Abstract
Double fluorescentin situ hybridization (FISH) with two DNA probes (a 180 bp tandemly repeated DNA and ribosomal DNA) was performed in embryo cells of the grasshopperEyprepocnemis plorans. Repetitive DNA was present in most standard chromosomes (excepting 7, 8 and 10) and in the proximal two-thirds of the B chromosome, which was its major location in the complement. Ribosomal DNA was present distally on the B, and in the active nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) of the X, 9, 10 and 11 chromosomes. A small number of rRNA gene clusters was also observed in the pericentromeric regions of chromosomes 1–8. The double FISH technique showed that the B chromosome (B2 type) is mainly composed of a 180 bp tandem repeat and ribosomal DNA, the minute short arm being the only region that does not hybridize with them. The location and order of the centromere and both the DNA sequences on the B chromosome coincide only with those in the X chromosome, indicating that the B most probably derives from the X.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Amos A, Dover G (1981) The distribution of repetitive DNAs between regular and supernumerary chromosomes in species ofGlossina (TseTse): a two step process in the origin of supernumeraries.Chromosoma 81: 673–690.
Cabrero J, Alche JD, Camacho JPM (1987) Effects of B chromosomes on the activity of nucleolar organizer regions in the grasshopperEyprepocnemis plorans: activation of a latent nucleolar organizer region on a B chromosome fused to an autosome.Genome 29: 116–121.
Camacho JPM, Carballo AR, Cabrero J (1980) The B chromosome system of the grasshopperEyprepocnemis plorans subsp.plorans (Charpentier).Chromosoma 80: 163–176.
Camacho JPM, Cabrero J, Viseras E, López-León MD, Navas-Castillo J, Alché JD (1991) G banding in two species of grasshoppers and its relationships to C, N and fluorescence banding techniques.Genome 34: 638–643.
Eickbush DG, Eickbush TH, Werren JH (1992) Molecular characterization of repetitive DNA sequences from a B chromosome.Chromosoma 101: 575–583.
Gerlach WL, Bedbrook JR (1979) Cloning and characterization of ribosomal RNA genes from wheat and barley.Nucleic Acids Res 7: 1869–1885.
Green DM (1990) Muller's Ratchet and the evolution of supernumerary chromosomes.Genome 33: 818–824.
Henriques-Gil N (1984) El sistema de cromosomas accesorios deEyprepocnemis plorans (Acrididae: Orthoptera). PhD Thesis. Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Henriques-Gil N, Santos JL, Arana P (1984). Evolution of a complex B chromosome polymorphism in the grasshopperEyprepocnemis plorans.Chromosoma 89: 290–293.
Henriques-Gil N, Arana P (1990) Origin and substitution of the B chromosomes in the grasshopperEyprepocnemis plorans.Evolution 44: 529–539.
Hewitt GM (1973) The integration of supernumerary chromosomes into the orthopteran genome.Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol 38: 183–194.
Hewitt GM (1979) Grasshopper and crickets.Animal Cytogenetics Vol 3: Insecta 1, Orthoptera. Gebruder Borntraeger, Berlin-Stuttgart, Germany.
Heslop-Harrison JS, Schwarzacher T, Anamthawat-Jónsson K, Leitz AR, Shi M, Leitz IJ (1991)In situ hybridization with automated chromosome denaturation.Technique (Phil) 3: 109–115.
John UP, Leach CR, Timmis JN (1991) A sequence specific to B chromosome ofBrachycome dichrosomatica.Genome 34: 739–744.
Koenen M (1989) Recovery of DNA fragments from agarose gels using liquid nitrogen.Trends Genet 5: 137.
López-León MD, Cabrero J, Camacho JPM (1991) A nucleolus organizer region in a B chromosome inactivated by DNA methylation.Chromosoma 100: 134–138.
López-León MD, Cabrero J, Camacho JPM, Cano MI, Santos JL (1992) A widespread B chromosome polymorphism maintained without apparent drive.Evolution 46: 529–539.
López-León MD, Cabrero J, Pardo MC, Viseras E, Camacho JPM, Santos JL (1993) Generating high variability of B chromosomes inEyprepocnemis plorans (grasshopper).Heredity 71: 352–362.
Maluszynska J, Schweizer D (1989) Ribosomal RNA genes in B chromosomes ofCrepis capillaris detected by non-radioactivein situ hybridization.Heredity 62: 59–65.
Maluszynska J, Heslop-Harrison JS (1993) Physical mapping of rDNA loci inBrassica species.Genome 36: 774–781.
Nur U, Werren JH, Eickbush DG, Burke WD, Eichbush TH (1988) A "selfish" B chromosome that enhances its transmission by eliminating the paternal genome.Science 240: 512–514.
Sandery MJ, Foster JW, Blunden R, Jones N (1990) Identification of a family of repeated sequences on the rye B chromosome.Genome 33: 908–913.
Schweizer D (1981) Counterstain-enhanced chromosome banding.Hum Genet 57: 1–14.
Shaw MW (1984) The population genetics of the B-chromosome polymorphism ofMyrmeleotettix maculatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae)Biol J Linnean Soc 23: 77–100.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
López-León, M.D., Neves, N., Schwarzacher, T. et al. Possible origin of a B chromosome deduced from its DNA composition using double FISH technique. Chromosome Res 2, 87–92 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01553487
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01553487