The Self-incompatibility (S) Locus of Antirrhinum Resides in a Pericentromeric Region

The self-incompatibility ( S) loci from the Solanaceae, Rosaceae and Scrophulariaceae encode a class of ribonucleases, known as S RNases, which have been shown to control the pistil expression of self-incompatible reaction. In the former two families, the S loci have been shown to be located near centromere. However, the chromosomal location of the S locus in Antirrhinum, a species of the Scrophulariaceae, is not known. To determine its chromosomal location and genomic organization, an S-2 RNase gene and its corresponding 63 kb BAC clone were separately used for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of mitotic metaphase chromosomes of a self-incompatible Antirrhinum line Of S2S5. The results showed that the S-2 RNase detected a doublet signal near the centromere of the smallest chromosome (2n = 16). Two separate doublet signals of the tested BAC sequence were shown on both sides of the centromeres of all eight pairs of the chromosomes, suggesting that the Antirrhinum S locus is located in a pericentromeric region. Furthermore, a retrotransposon, named RIS1 (retrotransposon in the S locus), which has not been identified yet in. Antirrhinum, was found next to S-2 RNase. Taken together, the centromeric location of the S locus from the three S-RNase-based self-incompatible families provides a further support on a common origin of their evolution as well as suppressed recombination.

Interplay between genome organization and epigenomic alterations of pericentromeric DNA in cancer

In eukaryotic genome biology,the genomic organization inside the three-dimensional(3D)nucleus is highly complex,and whether this organization governs gene expression is poorly understood.Nuclear lamina(NL)is a filamentous meshwork of proteins present at the lining of inner nuclear membrane that serves as an anchoring platform for genome organization.Large chromatin domains termed as lamina-associated domains(LADs),play a major role in silencing genes at the nuclear periphery.The interaction of the NL and genome is dynamic and stochastic.Furthermore,many genes change their positions during developmental processes or under disease conditions such as cancer,to activate certain sorts of genes and/or silence others.Pericentromeric heterochromatin(PCH)is mostly in the silenced region within the genome,which localizes at the nuclear periphery.Studies show that several genes located at the PCH are aberrantly expressed in cancer.The interesting question is that despite being localized in the pericentromeric region,how these genes still manage to overcome pericentromeric repression.Although epigenetic mechanisms control the expression of the pericentromeric region,recent studies about genome organization and genome-nuclear lamina interaction have shed light on a new aspect of pericentromeric gene regulation through a complex and coordinated interplay between epigenomic remodeling and genomic organization in Cancer.

Ikaros isoforms:The saga continues

Through alternate splicing,the Ikaros gene produces multiple proteins.Ikaros is essential for normal hematopoiesis and possesses tumor suppressor activity.Ikaros isoforms interact to form dimers and potentially multimeric complexes.Diverse Ikaros complexes produced by the presence of different Ikaros isoforms are hypothesized to confer distinct functions.Small dominantnegative Ikaros isoforms have been shown to inhibit the tumor suppressor activity of full-length Ikaros.Here,we describe how Ikaros activity is regulated by the coordinated expression of the largest Ikaros isoforms IK-1 and IK-H.Although IK-1 is described as full-length Ikaros,IK-H is the longest Ikaros isoform.IK-H,which includes residues coded by exon 3B (60 bp that lie between exons 3 and 4),is abundant in human but not murine hematopoietic cells.Specific residues that lie within the 20 amino acids encoded by exon 3B give IK-H DNA-binding characteristics that are distinct from those of IK-1.Moreover,IK-H can potentiate or inhibit the ability of IK-1 to bind DNA.IK-H binds to the regulatory regions of genes that are upregulated by Ikaros,but not genes that are repressed by Ikaros.Although IK-1 localizes to pericentromeric heterochromatin,IK-H can be found in both pericentromeric and non-pericentromeric locations.Anti-silencing activity of gamma satellite DNA has been shown to depend on the binding of IK-H,but not other Ikaros isoforms.The unique features of IK-H,its influence on Ikaros activity,and the lack of IK-H expression in mice suggest that Ikaros function in humans may be more complex and possibly distinct from that in mice.

UNREDUCED MEGAGAMETOPHYTE FORMATION VIA SECOND DIVISION RESTITUTION CONTRIBUTES TO TETRAPLOID PRODUCTION IN INTERPLOIDY CROSSES WITH/ORAH/MANDARIN(CITRUS RETICULATA)

Seedless fruits are desirable in the citrus fresh fruit market.Triploid production via diploid x tetraploid interploidy crosses is thought to be the most efficient and widely-used strategy for the breeding of seedless citrus.Although'Orah'mandarin has desirable organoleptic qualities,seeds in the fruits weaken its market competitiveness.To produce new seedless cultivars that are similar to'Orah'mandarin,we performed three 2x x 4x crosses using'Orah'mandarin as the seed parent to regenerate triploid plantlets.A total of 182 triploid and 36 tetraploid plantlets were obtained.By analyzing their genetic origins using nine novel single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)markers,all of the triploids and tetraploids derived from these three crosses were proven to be hybrids.Also,we demonstrated that 2n megagametophyte formation in'Orah'mandarin result in tetraploid production in these three interploidy crosses.These tetraploid plantlets were genotyped using eight pericentromeric SNP markers and nine centromere distal SNP markers.Based on the genotypes of the 2n megagametophytes,the parental heterozygosity rates in 16 SNP loci and all 2n megagametophytes were less than 50%,indicating that second division restitution was the mechanism underlying 2n megagametophyte formation at both the population and individual levels.These triploid hybrids enrich the germplasm available for seedless breeding.Moreover,the tetraploid hybrids are valuable as parents for ploidy breeding for the production of seedless citrus fruits.