Inherited preferential segregation in translocation heterozygotes of the mosquito,Culex pipiens L

Mitotic-chromosome-based physical mapping of the Culex quinquefasciatus genome

The genome assembly of southern house mosquito Cx. quinquefasciatus is represented by a high number of supercontigs with no order or orientation on the chromosomes. Although cytogenetic maps for the polytene chromosomes of this mosquito have been developed, their utilization for the genome mapping remains difficult because of the low number of high-quality spreads in chromosome preparations. Therefore, a simple and robust mitotic-chromosome-based approach for the genome mapping of Cx. quinquefasciatus still needs to be developed. In this study, we performed physical mapping of 37 genomic supercontigs using fluorescent in situ hybridization on mitotic chromosomes from imaginal discs of 4th instar larvae. The genetic linkage map nomenclature was adopted for the chromosome numbering based on the direct positioning of 58 markers that were previously genetically mapped. The smallest, largest, and intermediate chromosomes were numbered as 1, 2, and 3, respectively. For idiogram development, we analyzed and described in detail the morphology and proportions of the mitotic chromosomes. Chromosomes were subdivided into 19 divisions and 72 bands of four different intensities. These idiograms were used for mapping the genomic supercontigs/genetic markers. We also determined the presence of length polymorphism in the q arm of sex-determining chromosome 1 in Cx. quinquefasciatus related to the size of ribosomal locus. Our physical mapping and previous genetic linkage mapping resulted in the chromosomal assignment of 13% of the total genome assembly to the chromosome bands. We provided the first detailed description, nomenclature, and idiograms for the mitotic chromosomes of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Further application of the approach developed in this study will help to improve the quality of the southern house mosquito genome.

Metaphase I centromere co-orientation in interchange heterozygotes of pearl millet

Using interchanges T(1, 3) and T(3, 6) ofPennisetum americanumorientation types of the interchange multiple at MI were studied in different genetic backgrounds. Orientation types alternate 1 and alternate 2, in addition to adjacent 1, adjacent 2 and indefinite could be identified for both the interchanges. The relative frequencies of various orientation types were influenced by a change in the genetic background.

For these interchanges, homologous centromeres do not seem to play a predominant role in the co-orientation of interchange multiple. The non-homologous co-orientation types were more subjected to genetic regulation than the homologous co-orientations.

Homozygous translocations in Anopheles albimanus

Four homozygous, autosomal translocation stocks were established in Anopheles albimanus, which is an important vector of malaria in Central America. When inbred, the fertility of these homozygous translocation stocks ranged from 87.4 to 92.5%, and similar fertilities were observed in outcrosses to a normal strain. The chromosomal breakpoints for these four translocations were located close to the centromeres. The sterility in heterozygous translocation males was consistently higher than that observed for females.

Fitness of a translocation homozygote in cage experiments with the onion fly, Hylemya antiqua (meigen)

In Hylemya antiqua, a stock homozygous for an autosomal reciprocal translocation was isolated using egg-hatch reduction and karyotype analysis. Sibling translocation homozygous (TT) and heterozygous (T+) females were compared in respect to egg production and longevity. In one full-sib (5 TT and 8 T+ females) significantly higher values for both parameters for T+ than for TT females were scored, in four others (a total of 35 TT and 28 T+ females) no significant differences were found. Cage experiments were started with populations composed of equal numbers of wild type flies (++) and translocation homozygotes. The frequencies of the different karyotypes in three successive, non-overlapping generations, did not suggest substantial differences in fitness between ++ and TT flies. Possible causes of a surplus of T+ individuals found in these experiments are discussed together with the usefulness of the translocation for genetic control of H. antiqua.

Patterns of disjunction frequencies in heterozygous reciprocal translocations from the German cockroach

Metaphase I cells from heterozygotes in eight reciprocal chromosome translocation stocks of Blattella germanica (L.) have been examined and counted. The data show that three stocks have random disjunction (adjacent and alternate orientations are equally frequent), but the cell types adjacent-1, alternate-1, adjacent-2, and alternate-2 are present in a ratio of 2:1:1:2. Four stocks with directed disjunction have similar patterns, except for a heavy preponderace of alternate-2 cells. This difference is reflected in the finding that 60-65% of all cells in these interchanges are type II cells (alternate-2 plus adjacent-2), and individual percentages agree closely with percent directed disjunction is distinctly different in that the frequencies of both alternate-1 and alternate-2 cells are elevated and contribute to directed disjunction. It has also been demonstrated with two stocks that changes in disjunction frequencies can be brought about by genetic manipulation. These observations provide a better understanding of the differences between random and directed disjunction.

Disjunction types and their frequencies in two heterozygous reciprocal translocations of Blattella germanica (L.)

Adjacent-1, alternate-1, adjacent-2, and alternate-2 disjunction configurations were observed cytologically at metaphase I in heterozygotes from two reciprocal chromosome translocations in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). T(7; 12) shows random disjunction and the frequencies of the above four types were in a ratio of 2:1:1:2 (p greater than 0.90). T(3; 12) has directed disjunction (about 70% alternate) which is attributable to a heavy preponderance of alternate-2. No interpretable ratio occurs here except for the equality of alternate-1 and adjacent-2 types. These observations confirm the existence of two types of alternate disjunction, and provide insight into the basis for random vs directed disjunction.