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Chromosoma2009; 118(3); 335-347; doi: 10.1007/s00412-008-0200-6

Parental genomes mix in mule and human cell nuclei.

Abstract: Whether chromosome sets inherited from father and mother occupy separate spaces in the cell nucleus is a question first asked over 110 years ago. Recently, the nuclear organization of the genome has come increasingly into focus as an important level of epigenetic regulation. In this context, it is indispensable to know whether or not parental genomes are spatially separated. Genome separation had been demonstrated for plant hybrids and for the early mammalian embryo. Conclusive studies for somatic mammalian cell nuclei are lacking because homologous chromosomes from the two parents cannot be distinguished within a species. We circumvented this problem by investigating the three-dimensional distribution of chromosomes in mule lymphocytes and fibroblasts. Genomic DNA of horse and donkey was used as probes in fluorescence in situ hybridization under conditions where only tandem repetitive sequences were detected. We thus could determine the distribution of maternal and paternal chromosome sets in structurally preserved interphase nuclei for the first time. In addition, we investigated the distribution of several pairs of chromosomes in human bilobed granulocytes. Qualitative and quantitative image evaluation did not reveal any evidence for the separation of parental genomes. On the contrary, we observed mixing of maternal and paternal chromosome sets.
Publication Date: 2009-02-07 PubMed ID: 19198867DOI: 10.1007/s00412-008-0200-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is about a study on the spatial organisation of genomes inherited from the mother and father in the cell nucleus. The researchers used mule lymphocytes and fibroblasts, along with human bilobed granulocytes, to observe and conclude that the parental genomes are not separated and, instead, they mix.

Objective and Background

  • The study aims to address a long-standing question in biology about whether the genetic material inherited from each parent occupies separate spaces within a cell nucleus.
  • This study was undertaken due to a rediscovered interest in the organization of the genome within the nucleu. This structure is now thought to play a crucial role in epigenetic regulation, the process where gene expression is controlled without changes to the DNA sequence.
  • Previously, somatic cells in mammals could not be conclusively studied due to the inability to distinguish homologous chromosomes from each parent within a species.

Methodology

  • To get around the difficulty in distinguishing between chromosomes from each parent, the research team used mule lymphocytes and fibroblasts that contained genetic material from a horse and a donkey—two different species.
  • The researchers used fluorescent in situ hybridization with the genomic DNA of a horse and a donkey to study the three-dimensional distribution of chromosomes. Special conditions were set up to ensure that only tandem repetitive sequences were detected.
  • Additionally, the researchers studied the distribution of several pairs of chromosomes in human bilobed granulocytes.

Findings

  • The image evaluation did not uncover any evidence to support the notion of genome separation from each parent.
  • Instead, the evaluation revealed that the chromosomes inherited from the mother and the father do not occupy separate regions within the cell nucleus, but mix.
  • This was the first time the distribution of maternal and paternal chromosome sets in structurally preserved interphase nuclei was observed and documented.

Implications

  • These findings contradict previous beliefs about genome separation and have significant implications for understanding genetic inheritance and regulation.
  • The study’s methodology could be adopted in future research on genetic material organisation and its role in epigenetic regulation.

Cite This Article

APA
Hepperger C, Mayer A, Merz J, Vanderwall DK, Dietzel S. (2009). Parental genomes mix in mule and human cell nuclei. Chromosoma, 118(3), 335-347. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00412-008-0200-6

Publication

ISSN: 1432-0886
NlmUniqueID: 2985138R
Country: Austria
Language: English
Volume: 118
Issue: 3
Pages: 335-347

Researcher Affiliations

Hepperger, Claudia
  • Department Biologie II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
Mayer, Andreas
    Merz, Julia
      Vanderwall, Dirk K
        Dietzel, Steffen

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Cell Nucleus / genetics
          • Centromere / genetics
          • Chimera / genetics
          • Chromosomes, Mammalian / genetics
          • Equidae / genetics
          • Fibroblasts / ultrastructure
          • Genome
          • Granulocytes
          • Horses / genetics
          • Humans
          • Lymphocytes / ultrastructure

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 4 times.
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