Synapsis in Robertsonian heterozygotes and homozygotes of Dichroplus pratensis (Melanoplinae, Acrididae) and its relationship with chiasma patterns.

Dardo Andrea Martí,Claudio Juan Bidau

doi:10.1111/j.1601-5223.2001.00245.x

Dardo Andrea Martí, Claudio Juan Bidau

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https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1601-5223.2001.00245.x

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Journal: Hereditas	Publication Date: Apr 22, 2004
Citations: 12	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: National University of Misiones

Abstract

Dichroplus pratensis has a complex system of Robertsonian rearrangements with central-marginal distribution; marginal populations are standard telocentric. Standard bivalents show a proximal-distal chiasma pattern in both sexes. In Robertsonian individuals a redistribution of chiasmata occurs: proximal chiasmata are suppressed in fusion trivalents and bivalents which usually display a single distal chiasma per chromosome arm. In this paper we studied the synaptic patterns of homologous chromosomes at prophase I of different Robertsonian status in order to find a mechanistic explanation for the observed phenomenon of redistribution of chiasmata. Synaptonemal complexes of males with different karyotypes were analysed by transmission electron microscopy in surface-spread preparations. The study of zygotene and early pachytene nuclei revealed that in the former, pericentromeric regions are the last to synapse in Robertsonian trivalents and bivalents and normally remain asynaptic at pachytene in the case of trivalents, but complete pairing in bivalents. Telocentric (standard) bivalents usually show complete synapsis at pachytene, but different degrees of interstitial asynapsis during zygotene, suggesting that synapsis starts in opposite (centromeric and distal) ends. The sequential nature of synapsis in the three types of configuration is directly related to their patterns of chiasma localisation at diplotene-metaphase I, and strongly supports our previous idea that Rb fusions instantly produce a redistribution of chiasmata towards chromosome ends by reducing the early pairing regions (which pair first, remain paired longer and thus would have a higher probability of forming chiasmata) from four to two (independently of the heterozygous or homozygous status of the fusion). Pericentromeric regions would pair the last, thus chiasma formation is strongly reduced in these areas contrary to what occurs in telocentric bivalents.

Highlights

Dichroplus pratensis has a complex system of Robertsonian rearrangements with central-marginal distribution; marginal populations are standard telocentric
The sequential nature of synapsis in the three types of configuration is directly related to their patterns of chiasma localisation at diplotenemetaphase I, and strongly supports our previous idea that Rb fusions instantly produce a redistribution of chiasmata towards chromosome ends by reducing the early pairing regions from four to two
Pericentromeric regions would pair the last, chiasma formation is strongly reduced in these areas contrary to what occurs in telocentric bivalents

Summary

Introduction

Dichroplus pratensis has a complex system of Robertsonian rearrangements with central-marginal distribution; marginal populations are standard telocentric. The sequential nature of synapsis in the three types of configuration is directly related to their patterns of chiasma localisation at diplotenemetaphase I, and strongly supports our previous idea that Rb fusions instantly produce a redistribution of chiasmata towards chromosome ends by reducing the early pairing regions (which pair first, remain paired longer and would have a higher probability of forming chiasmata) from four to two (independently of the heterozygous or homozygous status of the fusion). A mechanistic model has been put forward which accounts for the parallel chiasma repatterning of both classes of Rb configurations (BIDAU 1993): in grasshoppers pairing usually starts at chromosome ends attached to the nuclear envelope and assuming that chiasmata are formed more readily in regions that pair first and remain paired longer (JONES 1987), a Rb fusion (homozygous or heterozygous) instantly reduces the early pairing ends from four to two, the distal ones, 246 D. 0.98 decreasing the probability of proximal chiasma formation that occur at high frequencies in non-fused telocentric bivalents

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Conclusion