Telomeric location of retroviral oncogenes in humans

Non-randomness distribution of micro-RNAs on human chromosomes

Background

Micro-RNA (miRNA) is one of the non-coding RNAs that exist in human genome. miRNAs play an important role in the expression of target genes. Several studies have indicated that organization of human genome is not random. In order to investigate the distribution of miRNAs on human chromosomes, the present study was carried out.

Results

Using the data from miRBase database, we found 1913 loci coding for miRNAs (MIRs). Human chromosome bands 1p36, 1q22, 1q24, 2q13, 2q35, 3p21, 6p21, 7q22, 8p23, 8q24, 9q22, 9q34, 11q12-q13, 12q13, 14q32, 16p13, 16q24, 17p13, 17q11, 17q21, 17q25, 19p13, 19q13, 20q13, 21p11, 22q13, and Xq26-q28 were significantly bearing higher number of MIRs. The 14q32 and 19q13 with 4.11 and 3.59 MIRs per mega-base pair, respectively, were the most MIR-richest human chromosomal bands. The number of MIRs on chromosomal bands significantly decreased as a function of distance from telomere (r = − 0.949, df = 5, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our current data suggest that MIRs are not randomly distributed on human genomes.

Chromosomal distribution of schizophrenia susceptibility loci

In order to find the chromosomal distribution of polymorphic loci associated with the schizophrenia risk, the present study was carried out. Meta-analysis studies with information of genetic polymorphisms and schizophrenia risk were identified and used for the present study. There were 39 loci associated with schizophrenia risk. Statistical analysis revealed that the schizophrenia susceptible loci distributed non-randomly on human chromosomes. Human chromosome segments 6p21.1-p22.3 (P < 0.001) bear significantly higher number of susceptible loci.

Telomeric association in women with breast and uterine cervix cancer

This study compares the frequency of telomeric associations in the peripheral blood of women suffering breast and cervix uterine cancer with a healthy control group. Two kinds of cultures were developed for each individual: with and without aphidicolin. In the normal cultures, the number of telomeric associations observed was 95.5 times higher in individuals affected by breast cancer and 41.3 times higher in those affected by cervix uterine cancer when compared to the control group (p < 0.001). In the cultures with aphidicolin, higher numbers of altered metaphases were observed in both groups as compared to the control groups (p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) could also be observed when comparing telomeric associations between the two types of cancer in both cultures. When we compared individuals affected by breast cancer in both types of cultures statistical differences were found (p < 0.05), and similar results were found in individuals affected by uterine cervix cancer (p < 0.001). The findings suggest that telomeric associations may be reflecting chromosome instability observed in cancer and that this instability behaves differently for various types of cancer.

Homology-dependent gene silencing in transgenic plants: epistatic silencing loci contain multiple copies of methylated transgenes

Previous work has shown that two homologous, unlinked transgene loci can interact in plant nuclei, leading to non-reciprocal trans-inactivation and methylation of genes at one locus. Here, we report the structure and methylation of different transgene loci that contain the same construct but are variably able to inactivate and methylate a partially homologous, unlinked target locus. Silencing loci comprised multiple, methylated copies of the transgene construct, whereas a non-silencing locus contained a single, unmethylated copy. The correspondence between strength of silencing activity and copy number/degree of methylation was further demonstrated by producing novel alleles of a strong silencing locus: reducing the transgene copy number and methylation within this silencing locus decreased its ability to inactivate the target locus. The strong silencing locus, which was located close to a telomere, trans-inactivated various structural variants of the original target construct, regardless of their location in the genome. This suggests that the silencing locus can scan the entire genome for homologous regions, a process possibly aided by its telomeric location. Our data support the idea that epistatic trans-inactivation of unlinked, homologous transgenes in plants results from a pre-existing epigenetic difference between transgene loci, which is subsequently equalized by "epigene conversion" involving DNA-DNA pairing.

Comparative chromosome painting discloses homologous segments in distantly related mammals

Comparative chromosome painting, termed ZOO-FISH, using DNA libraries from flow sorted human chromosomes 1, 16, 17 and X, and mouse chromosome 11 discloses the presence of syntenic groups in distantly related mammalian orders ranging from primates (Homo sapiens), rodents (Mus musculus), even-toed ungulates (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis and Muntiacus reevesi) and whales (Balaenoptera physalus). These mammalian orders have evolved separately for 55-80 million years (Myr). We conclude that ZOO-FISH can be used to generate comparative chromosome maps of a large number of mammalian species.

Telomeres and the functional architecture of the nucleus

The single molecule of DNA that constitutes a eukaryotic chromosome begins and ends with a stretch of repetitive DNA known as a telomere. These sequences appear to be necessary to preserve the integrity of the genetic material through the cell cycle. Telomeric DNA is organized into regions of non-nucleosomal chromatin called the telosome, which can interact with other telosomes and with the nuclear envelope. This review focuses on cytological evidence for these interactions and on recent insights into the molecular organization of the telomeric complex.