F-MSAP： A practical system to detect methylation in chicken genome

By replacing radiation with fluorescent system in the technique of methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism （MSAP） and optimizing reaction conditions, a modified technique to detect DNA methylation called F-MSAP （fluorescent labeled methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism） was developed. In the present study, cytosine methylation patterns of genomic DNA were investigated in two inbred chickens and their F1 hybrids. Three types of methylation patterns were observed in each individual, namely fully methylated, hemi-methylated or not methylated types. The average incidence of methylation was approximately 40%. The percentage that the F1 hybrid individual inherits the methylation for any given sites from either/both parent amounted to 95%, while the percentage of altered methylation patterns in F1 individual was only 5%, including 14 increased and 12 decreased methylation types, demonstrating that F-MSAP was highly efficient for large-scale detection of cytosine methylation in chicken genome. Our technique can be further extended to other animals or plants with complex genome and rich in methylation polymorphism.     

Speciation- induced heritable cytosine methylation changes in polyploid wheat

To study possible epigenetic changes accompanying polyploid speciation, genomic DNA from natural polyploid wheats and their putative diploid progenitors were digested with a pair of isoschizomers Hpa II / Msp I and hybridized to 21 different types of low-copy DNA sequences. It was found that cytosine methylation changes were abundant in natural polyploid wheats after their speciation. The hybridization of the same set of sequences to a synthetic hexaploid wheat along with its parental lines indicated that the extensive DNA methylation changes already existed in the early generations (S5, S6 and Sy) of this plant. Moreover, the high similarity of the changed restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns among three randomly chosen individual plants suggested that the methylation changes occurred even earlier, and/or were of a nonrandom nature. The changed patterns were stably inherited in the three successive selfed generations. Though methylation changes are probably a genome-wide occurrence, they appeared to be confined to the specific types of DNA sequences. The possible implications of the rapid and extensive cytosine methylation changes for several attributes of allopolyploid genome evolution, such as genetic diploidization and gene diversification, are discussed .     

Breeding of T. aestivum-Ag. intermedium translocation lines with T. timopheevii cytoplasm and characterization by GISH

A male-sterileT. aestivum-Ag. intermedium partial amphiploid with cytoplasm ofT. timopheevii as a female parent was crossed to common wheat. The hybrid was backcrossed to the male parent several times continually and setf-crossed at last. Two stable lines with common wheat phenotype, H96269-2 and H96278, have been obtained. The chromosome numbers of the two lines are all2n = 42 in somatic cetls. By inoculation test, the two lines show a high levet of resistance to yetlow rust. Through genomicin situ hybridization (GISH) withAg. intermedium total genomic DNA as a probe, it is demonstrated that the two stable lines are all small segmental translocation lines, and the translocated chromosome segments fromAg. intermedium are located on the short arm terminals of wheat chromosomes. Genetics analysis suggests that the yetlow rust resistance gene(s) are probably located on the translocated chromosome segments ofAg. intermedium.     

抗白粉病小麦近等基因系DNA甲基化的MSAP分析

应用甲基化敏感扩增多态性（MSAP）技术检测小麦抗白粉病代换系6A／6V与感病品系京411的近等基因系NILs,及其亲本6A／6V和京411的基因组DNA甲基化变化．结果表明,NILs的整体甲基化水平（22．9％）略高于6A／6V（21．2％）,低于京411（23．4％）．分析其甲基化模式发现,NILs相对京411甲基化水平降低条带比例（2．89％）明显高于甲基化提高条带（0．55％）,而相对抗病亲本6A／6V,NILs甲基化水平降低条带比例（2．96％）明显低于甲基化提高条带（4．20％）,说明NILs的整体基因表达水平低于6A／6V,高于京411．     

The SRA domain of UHRF1 flips 5-methylcytosine out of the DNA helix

Maintenance methylation of hemimethylated CpG dinucleotides at DNA replication forks is the key to faithful mitotic inheritance of genomic methylation patterns. UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like, containing PHD and RING finger domains 1) is required for maintenance methylation by interacting with DNA nucleotide methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), the maintenance methyltransferase, and with hemimethylated CpG, the substrate for DNMT1 (refs 1 and 2). Here we present the crystal structure of the SET and RING-associated (SRA) domain of mouse UHRF1 in complex with DNA containing a hemimethylated CpG site. The DNA is contacted in both the major and minor grooves by two loops that penetrate into the middle of the DNA helix. The 5-methylcytosine has flipped completely out of the DNA helix and is positioned in a binding pocket with planar stacking contacts, Watson-Crick polar hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions specific for 5-methylcytosine. Hence, UHRF1 contains a previously unknown DNA-binding module and is the first example of a non-enzymatic, sequence-specific DNA-binding protein domain to use the base flipping mechanism to interact with DNA.     

MSAP在水稻害虫白背飞虱中的应用研究

甲基化敏感的扩增多态性分析方法 (MSAP)是在扩增片段长度多态性技术基础上建立起来的主要用来检测样品基因组DNA甲基化情况的一种方法,特别适用于全基因组范围内检测CCGG位点的胞嘧啶甲基化情况,在高等动物和许多植物上已广泛应用,但尚未有在昆虫中应用该方法的报道。从DNA提取、酶切基因组DNA用量、酶切和接头连接时间、电泳图谱显影方法等方面对MSAP方法进行了改进,并在水稻重要害虫白背飞虱上得到成功应用。这为将来在其它昆虫中使用该方法研究基因组DNA甲基化情况提供了一定借鉴和指导价值。且通过比较白背飞虱雌雄性别间和长短翅型间的MSAP图谱,发现雌雄性别间和长短翅型间的基因组DNA甲基化式样都存在明显的差异,说明DNA甲基化可能参与了性别和翅型分化的调节。     

Patterns of DNA cytosine methylation between haploids and corresponding diploids in rice

In higher plant, about 30% cytosines are methy-lated[1], among which about 90% methylated sites lie in CpG dinucleotide and CpNpG trinucleotide[2]. The me-thylated DNA has inducing and epigenetic effects on cell biological procedures such as gene differen…     

Microdissection of chromosome 7B of common wheat and cloning of low-copy specific DNA sequences

The 7B chromosome of common wheat was microdissected from pollen mother cells of the 7B monosomic line of common wheat cv. Chinese Spring (CS). After proteinase K and DNA topoisomerase Ⅰ treatments, the isolated chromosomes were subjected to 1-3 rounds of DOP-PCR amplification, which produced continuous DNA fragments ranging from 150 to 700 bp. Ge-nomic Southern hybridization confirmed that the PCR products were originated from the wheat genome. Cloning of portion ( > 200 bp) of the 3rd round DOP-PCR products (50 μL) could generate about 20 000 recombinant clones. Characterization of 50 randomly chosen clones indicated that 21 clones produced discrete PCR products with the size of 240-600 bp. Dot-blot hybridization showed that among the 21 clones, 11 ( ～ 55%) were of low-copy nature while 10 ( ～ 45%) were repetitive. Southern hybridization with the complete set of the CS "nullisomic-tetrasomic (NT)" lines demonstrated that all the 6 low-copy clones were specific to either chromosome 7B or the 7th homoeologous group, whereas the 3 arbitrarily chosen repetitive clones were non-specific, disperse sequences.     

黄淮麦区部分小麦新品种(系)醇溶蛋白遗传多样性分析

采用酸性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(A-PAGE)技术分析了黄淮麦区106个小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)新品种(系)间醇溶蛋白带型的遗传差异,结果表明:106份材料间均存在带型差异,每种材料可分离10-24条谱带,106份材料共分离出63条差异带;45份材料具有1B/1R易位系标记性位点Gli-B11,占供试材料的42.5%;106份材料间的遗传距离为0.028 7～0.974 4,平均值为0.570 3.基于遗传距离的聚类分析表明,供试材料在遗传距离0.646水平上聚为5类.上述结果表明供试的黄淮麦区小麦新品种(系)具有广泛的醇溶蛋白遗传多样性.     

Genomic and genic sequence variation in synthetic hexaploid wheat (AABBDD) as compared to their parental species

In order to understand the genomic changes during evolution of hexaploid wheat, two sets of synthetic hexaploid wheat from hybridization between maternal tetraploid wheat (AABB) and paternal diploid goat grass (DD) were used for DNA-AFLP and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis to determine the genomic and genic variation in the synthetic hexaploid wheat. Results indicated that more DNA sequences from paternal diploid species were eliminated in the synthetic hexaploid wheat than from maternal tetraploid wheat, suggesting that genome from parental species of lower ploidity tends to be eliminated preferentially. However, sequence variation detected by SSCP procedure was much lower than those detected by DNA-AFLP, which indicated that much less variation in the genic regions occurred in the synthetic hexaploid wheat, and sequence variations detected by DNA-AFLP could be derived mostly from non-coding regions and repetitive sequences. Our results also indicated that sequence variation in 4 genes can be detected in hybrid F1, which suggested that this type of sequence variation could be resulted from distant hybridization. It was interesting to note that 3 out of the 4 genes were mapped and clustered on the long arm of chromosome 2D, which indicated that variation in genic sequences in synthetic hexaploid wheat might not be a randomized process.     

Genomic and genic sequence variation in synthetic hexaploid wheat （AABBDD） as compared to their parental species

In order to understand the genomic changes during the evolution of hexaploid wheat, two sets of synthetic hexaploid wheat from hybridization between maternal tetraploid wheat （AABB） and paternal diploid goat grass （DD） were used for DNA-AFLP and single strand conformation polymorphism （SSCP） analysis to determine the genomic and genic variation in the synthetic hexaploid wheat. Results indicated that more DNA sequences from paternal diploid species were eliminated in the synthetic hexaploid wheat than from maternal tetraploid wheat, suggesting that genome from parental species of lower ploidity tends to be eliminated preferentially. However, sequence variation detected by SSCP procedure was much lower than those detected by DNA-AFLP, which indicated that much less variation in the genic regions occurred in the synthetic hexaploid wheat, and sequence variations detected by DNA-AFLP could be derived mostly from non-coding regions and repetitive sequences. Our results also indicated that sequence variation in 4 genes can be detected in hybrid F1, which suggested that this type of sequence variation could be resulted from distant hybridization. It was interesting to note that 3 out of the 4 genes were mapped and clustered on the long arm of chromosome 2D, which indicated that variation in genic sequences in synthetic hexaploid wheat might not be a randomized process.     

Genomic and genie sequence variation in synthetic hexaploid wheat(AABBDD)as compared to their parental species

In order to understand the genomic changes during the evolution of hexaploid wheat,two sets of synthetic hexaploid wheat from hybridization between maternal tetraploid wheat (AABB) and paternal diploid goat grass(DD)were used for DNA-AFLP and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis to determine the genomic and genie variation in the synthetic hexaploid wheat.Results indicated that more DNA sequences from paternal diploid species wen eliminated in the synthetic hexaploid wheat than from maternal tetraploid wheat,suggesting that genome from parental species of lower ploidity tends to be eliminated preferentially.However,sequence variation detected by SSCP procedure was much lower than those detected by DNA-AFLP.which indicated that much less variation in the genie regions occurred in the synthetic hexaploid wheat.and sequence variations detected by DNA-AFLP could be derived mostly from non-coding regions and repetitive sequences.Our results also indicated that sequence variation in 4 genes can be detected in hybrid F1.which suggested that this type of sequence variation could be resulted from distant hybridization.It was interesting to note that 3 out of the 4 genes were mapped and clustered on the long alTll of chromosome 2D,which indicated that variation in genic sequences in synthetic hexaploid wheat might not be a randomized process.     

小麦异源多倍体中亲本基因组相互作用产生快速基因组变异的ISSR标记分析

通过ISSR标记分析,研究了异源多倍体基因组的进化现象.结果表明,基因组组成和普通小麦相同的人工合成异源六倍体小麦,在形成早期发生了迅速、广泛、以非随机性为主的基因组变化,包括遗传变异--主要表现为序列变异和表观遗传变异--主要表现为DNA甲基化变异.而且异源六倍体小麦中来自父本的基因组比来自母本的基因组发生了更多的遗...     

Molecular cytogenetic analysis of Triticum aestivum-Leymus racemosus reciprocal chromosomal translocation T7DS·5LrL/T5LrS·7DL

In order to induce chromosome translocation between wheat chromosomes and chromosome 5Lr of Leymus racemosus, the mi- crosporocytes during meiosis of T. aestivum-L. racemosus disomic addition line DA5Lr were irradiated by 60Co γ-rays 800 R (100 R/min). Before flowering, the treated spikes were emasculated and bagged. After 2-3 d, the emasculated flowerets were pollinated using pollens from T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring. One plant with two translocation chromosomes involved in both the long and short arm of...     

Plant genomic DNA methylation in response to stresses:Potential applications and challenges in plant breeding

The plant genome can respond rapidly and dynamically to stress in a manner that overcomes the restrictions of a highly stable DNA sequence. Abiotic stresses such as chilling, planting density, rubbing, cutting, and successive rounds of subculture generally decrease the levels of DNA methylation. The opposite effect is seen for salt stress, and the effects of heavy-metal stress are species specific. Biotic stresses such as pathogenic infection can lead to two contrasting effects on the levels of methylation in plants: hypermethylation on the genome-wide level and hypomethylation of resistance-related genes. Both phenomena may contribute to the adaptation of plants to stress. Although heritable methylation patterns and phenotypic variations that arise in response to stress are of potential value for plant breeding, their exploitation presents great challenges.     

Molecular verification of the integration of Tripsacum dactyloides DNA into wheat genome through wide hybridization

RAPD and RFLP analyses of double haploid lines which derived from hybridization between hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.2n=42) and eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.2n=4x=72) are reported.Two of the 340 Operon primers have been screened,which stably amplified Tripsacum dactyloides (male parent) specific bands in the double haploid lines.These results confirm the fact that Tripsacum dactyloides DNA has been integrated into wheat genome by sexual hybridization at molecular level.This idea has been further testified by RFLP analysis.Application and potentials of transferring Tripsacum dactyloides DNA into wheat genome by sexual hybridization in wheat breeding are discussed.     

一个药用野生稻异源单体附加系在减数分裂时期的GISH分析鉴定

异源单体附加系是从亲缘关系较远或属间的一个物种单条染色体附加到另一个物种中．栽培稻珍籼97B与药用野生稻Hy18杂交与连续回交，在BC2后代中得到一个药用野生稻单体附加系．生物素标屺的药用野生稻总DNA作为探针，未标记的栽培稻总DNA封阻，对其异源单体系减数分裂染色体进行基因组原位杂交．FISH结果表明，在栽培稻（AA，2n=24）基因组中附加了一条药用野生稻染色体，并鉴定为第8号染色体．研究表明，药用野生稻异源单体附加系的建立为药用野生稻的基因组学和遗传学的研究提供一个新的操作平台．而GISH技术在水稻远缘杂交育种中是最准确有效的染色体鉴定方法．在水稻育种改良中具有重要应用前景．     

Detection of DNA methylation changes during seed germination in rapeseed （Brassica napus）

DNA methylation is a common yet important modi- fication of DNA in eukaryotic organisms. DNA methy- lation, especially methylation of cytosine (m5C), have both epigenetic and mutagenic effects on various cellu- lar activities such as differential gene exp…     

Structural and biochemical mechanism responsible for the stay-green phenotype in common wheat

In order to increase the supply of assimilated carbon to grain, a new stay-green wheat cultivar, Chuannong17 (CN17), with delayed leaf senescence, carrying wheat-rye 1RS.1BL translo- cated chromosome was developed. CN17 exhibited distinct differences in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll (Chl) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, activity of both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) during the grain filling stage, and flag leaf senescence compared with the control. The new cultivar maintained longer and higher photosyn- thetic competence compared with the control, and this aspect correlated with the difference in chloro-plast development. Moreover, the stay-green pheno-type of CN17 was also observed under natural growth conditions. Consequently, the coordination of the physiological, biochemical, and structural aspects in the stay-green cultivar produced higher seed weights and per-plant yield compared with the control cultivar.