Localization and development of kinetochores and a chromatid core during meiosis in grasshoppers

Physical mapping of 18S rDNA cistron in species of the Omophoita genus (Coleoptera, Alticinae) using fluorescent in situ hybridization

Alticinae has the greatest amount of biodiversity among the Chrysomelidae, with 40,000 described species, only 290 of which have been analyzed cytogenetically. The majority of studies refer to conventional staining and few species have been analyzed or have responded to differential staining methods. The aim of the present study was to describe an 18S rDNA probe for Alticinae and the location of this cluster in species of the Omophoita genus. The fragment of approximately 750bp obtained through a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) amplification reaction with specific oligonucleotides to 18S rDNA was cloned and denominated pTZ_Ooct_18Sp and then submitted to automatic sequencing. The alignment of the sequences obtained through the sequencing of the clones generated a consensus sequence of 722bp for Omophoita octoguttata with 98% homology with other species of Alticinae. The analysis of mitotic cells of O. octoguttata and Omophoita magniguttis submitted to fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with the 18S rDNA probe revealed that the ribosomal genes are located in 6th pair. O. magniguttis also has a second labeled pair. Omophoita personata exhibited nucleolar organizer regions associated to one autosome pair. The analysis of meiotic cells submitted to FISH revealed one labeled bivalent in metaphase I in O. octoguttata and O. personata and in one chromosome in metaphase II in O. octoguttata. FISH data suggest a conserved pattern in the species analyzed and an apomorphy of O. magniguttis karyotype. The rDNA 18S probe could be considered an important marker to evidence the karyotypic differentiation, not observed with conventional methodologies, in species considered karyotypically conserved and uniform.

Involvement of synaptonemal complex proteins in sex chromosome segregation during marsupial male meiosis

Marsupial sex chromosomes break the rule that recombination during first meiotic prophase is necessary to ensure reductional segregation during first meiotic division. It is widely accepted that in marsupials X and Y chromosomes do not share homologous regions, and during male first meiotic prophase the synaptonemal complex is absent between them. Although these sex chromosomes do not recombine, they segregate reductionally in anaphase I. We have investigated the nature of sex chromosome association in spermatocytes of the marsupial Thylamys elegans, in order to discern the mechanisms involved in ensuring their proper segregation. We focused on the localization of the axial/lateral element protein SCP3 and the cohesin subunit STAG3. Our results show that X and Y chromosomes never appear as univalents in metaphase I, but they remain associated until they orientate and segregate to opposite poles. However, they must not be tied by a chiasma since their separation precedes the release of the sister chromatid cohesion. Instead, we show they are associated by the dense plate, a SCP3-rich structure that is organized during the first meiotic prophase and that is still present at metaphase I. Surprisingly, the dense plate incorporates SCP1, the main protein of the central element of the synaptonemal complex, from diplotene until telophase I. Once sex chromosomes are under spindle tension, they move to opposite poles losing contact with the dense plate and undergoing early segregation. Thus, the segregation of the achiasmatic T. elegans sex chromosomes seems to be ensured by the presence in metaphase I of a synaptonemal complex-derived structure. This feature, unique among vertebrates, indicates that synaptonemal complex elements may play a role in chromosome segregation.

The Cdc14 phosphatase and the FEAR network control meiotic spindle disassembly and chromosome segregation

During meiosis, DNA replication is followed by two consecutive rounds of chromosome segregation. Cells lacking the protein phosphatase CDC14 or its regulators, SPO12 and SLK19, undergo only a single meiotic division, with some chromosomes segregating reductionally and others equationally. We find that this abnormal chromosome behavior is due to an uncoupling of meiotic events. Anaphase I spindle disassembly is delayed in cdc14-1, slk19Delta, or spo12Delta mutants, but the chromosome segregation cycle continues, so that both meiotic chromosome segregation phases take place on the persisting meiosis I spindle. Our results show that Cdc14, Slk19, and Spo12 are not only required for meiosis I spindle disassembly but also play a pivotal role in establishing two consecutive chromosome segregation phases, a key feature of the meiotic cell cycle.

Leuciscus (Pisces, Cyprinidae) karyotypes: Transect of Portuguese populations

The presently described Iberian chubs - Leuciscus carolitertii and L. pyrenaicus - sampled throughout their distribution ranges in Portugal were cytogenetically analyzed. Their chromosome numbers were consistently 2n = 50, except for two specimens of L. carolitertii, which exhibited a supernumerary chromosome in some of the metaphases. The karyotypes were found to be highly typical for other Leuciscus taxa, as well as for European leuciscine cyprinids: the chromosome sets are dominated by metacentric and submetacentric elements with a reduced number of acrocentric pairs (three to four); the largest pair of the complements belongs typically to this latter category. The chubs from northern drainages, assignable to L. carolitertii, have apparently a more stable karyotype structure (12M:30S:8A) than the chubs from L. pyrenaicus, which have 12M:32S:6A, but may exhibit in the most southern river basins (Guadiana, Mira, Aljezur, Bordeira and Arade) more variable karyotypes. Besides, these data support the very recent discovery of two genetically distinct Leuciscus taxa in this region of the Iberian Peninsula, suggesting the stochastic fixation of structural chromosome rearrangements in these small and isolated drainages, which may be affected by bottlenecks due to significant variations in hydrological regimes. The NORs were apparently located in one small submetacentric pair of chromosomes and the presence of a heteromorphic sex chromosome system of the ZW/ZZ type was also evidenced for the Iberian endemic chubs.

Morphology and behaviour of silver-stained chromatid cores in mitotic chromosomes analysed by whole mount electron microscopy

Using silver staining and the whole mount electron microscopy technique of squashed chromosomes, we studied the substructural organization and behaviour of chromatid cores in mitotic chromosomes of spermatogonia of the grasshopper Oedaleus infernalis during mitosis. It was found that the formation of mitotic chromatid cores takes place during the transition from prophase to prometaphase. Each chromosome contains two compact chromatid cores which are surrounded by a halo of dispersed argyrophilic material emanating radially from the cores. In early metaphase the chromatid core usually appears as an extended, slender network running longitudinally through the entire length of the chromatid, while in late metaphase the core frequently has a spiral appearance. In addition, our results revealed the existence of interconnections between sister chromatid cores along their entire length, as a result of which sister chromatid cores appear as a single interconnected core network in mitotic metaphase chromosomes. At this stage the core occupies a lateral position in each chromatid. However, during the transition from metaphase to anaphase, the interconnections are gradually released to allow the individualization of sister chromatid cores and the segregation of chromosomes. The core comes to occupy a central position in each segregated chromatid. These findings demonstrate the presence of an intrinsic interconnected core network within metaphase chromosomes which could be involved in the maintenance and segregation of chromosomes during mitosis.

A method for visualizing the acrosome by light microscopy

A silver staining technique applied to squash preparations of material previously fixed in 3:1 ethanol:acetic acid produces differential staining of the acrosomal region of spermatids during spermiogenesis in orthopteroid species. The method includes treatment with saline sodium citrate solution for 15 min at 60 C, and staining with 50% aqueous silver nitrate adjusted to pH 2.9 with formic acid.