Interphase cytogenetics in estimation of genomic mutations in somatic cells

Dalayed Effects of Antitumor Drug Paclitaxel on the Hereditary Material and Hemopoietic System of CBA Mice

Paclitaxel in a single MTD of 40 mg/kg caused chromosome aberrations and genome changes (polyploidy) in the bone marrow cells of mice early and 3 months after the injection. The quantity of early precursors of erythropoiesis in the bone marrow decreased, as did their proliferative potential irrespective of the animal gender. Injection of paclitaxel in the MTD caused the development of bone marrow hypoplasia during the early period of observation (up to 14 days) and 3 months after injection.

Molecular characterization of novel low-molecular-weight glutenin genes in Aegilops longissima

Extensive genetic variations of low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) and their coding genes were found in the wild diploid A- and D-genome donors of common wheat. In this study, we reported the isolation and characterization of 8 novel LMW-GS genes from Ae.longissima Schweinf. & Muschl., a species of the section Sitopsis of the genus Aegilops, which is closely related to the B genome of common wheat. Based on the N-terminal domain sequences, the 8 genes were divided into 3 groups. A consensus alignment of the extremely conserved domains with known gene groups and the subsequent cluster analysis showed that 2 out of the 3 groups of LMW-GS genes were closely related to those from the B genome, and the remaining was related to those from A and D genomes of wheat and Ae. tauschii. Using 3 sets of gene-group-specific primers, PCRs in diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid wheats and Ae. tauschii failed to obtain the expected products, indicating that the 3 groups of LMW-GS genes obtained in this study were new members of LMW-GS multi-gene families. These results suggested that the Sitopsis species of the genus Aegilops with novel gene variations could be used as valuable gene resources of LMW-GS. The 3 sets of group-specific primers could be utilized as molecular markers to investigate the introgression of novel alien LMW-GS genes from Ae. longissima into wheat.