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Pourfahraji Fakhrabadi M, Kalantar SM, Montazeri F, Dehghani Ashkezari M, Pourfahraji Fakhrabadi M, Sabbagh Nejad Yazd S. FISH-based sperm aneuploidy screening in male partner of women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss. MIDDLE EAST FERTILITY SOCIETY JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s43043-020-00031-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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2
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Pirzada RH, Orun O, Erzik C, Cagsin H, Serakinci N. Role of TRF2 and TPP1 regulation in idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 127:306-310. [PMID: 30611803 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are the tandem repeats (TTAGGG) present at the ends of the chromosomes that ensure chromosome stability and protect chromosomes from degradation. Telomeres in somatic human cells shorten after every cellular division and are linked to the cellular senescence. In this study we have investigated telomere length and expression of shelterin genes in aborted fetus material from idiopathic recurrent pregnancy losses. Telomere length was measured using Telomere Restriction Fragment Length (TRF) analysis. The gene expression levels for important shelterin complex proteins (TRF1, TRF2, POT1, and TPP1) were determined by Real-time Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Our results demonstrated down regulation of TRF2 and TPP1 and a strong decline in average telomere length in abort material from women suffering from idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss. We suggest that shorter telomere length and downregulation of the major shelterin components TRF2 and TPP1 leading to "telomere uncapping", might play a critical role in recurrent pregnancy loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rameez Hassan Pirzada
- Near East University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, 999058 Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, New Campus, Lahore 55150, Pakistan
| | - Oya Orun
- Marmara University School of Medicine, Biophysics Department, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Can Erzik
- Marmara University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Huseyin Cagsin
- Near East University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, 999058 Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey; Near East University, Faculty of Art and Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, 999058 Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey
| | - Nedime Serakinci
- Near East University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics, 999058 Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey; Near East University, Faculty of Art and Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, 999058 Nicosia, North Cyprus, Turkey.
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Sizova TV, Karpova OI. The length of chromatin loops in meiotic prophase I of warm-blooded vertebrates depends on the DNA compositional organization. RUSS J GENET+ 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795416110144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Gruhn J, Al-Asmar N, Fasnacht R, Maylor-Hagen H, Peinado V, Rubio C, Broman K, Hunt P, Hassold T. Correlations between Synaptic Initiation and Meiotic Recombination: A Study of Humans and Mice. Am J Hum Genet 2016; 98:102-15. [PMID: 26749305 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiotic recombination is initiated by programmed double strand breaks (DSBs), only a small subset of which are resolved into crossovers (COs). The mechanism determining the location of these COs is not well understood. Studies in plants, fungi, and insects indicate that the same genomic regions are involved in synaptic initiation and COs, suggesting that early homolog alignment is correlated with the eventual resolution of DSBs as COs. It is generally assumed that this relationship extends to mammals, but little effort has been made to test this idea. Accordingly, we conducted an analysis of synaptic initiation sites (SISs) and COs in human and mouse spermatocytes and oocytes. In contrast to our expectation, we observed remarkable sex- and species-specific differences, including pronounced differences between human males and females in both the number and chromosomal location of SISs. Further, the combined data from our studies in mice and humans suggest that the relationship between SISs and COs in mammals is a complex one that is not dictated by the sites of synaptic initiation as reported in other organisms, although it is clearly influenced by them.
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Fröhlich J, Vozdova M, Kubickova S, Cernohorska H, Sebestova H, Rubes J. Variation of Meiotic Recombination Rates and MLH1 Foci Distribution in Spermatocytes of Cattle, Sheep and Goats. Cytogenet Genome Res 2015; 146:211-21. [PMID: 26406935 DOI: 10.1159/000439452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite similar genome sizes, a great variability in recombination rates is observed in mammals. We used antibodies against SYCP3, MLH1 and centromeres to compare crossover frequency, position along chromosome arms and the effect of crossover interference in spermatocytes of 4 species from the family Bovidae (Bos taurus, 2n = 60, tribe Bovini; Ovis aries, 2n = 54, Capra hircus, 2n = 60 and Ammotragus lervia, 2n = 58, tribe Caprini). Despite significant individual variability, our results also show significant differences in both recombination rates and the total length of autosomal synaptonemal complexes (SC) between cattle (47.53 MLH1 foci/cell, 244.59 µm) and members of the tribe Caprini (61.83 MLH1 foci, 296.19 µm) which can be explained by the length of time that has passed since their evolutionary divergence. Sheep displayed the highest number of MLH1 foci per cell and recombination density, although they have a lower diploid chromosome number caused by centric fusions corresponding to cattle chromosomes 1;3, 2;8 and 5;11. However, the proportion of MLH1 foci observed on the fused chromosomes in sheep (26.14%) was significantly lower than on the orthologous acrocentrics in cattle (27.6%) and goats (28.2%), and their distribution along the SC arms differed significantly. The reduced recombination rate in metacentrics is probably caused by interference acting across the centromere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Fröhlich
- Central European Institute of Technology - Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
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6
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Analysis of telomere length in couples experiencing idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss. J Assist Reprod Genet 2013; 30:793-8. [PMID: 23608779 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-013-9993-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/31/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Telomere length plays a significant role in various disorders; however, its role in idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (iRPL) is not known. The objective of this study was to assess telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes in couples experiencing unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (iRPL). METHODS The study included 25 couples experiencing iRPL and 20 controls. The mean relative telomere length was measured by quantitative Real Time PCR (Q-PCR) based assay, which measures the average ratio of telomere repeat copy number to a single copy gene (36B4) copy number (T/S ratio) in each sample. RESULTS The relative leukocyte mean telomere length (T/S) in both men and women from iRPL group was significantly lower (p < 0.05) when compared to controls. A significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation was found between age and leukocyte telomere length (T/S ratio). Among the sperm parameters seminal volume was found to be negatively (r = -0.4679) associated with the telomere T/S ratio. The DNA fragmentation index of sperm showed positive correlation (r = 0.4744) with telomere length. In this preliminary study, we found that shorter telomere length in both men and women may be associated with early pregnancy loss. CONCLUSION In conclusion, shorter telomere length in both male and female partners appears to play a role in the idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss. Loss of telomeric DNA due to oxidative stress needs further analysis. Analysis of telomere length in germ cells are needed to further substantiate the findings of this study.
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Boateng KA, Bellani MA, Gregoretti IV, Pratto F, Camerini-Otero RD. Homologous pairing preceding SPO11-mediated double-strand breaks in mice. Dev Cell 2013; 24:196-205. [PMID: 23318132 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2012.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Revised: 10/31/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
How homologous chromosomes (homologs) find their partner, pair, and recombine during meiosis constitutes the central phenomenon in eukaryotic genetics. It is widely believed that, in most organisms, SPO11-mediated DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) introduced during prophase I precede and are required for efficient homolog pairing. We now show that, in the mouse, a significant level of homolog pairing precedes programmed DNA cleavage. Strikingly, this early chromosome pairing still requires SPO11 but is not dependent on its ability to make DSBs or homologous recombination proteins. Intriguingly, SUN1, a protein required for telomere attachment to the nuclear envelope and for post-DSB synapsis, is also required for early pre-DSB homolog pairing. Furthermore, pre-DSB pairing at telomeres persists upon entry into prophase I and is most likely important for initiation of synapsis. Our findings suggest that the DSB-triggered homology search may mainly serve to proofread and stabilize the pre-DSB pairing of homologous chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kingsley A Boateng
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Thilagavathi J, Venkatesh S, Dada R. Telomere length in reproduction. Andrologia 2012; 45:289-304. [DOI: 10.1111/and.12008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. Thilagavathi
- Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics; Department of Anatomy; All India Institute of Medical Sciences; New Delhi; India
| | - S. Venkatesh
- Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics; Department of Anatomy; All India Institute of Medical Sciences; New Delhi; India
| | - R. Dada
- Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics; Department of Anatomy; All India Institute of Medical Sciences; New Delhi; India
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Nabeshima K, Mlynarczyk-Evans S, Villeneuve AM. Chromosome painting reveals asynaptic full alignment of homologs and HIM-8-dependent remodeling of X chromosome territories during Caenorhabditis elegans meiosis. PLoS Genet 2011; 7:e1002231. [PMID: 21876678 PMCID: PMC3158051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2010] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
During early meiotic prophase, a nucleus-wide reorganization leads to sorting of chromosomes into homologous pairs and to establishing associations between homologous chromosomes along their entire lengths. Here, we investigate global features of chromosome organization during this process, using a chromosome painting method in whole-mount Caenorhabditis elegans gonads that enables visualization of whole chromosomes along their entire lengths in the context of preserved 3D nuclear architecture. First, we show that neither spatial proximity of premeiotic chromosome territories nor chromosome-specific timing is a major factor driving homolog pairing. Second, we show that synaptonemal complex-independent associations can support full lengthwise juxtaposition of homologous chromosomes. Third, we reveal a prominent elongation of chromosome territories during meiotic prophase that initiates prior to homolog association and alignment. Mutant analysis indicates that chromosome movement mediated by association of chromosome pairing centers (PCs) with mobile patches of the nuclear envelope (NE)–spanning SUN-1/ZYG-12 protein complexes is not the primary driver of territory elongation. Moreover, we identify new roles for the X chromosome PC (X-PC) and X-PC binding protein HIM-8 in promoting elongation of X chromosome territories, separable from their role(s) in mediating local stabilization of pairing and association of X chromosomes with mobile SUN-1/ZYG-12 patches. Further, we present evidence that HIM-8 functions both at and outside of PCs to mediate chromosome territory elongation. These and other data support a model in which synapsis-independent elongation of chromosome territories, driven by PC binding proteins, enables lengthwise juxtaposition of chromosomes, thereby facilitating assessment of their suitability as potential pairing partners. Successful sexual reproduction relies on the ability of germ cells to faithfully segregate homologous chromosomes in meiosis, which requires accurate sorting of chromosomes into homologous pairs and alignment of homologs along their entire lengths. The mechanisms underlying homolog sorting and alignment are not well understood, partly because of a scarcity of studies investigating homolog alignment at the level of whole chromosomes. This study provides a global view of the organization of chromosome territories during early meiotic prophase in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We applied chromosome painting to visualize the entire lengths of chromosomes. Our study provides several conceptual advances. First, our study excluded several possible mechanisms as primary drivers of chromosome sorting. Second, our analysis has revealed both a robust capacity for full-lengthwise alignment between homologous chromosomes prior to the stabilization of pairing by the synaptonemal complex as well as a dramatic elongation of chromosome territories that could enable this alignment. We also identified a factor required for the elongation of chromosome territories. Elongation of chromosome territories could enable lengthwise juxtaposition of chromosomes, thereby facilitating assessment of their suitability as potential pairing partners by promoting utilization of information about chromosome identity that is distributed along the length of a chromosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Nabeshima
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor Michigan, USA.
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Telomere DNA deficiency is associated with development of human embryonic aneuploidy. PLoS Genet 2011; 7:e1002161. [PMID: 21738493 PMCID: PMC3128107 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2011] [Accepted: 05/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aneuploidy represents the most prevalent form of genetic instability found in human embryos and is the leading genetic cause of miscarriage and developmental delay in newborns. Telomere DNA deficiency is associated with genomic instability in somatic cells and may play a role in development of aneuploidy commonly found in female germ cells and human embryos. To test this hypothesis, we developed a method capable of quantifying telomere DNA in parallel with 24-chromosome aneuploidy screening from the same oocyte or embryo biopsy. Aneuploid human polar bodies possessed significantly less telomere DNA than euploid polar bodies from sibling oocytes (-3.07 fold, P = 0.016). This indicates that oocytes with telomere DNA deficiency are prone to aneuploidy development during meiosis. Aneuploid embryonic cells also possessed significantly less telomere DNA than euploid embryonic cells at the cleavage stage (-2.60 fold, P = 0.002) but not at the blastocyst stage (-1.18 fold, P = 0.340). The lack of a significant difference at the blastocyst stage was found to be due to telomere DNA normalization between the cleavage and blastocyst stage of embryogenesis and not due to developmental arrest of embryos with short telomeres. Heterogeneity in telomere length within oocytes may provide an opportunity to improve the treatment of infertility through telomere-based selection of oocytes and embryos with reproductive competence.
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11
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Hultén MA. On the origin of crossover interference: A chromosome oscillatory movement (COM) model. Mol Cytogenet 2011; 4:10. [PMID: 21477316 PMCID: PMC3103480 DOI: 10.1186/1755-8166-4-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2011] [Accepted: 04/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is now nearly a century since it was first discovered that crossovers between homologous parental chromosomes, originating at the Prophase stage of Meiosis I, are not randomly placed. In fact, the number and distribution of crossovers are strictly regulated with crossovers/chiasmata formed in optimal positions along the length of individual chromosomes, facilitating regular chromosome segregation at the first meiotic division. In spite of much research addressing this question, the underlying mechanism(s) for the phenomenon called crossover/chiasma interference is/are still unknown; and this constitutes an outstanding biological enigma. RESULTS The Chromosome Oscillatory Movement (COM) model for crossover/chiasma interference implies that, during Prophase of Meiosis I, oscillatory movements of the telomeres (attached to the nuclear membrane) and the kinetochores (within the centromeres) create waves along the length of chromosome pairs (bivalents) so that crossing-over and chiasma formation is facilitated by the proximity of parental homologs induced at the nodal regions of the waves thus created. This model adequately explains the salient features of crossover/chiasma interference, where (1) there is normally at least one crossover/chiasma per bivalent, (2) the number is correlated to bivalent length, (3) the positions are dependent on the number per bivalent, (4) interference distances are on average longer over the centromere than along chromosome arms, and (5) there are significant changes in carriers of structural chromosome rearrangements. CONCLUSIONS The crossover/chiasma frequency distribution in humans and mice with normal karyotypes as well as in carriers of structural chromosome rearrangements are those expected on the COM model. Further studies are underway to analyze mechanical/mathematical aspects of this model for the origin of crossover/chiasma interference, using string replicas of the homologous chromosomes at the Prophase stage of Meiosis I. The parameters to vary in this type of experiment will include: (1) the mitotic karyotype, i.e. ranked length and centromere index of the chromosomes involved, (2) the specific bivalent/multivalent length and flexibility, dependent on the way this structure is positioned within the nucleus and the size of the respective meiocyte nuclei, (3) the frequency characteristics of the oscillatory movements at respectively the telomeres and the kinetochores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maj A Hultén
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, CMM L8:02, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, S-17 1 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Ghafari F, Pelengaris S, Walters E, Hartshorne G. Influence of p53 and genetic background on prenatal oogenesis and oocyte attrition in mice. Hum Reprod 2009; 24:1460-72. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dep022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Belangero SIN, Christofolini DM, Bianco B, Gava MM, Wroclawski ER, Barbosa CP. Male infertility related to an aberrant karyotype, 46,XY,9ph,9qh+. Fertil Steril 2008; 91:2732.e1-3. [PMID: 19100539 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.10.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2008] [Revised: 10/20/2008] [Accepted: 10/29/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report a man with primary infertility and variant karyotype. DESIGN Case report. SETTING Private practice. PATIENT(S) A 37-year-old man with 4 years of primary infertility due to oligoasthenozoospermia. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) G- and C-banding. Polymerase chain reaction for SRY, DBY, RBMY, DAZ, AMELX, and AMELY. RESULT(S) G-band analysis of the proband revealed a 46,XY,9ph,9qh+ karyotype. C-banding confirmed increase in the heterochromatin in one chromosome 9 and inversion in the other. CONCLUSION(S) The morphologic difference between the homologous chromosomes 9 may have been responsible for an error in crossing-over, leading to aberrant spermatozoa and consequently to infertility.
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14
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Brown PW, Hwang K, Schlegel PN, Morris PL. Small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO)-1, SUMO-2/3 and SUMOylation are involved with centromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes 9 and 1 and proteins of the synaptonemal complex during meiosis in men. Hum Reprod 2008; 23:2850-7. [PMID: 18694876 PMCID: PMC2583944 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/den300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-transcriptional modification by SUMOylation is involved in numerous cellular processes including human spermatogenesis. For human male meiosis, we previously showed that the small ubiquitin-related modifier-1 (SUMO-1) protein localizes to chromatin axes in early pachytene spermatocytes, then to kinetochores as meiosis progresses. Here, we delineate possible functional roles based on subcellular localization for SUMO-1 and SUMO-2/3. METHODS Western and immunoprecipitation analyses were conducted on proteins isolated from the testis of two normal adult fertile men. Combinatorial immunofluorescence and chromosome-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses were performed on male meiocytes obtained during testicular biopsy from four patients undergoing testicular sperm extraction for assisted reproduction technologies. RESULTS The synaptonemal complex (SC) and SC proteins (SCP)-1 and SCP2, but not SCP3, are SUMOylated by SUMO-1 during the pachytene substage. Likewise, two distinct localization patterns for SUMO-1 are identified: a linear pattern co-localized with autosomal SCs and isolated SUMO-1 near the centromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes 9 and 1. In contrast to SUMO-1, which is not detectable prior to pachytene in normal tissue, SUMO-2/3 is identified as early as leptotene and zygotene and in some, but not all, pachytene cells; no linear patterns were detected. Similar to SUMO-1, SUMO-2/3 localizes in two predominant subnuclear patterns: a single, dense signal near the centromere of human chromosome 9 and small, individual foci co-localized with autosomal centromeres. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that SUMO-1 may be involved in maintenance and/or protection of the autosomal SC. SUMO-2/3, though expressed similarly, may function separately and independently during pachytene in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petrice W Brown
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, NY 10065, USA
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15
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Metzler-Guillemain C, Depetris D, Luciani JJ, Mignon-Ravix C, Mitchell MJ, Mattei MG. In human pachytene spermatocytes, SUMO protein is restricted to the constitutive heterochromatin. Chromosome Res 2008; 16:761-82. [PMID: 18592385 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-008-1225-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2008] [Revised: 05/05/2008] [Accepted: 05/05/2008] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
SUMO-1, a ubiquitin-like protein, is covalently bound to many proteins, leading to chromatin inactivation and transcriptional repression. The high concentration of SUMO-1 on the XY body in rodents suggests that this protein has an important role in facultative heterochromatin organization. In human, the precise role of SUMO in chromatin/heterochromatin organization remains to be defined. Here we describe the SUMO-1 distribution, during human male meiosis, in relation to the formation of the different types of heterochromatin. We show that, during late pachynema, SUMO-1 appears on the constitutive heterochromatin, but is excluded from the XY body facultative heterochromatin. At the SUMO-1 labelled areas, the presence of HP1alpha protein, as well as of trimethylated H3-K9 and H4-K20 histone modifications, supports a role for SUMO-1 in constitutive heterochromatin organization. We also establish that, on the constitutive heterochromatin, H4-K20me3 staining progressively decreases as SUMO-1 staining increases, suggesting that core histone(s), and histone H4 in particular, are direct targets for sumoylation. Our results also suggest that, in the context of global histone H4 hyperacetylation that precedes the histone-to-protamine transition at postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis, histone H4 sumoylation may represent an important epigenetic marker replacing methylation on the constitutive heterochromatin.
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Abstract
Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that halves the diploid number of chromosomes, yielding four haploid nuclei. Dramatic changes in chromosomal organization occur within the nucleus at the beginning of meiosis which are followed by the separation of homologous chromosomes at the first meiotic division. This is the case for telomeres that display a meiotic-specific behavior with gathering in a limited sector of the nuclear periphery. This leads to a characteristic polarized chromosomal configuration, called the "bouquet" arrangement. The widespread phenomenon of bouquet formation among eukaryotes has led to the hypothesis that it is functionally linked to the process of interactions between homologous chromosomes that are a unique feature of meiosis and are essential for proper chromosome segregation. Various studies in different model organisms have questioned the role of the telomere bouquet in chromosome pairing and recombination, and very recently in meiotic spindle formation, and have provided some clues about the molecular mechanisms that carry out this specific clustering of telomeres.
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Ye CJ, Stevens JB, Liu G, Ye KJ, Yang F, Bremer SW, Heng HHQ. Combined multicolor-FISH and immunostaining. Cytogenet Genome Res 2006; 114:227-34. [PMID: 16954658 DOI: 10.1159/000094205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2005] [Accepted: 02/16/2006] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of multicolor-FISH and immunostaining produces a powerful visual method to analyze in situ DNA-protein interactions and dynamics. Representing one of the major technical improvements of FISH technology, this method has been used extensively in the field of chromosome and genome research, as well as in clinical studies, and serves as an important tool to bridge molecular analysis and cytological description. In this short review, the development and significance of this method will be briefly summarized using a limited number of examples to illustrate the large body of literature. In addition to descriptions of technical considerations, future applications and perspectives have also been discussed focusing specifically on the areas of genome organization, gene expression and medical research. We anticipate that this versatile method will play an important role in the study of the structure and function of the dynamic genome and for the development of potential applications for medical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Ye
- SeeDNA Biotech Inc, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
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Oliver-Bonet M, Benet J, Martin RH. Studying meiosis: a review of FISH and M-FISH techniques used in the analysis of meiotic processes in humans. Cytogenet Genome Res 2006; 114:312-8. [PMID: 16954672 DOI: 10.1159/000094219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2005] [Accepted: 01/17/2006] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that chromosome in situ hybridization allows the unequivocal identification of targeted human somatic chromosomes. Different fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques have been developed throughout the years and, following the mitotic studies, meiotic analyses have been performed using these different techniques. The introduction of M-FISH techniques to the analysis of meiotic cells has allowed the study of meiotic processes for every individual human chromosome. In this paper, we review the different FISH and M-FISH techniques that have been used on human meiotic cells in both men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Oliver-Bonet
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
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Abstract
Sperm are a highly specialized cell type derived to deliver the paternal haploid genome to the oocyte. The epigenetic, or gene regulatory, properties and mechanisms of the sperm assist in preparation of the paternal genome to contribute to embryogenesis and the genome of the zygote. Many recent studies have addressed the issue of altered epigenetic processes in the sperm. This review evaluates the current understanding of DNA damage, chromosome aneuploidy, reduced telomere length, malformations of the centrosome, genomic imprinting errors, altered mRNA profiles, and abnormal nuclear packaging in the sperm prior to fertilization and the observed effects on embryogenesis. Attention has also been given to understanding the underlying etiology of sperm with altered epigenetic mechanisms in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Emery
- IVF and Andrology Laboratories, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA
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20
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Codina-Pascual M, Navarro J, Oliver-Bonet M, Kraus J, Speicher MR, Arango O, Egozcue J, Benet J. Behaviour of human heterochromatic regions during the synapsis of homologous chromosomes. Hum Reprod 2006; 21:1490-7. [PMID: 16484310 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/del028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations of synapsis can disturb or arrest meiosis and result in infertility. Synaptic abnormalities are frequently observed in infertile patients but also in fertile men. METHODS The subtelomere-specific multiplex fluorescence in-situ hybridization (stM-FISH) has been applied in combination with immunofluorescence to identify all synaptonemal complexes (SCs) and to analyse those presenting synaptic anomalies in fertile and infertile men. RESULTS SCs with heterochromatin blocks other than centromere (noncentromeric heterochromatin) presented a higher frequency of gaps (SC discontinuities) and splits (unsynapsed SC regions) at pachytene, the incidences for 9qh, 1qh, 15p and 21p being the highest ones. Inter-individual variability in the incidence of synaptic anomalies in these regions has been observed. In addition, synaptic anomalies in other SC regions are more frequent in infertile cases than in controls. Clear association of the SC15 and SC21 to the XY pair has been seen. CONCLUSION Noncentromeric heterochromatic regions are the last to synapse. The inter-individual variation observed in the incidence of gaps and splits in these regions may be explained by the heteromorphism of these regions in the general population. The presence of synaptic anomalies in other SC regions may indicate nuclei with a severely affected synapsis. Noncentromeric heterochromatic regions might play a role in the association of autosomal SC15 and SC21 with the XY pair.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Codina-Pascual
- Unitat de Biologia Cel-lular i Genètica Mèdica, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
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Morelli MA, Cohen PE. Not all germ cells are created equal: Aspects of sexual dimorphism in mammalian meiosis. Reproduction 2005; 130:761-81. [PMID: 16322537 DOI: 10.1530/rep.1.00865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The study of mammalian meiosis is complicated by the timing of meiotic events in females and by the intermingling of meiotic sub-stages with somatic cells in the gonad of both sexes. In addition, studies of mouse mutants for different meiotic regulators have revealed significant differences in the stringency of meiotic events in males versus females. This sexual dimorphism implies that the processes of recombination and homologous chromosome pairing, while being controlled by similar genetic pathways, are subject to different levels of checkpoint control in males and females. This review is focused on the emerging picture of sexual dimorphism exhibited by mammalian germ cells using evidence from the broad range of meiotic mutants now available in the mouse. Many of these mouse mutants display distinct differences in meiotic progression and/or dysfunction in males versus females, and their continued study will allow us to understand the molecular basis for the sex-specific differences observed during prophase I progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meisha A Morelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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22
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Brown PW, Judis L, Chan ER, Schwartz S, Seftel A, Thomas A, Hassold TJ. Meiotic synapsis proceeds from a limited number of subtelomeric sites in the human male. Am J Hum Genet 2005; 77:556-66. [PMID: 16175502 PMCID: PMC1275605 DOI: 10.1086/468188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2005] [Accepted: 07/18/2005] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of the synaptonemal complex (SC) is a crucial early step in the meiotic process, but relatively little is known about the establishment of the human SC. Accordingly, we recently initiated a study of synapsis in the human male, combining immunofluorescence and fluorescence in situ hybridization methodologies to analyze prophase spermatocytes from a series of control individuals. Our results indicate that synapsis is a tightly regulated process, with relatively little variation among individuals. On nonacrocentric chromosomes, there are two synaptic initiation sites, one on the distal short arm and one on the distal long arm, whereas acrocentric chromosomes exhibit a single site on the distal long arm. For both types of chromosomes, synapsis then proceeds toward the centromere, with little evidence that specific p- or q-arm sequences affect the process. However, the centromere appears to have an inhibitory effect on synapsis--that is, when one arm of a nonacrocentric chromosome is "zippered up" before the other, the centromere acts as a barrier to further movement from that arm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petrice W Brown
- Center for Human Genetics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA
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23
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Oliver-Bonet M, Ko E, Martin RH. Male infertility in reciprocal translocation carriers: the sex body affair. Cytogenet Genome Res 2005; 111:343-6. [PMID: 16192713 DOI: 10.1159/000086908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2004] [Accepted: 02/15/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous reports have linked chromosomal reorganization and spermatogenic failure. In this context, it has long been known that reciprocal translocation carriers are more likely to have anomalies in the meiotic process, including fertility failures. It has also been proposed that this fertility failure may be a consequence of an association between the translocated chromosomes and the sex body. In this work, we review different hypotheses explaining meiotic failure in these carriers, and propose a model that relates meiotic abnormalities with both sex body-translocation association and different checkpoints that are known to operate during meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Oliver-Bonet
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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24
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Egozcue J, Sarrate Z, Codina-Pascual M, Egozcue S, Oliver-Bonet M, Blanco J, Navarro J, Benet J, Vidal F. Meiotic abnormalities in infertile males. Cytogenet Genome Res 2005; 111:337-42. [PMID: 16192712 DOI: 10.1159/000086907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2004] [Accepted: 01/04/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiotic anomalies, as reviewed here, are synaptic chromosome abnormalities, limited to germ cells that cannot be detected through the study of the karyotype. Although the importance of synaptic errors has been underestimated for many years, their presence is related to many cases of human male infertility. Synaptic anomalies can be studied by immunostaining of synaptonemal complexes (SCs), but in this case their frequency is probably underestimated due to the phenomenon of synaptic adjustment. They can also be studied in classic meiotic preparations, which, from a clinical point of view, is still the best approach, especially if multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization is at hand to solve difficult cases. Sperm chromosome FISH studies also provide indirect evidence of their presence. Synaptic anomalies can affect the rate of recombination of all bivalents, produce achiasmate small univalents, partially achiasmate medium-sized or large bivalents, or affect all bivalents in the cell. The frequency is variable, interindividually and intraindividually. The baseline incidence of synaptic anomalies is 6-8%, which may be increased to 17.6% in males with a severe oligozoospermia, and to 27% in normozoospermic males with one or more previous IVF failures. The clinical consequences are the production of abnormal spermatozoa that will produce a higher number of chromosomally abnormal embryos. The indications for a meiotic study in testicular biopsy are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Egozcue
- Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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25
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Sun F, Oliver-Bonet M, Liehr T, Starke H, Trpkov K, Ko E, Rademaker A, Martin RH. Discontinuities and unsynapsed regions in meiotic chromosomes have a cis effect on meiotic recombination patterns in normal human males. Hum Mol Genet 2005; 14:3013-8. [PMID: 16155114 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddi332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During meiosis, homologous chromosome pairing is essential for subsequent meiotic recombination (crossover). Discontinuous chromosome regions (gaps) or unsynapsed chromosome regions (splits) in the synaptonemal complex (SC) indicate anomalies in chromosome synapsis. Recently developed immunofluorescence techniques (using antibodies against SC proteins and the crossover-associated MLH1 protein) were combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (using centromere-specific DNA probes) to identify bivalents with gaps/splits and to examine the effect of gaps/splits on meiotic recombination patterns during the pachytene stage of meiotic prophase from three normal human males. Gaps were observed only in the heterochromatic regions of chromosomes 9 and 1, with 9q gaps accounting for 90% of these events. Most splits were also found in chromosomes 9 and 1, with 58% of splits occurring on 9q. Gaps and splits significantly altered the distribution of MLH1 foci on the SC. On gapped SC 9q, the frequency of MLH1 foci was decreased compared with controls, and single 9q crossovers tended toward a more distal distribution. Furthermore, the larger the gap the more distal the location of the MLH1 focus closest to the q arm's telomere. MLH1 foci on split SC 9 had distributions similar to those of gapped SC 9; however, splits did not change the frequencies of MLH1 foci on SC 9. This is the first demonstration that gaps and splits have an effect on meiotic recombination in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Sun
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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26
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Codina-Pascual M, Oliver-Bonet M, Navarro J, Campillo M, García F, Egozcue S, Abad C, Egozcue J, Benet J. Synapsis and meiotic recombination analyses: MLH1 focus in the XY pair as an indicator. Hum Reprod 2005; 20:2133-9. [PMID: 15890739 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dei023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anomalies in meiotic prophase I have been related to partial or total meiotic arrest. These anomalies include an abnormal synaptic process, resulting in disorders in meiotic recombination. METHODS In the present study, we analyse primary spermatocytes from 12 infertile men (four with non-obstructive azoospermia, six with oligoastenoteratozoospermia, one with astenoteratozoospermia and one normozoospermic) and five control fertile donors using immunocytological techniques for synaptonemal complex, meiotic recombination and centromeric proteins. RESULTS Mean numbers of MLH1 foci per cell, frequencies of cells presenting an MLH1 focus in the XY pair and percentages of cells affected by abnormal synaptic patterns (gaps and splits) are reported for each of the infertile patients and control men. A positive correlation between the frequency of cells showing a recombination focus in the XY pair and the number of autosomal recombination foci per cell is found. CONCLUSIONS Reduced recombination in the XY pair and an increased number of cells affected by gaps may explain some idiopathic male infertility cases. The results suggest that recombination in the XY pair could be an indicator for general recombination frequency and for a successful meiotic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montserrat Codina-Pascual
- Unitat de Biologia i Genètica Mèdica, Departament de Biologia Cel.lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
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27
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Al-Hassan S, Hellani A, Al-Shahrani A, Al-Deery M, Jaroudi K, Coskun S. Sperm chromosomal abnormalities in patients with unexplained recurrent abortions. ARCHIVES OF ANDROLOGY 2005; 51:69-76. [PMID: 15764420 DOI: 10.1080/014850190518062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Cytogenetic studies showed that about half of concepti were chromosomally abnormal in first trimester abortions. Sperm chromosomal abnormalities in men with normal karyotype could occur during spermatogenesis. The objective of this study was to evaluate sperm chromosomal abnormalities in patients with unexplained recurrent abortions. A total of 14 couples with normal karyotype, and negative workup for endocrine, immune and anatomical causes of recurrent abortion was investigated. Semen analysis was performed and chromosomal abnormalities were assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y. The average number of abortions was 5.8. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 16.5% that was higher when compared to baseline (4.6%). In conclusion, a high rate of sperm chromosomal abnormalities was observed in recurrent abortion patients. These abnormalities might form during spermatogenesis since all patients had normal karyotype. Sperm chromosomal abnormality analysis can be included into recurrent abortion workup when no other cause is detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Al-Hassan
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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28
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Anuradha S, Muniyappa K. Molecular aspects of meiotic chromosome synapsis and recombination. PROGRESS IN NUCLEIC ACID RESEARCH AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2005; 79:49-132. [PMID: 16096027 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6603(04)79002-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S Anuradha
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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29
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Sarrate Z, Blanco J, Egozcue S, Vidal F, Egozcue J. Identification of meiotic anomalies with multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization: Preliminary results. Fertil Steril 2004; 82:712-7. [PMID: 15374719 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.02.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2003] [Revised: 02/04/2004] [Accepted: 02/04/2004] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize meiotic anomalies in infertile men by multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) and to determine whether synaptic problems affect specific bivalents or whether anomalies are random. DESIGN Analysis of meiotic preparations with standard techniques and M-FISH. SETTING Assisted reproduction centers and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. PATIENT(S) Three fertile men undergoing vasectomy, four sterile patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, and one patient with a Robertsonian translocation t(13;14). INTERVENTION(S) Unilateral testicular biopsy in controls and patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and collection of a semen sample from the translocation carrier. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Identification of bivalents in metaphase I and chromosomes in metaphase II and characterization of chromosome abnormalities. RESULT(S) All bivalents in metaphase I and all chromosomes in metaphase II could be identified. In controls and in one patient with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, meiosis was normal. Other patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia showed different types of anomaly: desynapsis, breaks, precocious XY separation, or cryptic reorganizations. The Robertsonian translocation t(13;14) was easily identified. CONCLUSION(S) Results confirm the high incidence of synaptic errors in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia patients. Bivalents in metaphase I and chromosomes in metaphase II were individually identifiable. Nondisjunctional errors or small reorganizations overlooked in classic meiotic preparations were identified. Synaptic anomalies seem to affect meiotic bivalents at random.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaida Sarrate
- Unitat de Biologia Cel.lular, Edifici Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
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30
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Liu L, Franco S, Spyropoulos B, Moens PB, Blasco MA, Keefe DL. Irregular telomeres impair meiotic synapsis and recombination in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:6496-501. [PMID: 15084742 PMCID: PMC404073 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0400755101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere shortening can lead to chromosome instability, replicative senescence, and apoptosis in both somatic and male germ cells. To study roles for mammalian telomeres in homologous pairing and recombination, we characterized effects of telomere shortening on spermatogenesis and oogenesis in late-generation telomerase-deficient mice. We show that shortened telomeres of late-generation telomerase-deficient mice impair meiotic synapsis and decrease recombination, in particular, in females. In response to telomere shortening, male germ cells mostly undergo apoptosis, whereas female germ cells preferentially arrest in early meiosis, suggesting sexually dimorphic surveillance mechanisms for telomere dysfunction during meiosis in mice. Further, meiocytes of late-generation telomerase-deficient females with shortened telomeres, bred with early-generation males harboring relatively long telomeres, exhibit severely impaired chromosome pairing and synapsis and reduced meiotic recombination. These findings imply that functional telomeres are important in mammalian meiotic synapsis and recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brown Medical School, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI 02905, USA
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31
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Oliver-Bonet M, Liehr T, Nietzel A, Heller A, Starke H, Claussen U, Codina-Pascual M, Pujol A, Abad C, Egozcue J, Navarro J, Benet J. Karyotyping of human synaptonemal complexes by cenM-FISH. Eur J Hum Genet 2003; 11:879-83. [PMID: 14571274 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this work was to adapt the recently described centromere-specific multicolour (cenM-) FISH technique to human meiotic cells, and evaluate the usefulness of this multiplex fluorescence method for karyotyping human synaptonemal complex (SC), previously analysed by immunocytogenetic approaches. The results obtained demonstrate that cenM-FISH is a reliable one-single-step method, which allows for the identification of all SC present in pachytene spreads. Moreover, when cenM-FISH is applied after immunocytogenetic analysis, the number and distribution of MLH1 foci per chromosome can be established and recombination analysis for each chromosome can be performed easily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Oliver-Bonet
- Unitat de Biologia, Facultat de Medicina, Departament de Biologia Cel.lular, Fisiologia i d'Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.
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Zalenskaya IA, Zalensky AO. Telomeres in mammalian male germline cells. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CYTOLOGY 2003; 218:37-67. [PMID: 12199519 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7696(02)18011-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are terminal chromosomal domains that protect chromosome ends from degradation and fusion and promote complete replication of DNA. Telomeres are involved in the regulation of cellular replicative lifespan and tumorigenesis. These important functions of the telomeres have evoked high interest: numerous studies have resulted in a detailed description of telomere composition and structure in somatic cells. Much less is known about telomeres in germline cells. Emerging novel features and unique behavior of telomeres in the process of gamete differentiation suggest that they may have additional germline-specific function(s). This review describes recent studies revealing changes in the telomere organization in the course of differentiation from the germline stem cells to mature sperm in mammals. Similarities and differences between somatic and spermatogenic cells in telomere nuclear localization, protein composition, DNA length, telomerase activity, and chromatin structure are discussed. The exceptional features of the germline telomeres may be important for regulation of telomerase activity during spermatogenesis, homologous chromosome pairing during recombination, as well as for male pronucleus development and ordered chromosome withdrawal post-fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina A Zalenskaya
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA
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33
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Pfeifer C, Scherthan H, Thomsen PD. Sex-specific telomere redistribution and synapsis initiation in cattle oogenesis. Dev Biol 2003; 255:206-15. [PMID: 12648484 DOI: 10.1016/s0012-1606(02)00093-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The process of homolog pairing is well characterised in meiosis of male mammals, but much less information is available from female meiosis. We have therefore studied telomere dynamics by FISH and synapsis formation by immunostaining of synaptonemal complex proteins (SCP3, SCP1) on ovarian sections from 15 bovine fetuses, which covered the entire female prophase I. Telomeres displayed a dispersed intranuclear distribution in oogonia and relocated to the nuclear periphery during the preleptotene stage. Tight telomere clustering (bouquet formation) coincided with synapsis initiation at the leptotene/zygotene transition. Clustering of telomeres persisted during zygotene and even into the pachytene stage in a subset of nuclei, while it was absent in diplotene/dictyotene stage nuclei. Thus, the bouquet stage in the bovine female lasts significantly longer than in the male. Further, we observed that synapsis in the female initiated both terminally and interstitially in earliest zygotene stage oocytes, which contrasts with the predominantly terminal synapsis initiation in early zygotene spermatocytes of the bovine male. Altogether, our data disclose a sex-specific difference in telomere dynamics and synapsis initiation patterns in male and female bovine germ cells that may be related to the sex-specific differences in recombination rates observed in this and other mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Pfeifer
- Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Grønnegårdsvej 7, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Schwarzacher T. Meiosis, recombination and chromosomes: a review of gene isolation and fluorescent in situ hybridization data in plants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2003; 54:11-23. [PMID: 12456751 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erg042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Evidence is now increasing that many functions and processes of meiotic genes are similar in yeast and higher eukaryotes. However, there are significant differences and, most notably, yeast has considerably higher recombination frequencies than higher eukaryotes, different cross-over interference and possibly more than one pathway for recombination, one late and one early. Other significant events are the timing of double-strand breaks (induced by Spo11) that could be either cause or consequence of homologous chromosome synapsis and SC formation depending on the organisms, yeast plants and mammals versus Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. Many plant homologues and heterologues to meiotic genes of yeast and other organisms have now been isolated, in particular in Arabidopsis thaliana, showing that overall recombination genes are very conserved while synaptonemal complex and cohesion proteins are not. In addition to the importance of unravelling the meiotic processes by gene discovery, this review discusses the significance of chromatin packaging, genome organization, and distribution of specific repeated DNA sequences for homologous chromosome cognition and pairing, and the distribution of recombination events along the chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trude Schwarzacher
- Department of Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
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35
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Cuñado N, Sánchez-Morán E, Barrios J, Santos JL. Searching for telomeric sequences in two Allium species. Genome 2001; 44:640-3. [PMID: 11550899 DOI: 10.1139/g01-055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Some Alliaceae species have no tandemly repeated TTTAGGG sequences. Instead, at the very end of their chromosomes, there are highly repetitive satellite and (or) rDNA sequences. These sequences apparently replace the canonical plant telomeric sequences in these species. A method of preparing two-dimensional surface spreads of plant synaptonemal complexes (SCs), combined with fluorescent in situ hybridization, has revealed that telomeric chromatin is tightly condensed at the ends of SCs in plants and animals. Using this method, we have tested the organization and location of those sequences postulated to cap the chromosomes in two species of the genus Allium: A. cepa and A. altaicum. We have also extended this study to other putative telomere candidates, such as LTR (long terminal repeat) and non-LTR retrotransposons. None of the DNA sequences analyzed showed the characteristic telomeric organization at pachytene.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Cuñado
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
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36
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Cuñado N, Barrios J, Santos JL. Organization of highly repeated sequences in surface-spread pachytene chromosomes of rye. Genome 2000. [DOI: 10.1139/g00-064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A method of preparing two-dimensional surface spreads of plant synaptonemal complexes (SCs) associated with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has been applied to analyze the location and organization of five different highly repeated DNA sequences in rye. Our observations indicate that, depending on the type of sequence, the chromatin displays different types of organization. Telomeric sequences were seen tightly associated with the SC while other repetitive DNA sequences were found to form loops that are associated with SCs only at their bases. On the contrary, the FISH signal of a centromeric satellite had a granular appearance, reflecting that the hybridization occurs only with parts of the chromatin loops.Key words: fluorescence in situ hybridization, meiosis, repetitive DNA, rye, synaptonemal complex.
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37
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Cuñado N, Garrido-Ramos MA, de la Herrán R, Ruíz Rejón C, Ruíz Rejón M, Santos JL. Organization of repetitive DNA sequences at pachytene chromosomes of gilthead seabream Sparus aurata (Pisces, Perciformes). Chromosome Res 2000; 8:67-72. [PMID: 10730590 DOI: 10.1023/a:1009283321632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A method of preparing two-dimensional surface spreads of fish synaptonemal complexes (SCs) associated with fluorescent in-situ hybridization is described. This technique permits a novel approach to the analysis of chromatin organization and the construction of physical maps at meiosis, since surface-spread pachytene chromosomes are several times the length of metaphase chromosomes and the decondensed chromatin loops are attached to the lateral elements of the SC. We have applied this technique to analyze the location and organization of three different repetitive DNA sequences, rDNA, an EcoRI satellite DNA of the Sparidae family and telomere DNA in the gilthead seabream Sparus aurata. Our observations indicate that, depending on the type of sequence, the chromatin has different properties with regard to anchorage to the SC.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Cuñado
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biologia, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
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38
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Banerjee R, Jones GH. Initiation and progression of homologous chromosome synapsis in Crepis capillaris: Variations on a theme. Genome 1999. [DOI: 10.1139/g99-024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The model cytogenetic plant species Crepis capillaris (2x = 6), in which all 3 chromosomes are readily distinguished, was used to analyse the initiation and progression of meiotic synapsis in a large sample of spread and silver-stained pollen mother cells. Particular emphasis was placed on detecting general patterns or trends of synaptic order, both among different bivalents and within (along) individual bivalents, and investigating the consistency or otherwise of these synaptic patterns. The order of synaptic progression and completion was partly related to chromosome length; as in other species, shorter bivalents tended to complete synapsis ahead of longer ones. Individual bivalents also showed distinct patterns of synapsis, with a tendency for subterminal regions to initiate synapsis early, followed by multiple synaptic initiations in internal bivalent regions. However, the analysis showed that these synaptic patterns are only general trends and significant variations in synaptic order and pattern, among and within bivalents, occur in individual cells.Key words: meiosis, synapsis, synaptonemal complex, Crepis.
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Anderson LK, Reeves A, Webb LM, Ashley T. Distribution of crossing over on mouse synaptonemal complexes using immunofluorescent localization of MLH1 protein. Genetics 1999; 151:1569-79. [PMID: 10101178 PMCID: PMC1460565 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/151.4.1569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 286] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have used immunofluorescent localization to examine the distribution of MLH1 (MutL homolog) foci on synaptonemal complexes (SCs) from juvenile male mice. MLH1 is a mismatch repair protein necessary for meiotic recombination in mice, and MLH1 foci have been proposed to mark crossover sites. We present evidence that the number and distribution of MLH1 foci on SCs closely correspond to the number and distribution of chiasmata on diplotene-metaphase I chromosomes. MLH1 foci were typically excluded from SC in centromeric heterochromatin. For SCs with one MLH1 focus, most foci were located near the middle of long SCs, but near the distal end of short SCs. For SCs with two MLH1 foci, the distribution of foci was bimodal regardless of SC length, with most foci located near the proximal and distal ends. The distribution of MLH1 foci indicated interference between foci. We observed a consistent relative distance (percent of SC length in euchromatin) between two foci on SCs of different lengths, suggesting that positive interference between MLH1 foci is a function of relative SC length. The extended length of pachytene SCs, as compared to more condensed diplotene-metaphase I bivalents, makes mapping crossover events and interference distances using MLH1 foci more accurate than using chiasmata.
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Anderson
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.
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Scherthan H, Eils R, Trelles-Sticken E, Dietzel S, Cremer T, Walt H, Jauch A. Aspects of three-dimensional chromosome reorganization during the onset of human male meiotic prophase. J Cell Sci 1998; 111 ( Pt 16):2337-51. [PMID: 9683629 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.111.16.2337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The three-dimensional morphology and distribution of human chromosomes 3 were studied in nuclei of spermatogonia and spermatocytes I from formaldehyde-fixed human testis sections. Chromosome arms, pericentromeres and telomeric regions were painted by a three-color, five-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization protocol. Light optical serial sections of premeiotic and meiotic nuclei obtained by confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that premeiotic chromosomes 3 are separate from each other and occupy variably shaped territories, which are sectored in distinct 3 p- and q-arm domains. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the painted chromosome domains by a Voronoi tessellation approach showed that mean chromosome volumes did not differ significantly among the premeiotic and meiotic stages investigated. A significant increase in surface area and reduction of dimensionless ‘roundness factor’ estimates of arm domains indicated that the restructuring of spatially separate chromosome territories initiates during preleptotene. Telomeric regions, which in meiotic stem cells located predominantly in arm-domain chromatin, showed a redistribution towards the domain surface during this stage. At leptotene homologues were generally misaligned and displayed intimate intermingling of non-homologous chromatin. Pairing initiated at the ends of bent zygotene chromosomes, which displayed a complex surface structure with discernible sister chromatids. The results indicate that, in mammals, homology search is executed during leptotene, after remodeling of chromosome territories.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Scherthan
- Abt. Humanbiologie and Abt. Zellbiologie, der Universität, Postf. 3049, D-67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany.
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41
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Waters
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, West Midlands Regional Genetics Services, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, UK
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Cuñado N, Santos JL. A method for fluorescence in situ hybridization against synaptonemal complex-associated chromatin of plant meiocytes. Exp Cell Res 1998; 239:179-82. [PMID: 9514796 DOI: 10.1006/excr.1997.3892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
An improved method of preparing two-dimensional surface spreads of plant synaptonemal complexes (SCs) associated with fluorescent in situ hybridization is described. This technique produces clear preparations of SCs and, in addition, consistently reveals the organization and location of different repetitive DNA sequences in plant meiotic prophase chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Cuñado
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
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Barlow AL, Hultén MA. Combined immunocytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analysis of meiosis I oocytes from normal human females. ZYGOTE 1998; 6:27-38. [PMID: 9652069 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199400005050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The microspread oocytes of three fetuses, two of 16 weeks gestation and one of 15 weeks gestation, were labelled with a combination of anti-lateral element antiserum and a human centromere labelling auto-immune serum. The anti-lateral element serum was found to label both asynapsed axial elements and synapsed lateral elements strongly. Nuclei were found from leptotene to diplotene in all three fetuses. The use of the human auto-immune serum led to the observation of 'staggered centromeres' and 'centromeric associations' as well as tightly clustered centromeres in 'stellar nuclei'. Nuclei displaying various aberrant features were detected. The use of antibody-labelled microspread oocytes as substrates for fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was found to be reliably successful only with repetitive (centromeric and telomeric) probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Barlow
- LSF Research Unit, Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, UK
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Trask BJ, Friedman C, Martin-Gallardo A, Rowen L, Akinbami C, Blankenship J, Collins C, Giorgi D, Iadonato S, Johnson F, Kuo WL, Massa H, Morrish T, Naylor S, Nguyen OT, Rouquier S, Smith T, Wong DJ, Youngblom J, van den Engh G. Members of the olfactory receptor gene family are contained in large blocks of DNA duplicated polymorphically near the ends of human chromosomes. Hum Mol Genet 1998; 7:13-26. [PMID: 9384599 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/7.1.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We have identified three new members of the olfactory receptor (OR) gene family within a large segment of DNA that is duplicated with high similarity near many human telomeres. This segment is present at 3q, 15q, and 19p in each of 45 unrelated humans sampled from various populations. Additional copies are present polymorphically at 11 other subtelomeric locations. The frequency with which the block is present at some locations varies among populations. While humans carry seven to 11 copies of the OR-containing block, it is located in chimpanzee and gorilla predominantly at a single site, which is not orthologous to any of the locations in the human genome. The observation that sequences flanking the OR-containing segment are duplicated on larger and different sets of chromosomes than the OR block itself demonstrates that the segment is part of a much larger, complex patchwork of subtelomeric duplications. The population analyses and structural results suggest the types of processes that have shaped these regions during evolution. From its sequence, one of the OR genes in this duplicated block appears to be potentially functional. Our findings raise the possibility that functional diversity in the OR family is generated in part through duplications and inter-chromosomal rearrangements of the DNA near human telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Trask
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Box 357730, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- G S Roeder
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8103 USA.
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Barlow AL, Benson FE, West SC, Hultén MA. Distribution of the Rad51 recombinase in human and mouse spermatocytes. EMBO J 1997; 16:5207-15. [PMID: 9311981 PMCID: PMC1170153 DOI: 10.1093/emboj/16.17.5207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro, the human Rad51 protein (hRad51) promotes homologous pairing and strand exchange reactions suggestive of a key role in genetic recombination. To analyse its role in this process, polyclonal antibodies raised against hRad51 were used to study the distribution of Rad51 in human and mouse spermatocytes during meiosis I. In human spermatocytes, hRad51 was found to form discrete nuclear foci from early zygotene to late pachytene. The foci always co-localized with lateral element proteins, components of the synaptonemal complex (SC). During zygotene, the largest foci were present in regions undergoing synapsis, suggesting that Rad51 is a component of early recombination nodules. Pachytene nuclei showed a greatly reduced level of Rad51 labelling, with the exceptions of any asynapsed autosomes and XY segments, which were intensely labelled. The distribution of Rad51 in mouse spermatocytes was similar to that found in human spermatocytes, except that in this case Rad51 was detectable at leptotene. From these results, we conclude that the Rad51 protein has a role in the interhomologue interactions that occur during meiotic recombination. These interactions are spatially and temporally associated with synapsis during meiotic prophase I.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Barlow
- LSF Research Unit, Regional Genetics Services, Heartlands Hospital, Yardley Green Road, Birmingham B9 5PX, UK
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