring in this region: (i) arrangement of blocks of subtelomeric chromatin; (ii) structure of telomere-subtelomere boundary. Analysis of the internal arrangement of subtelomeric sequences showed several types of cultivar-specific spectra of PCR products arising from the variant orientation of sequence units of the ST3-subtelomeric sequence, or from different lengths of regions linking the individual sequence units. Further, the telomere-subtelomere boundary sequences were amplified using telomeric and ST3-specific primers and the obtained products were cloned. Sequence analysis of the clones resulted in characterisation of a novel telomere-associated sequence (FIN2). Primers derived from this sequence were then used alone or in combination with telomeric or ST3-specific primers to generate cultivar-specific spectra of PCR products. The described combinations of sequence-specific primers may be used for the fast, cheap and reproducible PCR-genotyping of selected potato varieties.    

Characterization of a tandemly repeated subtelomeric sequence with inverted telomere repeats in maize

In this study, two complementary telomere primers were applied to a single-primer PCR. A clear amplification band was obtained with one primer, while a smear pattern was seen with the other primer. Sequence analysis of the isolated clones from this specific amplification band revealed that a 412 bp clone designated as MTAS1 shared high homology with a reported subtelomeric sequence (382 bp) from maize ( Zea mays L.), which indicated that this clone was possibly present at subtelomeric regions. The clone MTAS1 displayed a novel structural feature flanked by the forward and inverted telomere repeats. Southern hybridization revealed a ladder of hybridization bands, suggesting that MTAS1 was a tandemly repeated sequence. Fluorescence in situ hybridization results showed that the strong MTAS1 signals were present at the ends of short arms of several long chromosomes, confirming that MTAS1 was a subtelomeric sequence and the high brightness of signals further indicated this cloned sequence was a highly and tandemly repetitive sequence in maize. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with telomeric DNA and MTAS1 as probes on metaphase chromosomes and extended genomic DNA fibers showed that hybridization signals of this clone located adjacent to or overlapped with signals of telomere tandem repeats distributed heterogeneously in subtelomeric regions of several chromosomes and even exhibited differences in two subtelomeres of a single chromosome.