Heterochromatin Of Chromosomes Research Articles

The Drosophila maternal-effect gene abnormal oocyte (ao) does not repress histone gene expression.

The abnormal oocyte (ao) gene of Drosophila melanogaster is a maternal-effect lethal gene previously identified as encoding a transcriptional regulator of core histones. However, background genetic mutations in existing ao mutant strains could compromise their utility in manipulating histone levels. To distinguish the true ao phenotype from background effects, we created two new ao reagents: a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the ao allele for genetic and molecular analyses and an epitope-tagged ao allele for cytological experiments. Using these reagents, we confirm previous findings that ao exhibits maternal-effect lethality, which can be rescued by either a decrease in the histone gene copy number or by Y chromosome heterochromatin. We also confirm that the Ao protein localizes to the histone locus bodies in ovaries. Our data also suggest that ao genetically interacts with the histone genes and heterochromatin, as previously suggested. However, contrary to prior findings, we find that ao does not repress core histone transcript levels. Thus, the molecular basis for ao-associated maternal-effect lethality remains unknown.

Klinefelter syndrome in a patient with double Y-autosomal translocation

Klinefelter syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities and the most common genetic cause of male infertility. About 85 % of patients have 47,XXY karyotype, other patients have other non-mosaic and mosaic Klinefelter syndrome variants. We report a unique clinical case — Klinefelter syndrome patient with double Y autosomal translocation. The proband is a 15-year-old male patient (height 180 cm, weight 50 kg, normal IQ) who was admitted for cytogenetic examination and genetic counseling due to delayed puberty. He was diagnosed with testicular hypoplasia, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, pituitary microadenoma and left-sided varicocele. The proband was born in a nonconsanguineous marriage after in vitro fertilization due to paternal male factor infertility. Cytogenetic analysis was performed on cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes using standard chromosome analysis with GTG staining and FISH analysis. Molecular analysis of the Y chromosome was performed by multiplex PCR. Complex cytogenetic examination revealed a 46,XX,der(Y) t(Y;15)(q12;q11.1),der(13)t(Y;13)(q12;p11.2),-15 karyotype in the proband. Molecular analysis showed that the proband is SRY positive; no microdeletion of the Y chromosome was found. The detected double Y autosomal translocation is a chromosomal abnormality independent of KS. The father of the proband is an oligozoospermic man with robertsonian translocation 13;15 — 45,XY,der(13;15)(q10;q10), the mother has a normal karyotype 46,XX. Apparently, the der(13) and der(Y) chromosomes result from abnormal meiotic recombination in paternal meiosis between the heterochromatic region Yq12 and the centromeric/pericentromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes 13 and 15 involved in the paternal robertsonian translocation, and Klinefelter syndrome is due to the presence of two X chromosomes in the karyotype in the presence of a derivative Y chromosome. The detected double Y-autosomal translocation is a chromosomal abnormality unrelated to Klinefelter syndrome, arising on the background of the paternal robertsonian translocation.

<i>Otu</i> and <i>Rif<sup>1</sup></i> double mutant enables analysis of satellite DNA in polytene chromosomes of ovarian germ cells in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Polytene chromosomes in Drosophila serve as a classical model for cytogenetic studies. However, heterochromatic regions of chromosomes are typically under-replicated, hindering their analysis. Mutations in the Rif1 gene lead to additional replication of heterochromatic sequences, including satellite DNA, in salivary gland cells. Here, we investigated the impact of the Rif1 mutation on heterochromatin in polytene chromosomes formed in ovarian germ cells due to the otu gene mutation. By the analysis of otu11; Rif11 double mutants, we found that, in the presence of the Rif1 mutation, ovarian cells undergo additional polytenization of pericentromeric regions. This includes the formation of large chromatin blocks composed of satellite DNA. Thus, the effects of the Rif1 mutation were similar in salivary gland and germ cells. The otu11; Rif11 system opens new possibilities for studying factors associated with heterochromatin during oogenesis.

Structure of native four-repeat satellite III sequence with non-canonical base interactions.

Tandem-repetitive DNA (where two or more DNA bases are repeated numerous times) can adopt non-canonical secondary structures. Many of these structures are implicated in important biological processes. Human Satellite III (HSat3) is enriched for tandem repeats of the sequence ATGGA and is located in pericentromeric heterochromatin in many human chromosomes. Here, we investigate the secondary structure of the four-repeat HSat3 sequence 5'-ATGGAATGGA ATGGA ATGGA-3' using X-ray crystallography, NMR, and biophysical methods. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, thermal stability, native PAGE, and analytical ultracentrifugation indicate that this sequence folds into a monomolecular hairpin with non-canonical base pairing and B-DNA characteristics at concentrations below 0.9 mM. NMR studies at 0.05-0.5 mM indicate that the hairpin is likely folded-over into a compact structure with high dynamics. Crystallographic studies at 2.5 mM reveal an antiparallel self-complementary duplex with the same base pairing as in the hairpin, extended into an infinite polymer. The non-canonical base pairing includes a G-G intercalation sandwiched by sheared A-G base pairs, leading to a cross-strand four guanine stack, so called guanine zipper. The guanine zippers are spaced throughout the structure by A-T/T-A base pairs. Our findings lend further insight into recurring structural motifs associated with the HSat3 and their potential biological functions.

Otu and Rif1 Double Mutant Enables Analysis of Satellite DNA in Polytene Chromosomes of Ovarian Germ Cells in Drosophila melanogaster.

Polytene chromosomes in Drosophila serve as a classical model for cytogenetic studies. However, heterochromatic regions of chromosomes are typically under-replicated, hindering their analysis. Mutations in the Rif1 gene lead to additional replication of heterochromatic sequences, including satellite DNA, in salivary gland cells. Here, we investigated the impact of the Rif1 mutation on heterochromatin in polytene chromosomes formed in ovarian germ cells due to the otu gene mutation. By the analysis of otu11; Rif11 double mutants, we found that, in the presence of the Rif1 mutation, ovarian cells undergo additional polytenization of pericentromeric regions. This includes the formation of large chromatin blocks composed of satellite DNA. Thus, the effects of the Rif1 mutation are similar in salivary gland and germ cells. The otu11; Rif11 system opens new possibilities for studying factors associated with heterochromatin during oogenesis.

Antipsychotics Affect Satellite III (1q12) Copy Number Variations in the Cultured Human Skin Fibroblasts.

The fragment of satellite III (f-SatIII) is located in pericentromeric heterochromatin of chromosome 1. Cell with an enlarged f-SatIII block does not respond to various stimuli and are highly stress-susceptible. The fraction of f-SatIII in the cells of schizophrenia patients changed during antipsychotic therapy. Therefore, antipsychotics might reduce the f-SatIII content in the cells. We studied the action of haloperidol, risperidone and olanzapine (3 h, 24 h, 96 h) on human skin fibroblast lines (n = 10). The f-SatIII contents in DNA were measured using nonradioactive quantitative hybridization. RNASATIII were quantified using RT-qPCR. The levels of DNA damage markers (8-oxodG, γ-H2AX) and proteins that regulate apoptosis and autophagy were determined by flow cytometry. The antipsychotics reduced the f-SatIII content in DNA and RNASATIII content in RNA from HSFs. After an exposure to the antipsychotics, the autophagy marker LC3 significantly increased, while the apoptosis markers decreased. The f-SatIII content in DNA positively correlated with RNASATIII content in RNA and with DNA oxidation marker 8-oxodG, while negatively correlated with LC3 content. The antipsychotics arrest the process of f-SatIII repeat augmentation in cultured skin fibroblasts via the transcription suppression and/or through upregulated elimination of cells with enlarged f-SatIII blocks with the help of autophagy.

Y chromosome toxicity does not contribute to sex-specific differences in longevity.

While sex chromosomes carry sex-determining genes, they also often differ from autosomes in size and composition, consisting mainly of silenced heterochromatic repetitive DNA. Even though Y chromosomes show structural heteromorphism, the functional significance of such differences remains elusive. Correlative studies suggest that the amount of Y chromosome heterochromatin might be responsible for several male-specific traits, including sex-specific differences in longevity observed across a wide spectrum of species, including humans. However, experimental models to test this hypothesis have been lacking. Here we use the Drosophila melanogaster Y chromosome to investigate the relevance of sex chromosome heterochromatin in somatic organs in vivo. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we generated a library of Y chromosomes with variable levels of heterochromatin. We show that these different Y chromosomes can disrupt gene silencing in trans, on other chromosomes, by sequestering core components of the heterochromatin machinery. This effect is positively correlated to the level of Y heterochromatin. However, we also find that the ability of the Y chromosome to affect genome-wide heterochromatin does not generate physiological sex differences, including sexual dimorphism in longevity. Instead, we discovered that it is the phenotypic sex, female or male, that controls sex-specific differences in lifespan, rather than the presence of a Y chromosome. Altogether, our findings dismiss the 'toxic Y' hypothesis that postulates that the Y chromosome leads to reduced lifespan in XY individuals.

Diphenyl-Furanones and Diphenyl-Oxopyrrole Derivatives: From Analytical Reagents for Amino Groups to New Fluorochromes for Cytochemical Staining of Chromatin DNA and Chromosomes: Proposal for Intercalative Binding and Fluorescence Mechanism

Diaryl-furanones are specific analytical reagents for the biochemical detection of primary amines by fluorescence techniques. Well-known reagents are fluorescamine (Fluram) and 2-methoxy-2,4-diphenyl-3(2H)-furanone (MDPF), yielding fluorescent products with λem at 480–490 nm. Although the reaction products claim to be pyrrolinones, recent studies show that they are really 3-oxopyrrole (pyrrolone) derivatives. Both reagents have been used for the cytochemical demonstration of primary amines. In this work, we have applied the fluorescent products of MDPF with amines (n-butylamine, BA; glucosamine, GA; and spermine, Sp), which showed interesting fluorescence reactions with chromatin DNA. 2,4-diphenyl-3-oxopyrrole products (diPOPy) can be easily synthesized according to well-known procedures, by mixing solutions of MDPF in acetone with water at pH 9 containing the amino compounds. DiPOPy derivatives of BA, GA, and Sp were used for spectroscopic, microscopic, and molecular modeling studies, showing a bright and selective blue–green fluorescence on DNA substrates, mainly chromatin, kinetoplast DNA, and stretched chromatin fibers. The cationic diPOPy fluorophore is planar, with a high partial positive charge in the N atom, and suitable for intercalative binding to DNA. A mechanism of fluorescamine fluorescence due to an inner-salt isomeric form is proposed, and an astonishing correlation between adenine–thymine-rich centromeric heterochromatin in mouse metaphase chromosomes after reaction of the fluorescamine reagent with protein amino groups is also discussed.

Evolutionary analysis of a complete chicken genome

Microchromosomes are prevalent in nonmammalian vertebrates [P. D. Waters et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118 (2021)], but a few of them are missing in bird genome assemblies. Here, we present a new chicken reference genome containing all autosomes, a Z and a W chromosome, with all gaps closed except for the W. We identified ten small microchromosomes (termed dot chromosomes) with distinct sequence and epigenetic features, among which six were newly assembled. Those dot chromosomes exhibit extremely high GC content and a high level of DNA methylation and are enriched for housekeeping genes. The pericentromeric heterochromatin of dot chromosomes is disproportionately large and continues to expand with the proliferation of satellite DNA and testis-expressed genes. Our analyses revealed that the 41-bp CNM repeat frequently forms higher-order repeats (HORs) at the centromeres of acrocentric chromosomes. The centromere core regions where the kinetochore attaches often encompass telomeric sequence (TTAGGG)n, and in a one of the dot chromosomes, the centromere core recruits an endogenous retrovirus (ERV). We further demonstrate that the W chromosome shares some common features with dot chromosomes, having large arrays of hypermethylated tandem repeats. Finally, using the complete chicken chromosome models, we reconstructed a fine picture of chordate karyotype evolution, revealing frequent chromosomal fusions before and after vertebrate whole-genome duplications. Our sequence and epigenetic characterization of chicken chromosomes shed insights into the understanding of vertebrate genome evolution and chromosome biology.

Chromosome diversity in Buthidae and Chactidae scorpions from Brazilian fauna: Diploid number and distribution of repetitive DNA sequences.

In this work, we analyzed cytogenetically eight Chactidae and Buthidae, including the localization of repetitive DNA sequences. The chactids possess monocentric chromosomes and the highest diploid numbers (2n=50 in Brotheas amazonicus, 2n=36 in Chactopsis amazonica, 2n=30 in Neochactas sp.) when compared with buthids (2n=10 in Tityus bahiensis, 2n=14 in Tityus apiacas and Tityus metuendus, 2n=18 in Tityus aba, 2n=26 in Ischnotelson peruassu). The localization of rDNA genes and (TTAGG)n sequences exhibited a conserved pattern of two terminal/subterminal ribosomal cistrons and terminal telomere signals. However, the comparison between the data of C-banding, DAPI after FISH and Cot-DNA fraction indicated a variable quantity and distribution of these regions, as follow: (i) positive heterochromatin and Cot-DNA signals (B. amazonicus and I. peruassu), (ii) small blocks of heterochromatin with large Cot-DNA signals (T. metuendus), (iii) positive heterochromatic regions and absence of Cot-DNA signals (T. aba and T. apiacas), and (iv) negative heterochromatin and Cot-DNA signals (T. bahiensis). Therefore, our results revealed that there still is not a clear relation between quantity of heterochromatin and presence of monocentric or holocentric chromosomes and occurrence of chromosomal rearrangements, indicating that repetitive regions in scorpions must be analyzed using different cytogenetic approaches.

Chromatin remodelers HELLS, WDHD1 and BAZ1A are dynamically expressed during mouse spermatogenesis.

Proper regulation of heterochromatin is critical for spermatogenesis. This study reveals the dynamic localization patterns of distinct chromatin regulators during spermatogenesis and disrupted sex chromatin status in spermatocytes in the absence of DICER. Heterochromatin is dynamically formed and organized in differentiating male germ cells, and its proper regulation is a prerequisite for normal spermatogenesis. While heterochromatin is generally transcriptionally silent, we have previously shown that major satellite repeat (MSR) DNA in the pericentric heterochromatin (PCH) is transcribed during spermatogenesis. We have also shown that DICER associates with PCH and is involved in the regulation of MSR-derived transcripts. To shed light on the heterochromatin regulation in the male germline, we studied the expression, localization and heterochromatin association of selected testis-enriched chromatin regulators in the mouse testis. Our results show that HELLS, WDHD1 and BAZ1A are dynamically expressed during spermatogenesis. They display limited overlap in expression, suggesting involvement in distinct heterochromatin-associated processes at different steps of differentiation. We also show that HELLS and BAZ1A interact with DICER and MSR chromatin. Interestingly, deletion of Dicer1 affects the sex chromosome heterochromatin status in late pachytene spermatocytes, as demonstrated by mislocalization of Polycomb protein family member SCML1 to the sex body. These data substantiate the importance of dynamic heterochromatin regulation during spermatogenesis and emphasize the key role of DICER in the maintenance of chromatin status in meiotic male germ cells.

Why only a man turned out to be the owner of mind?

It is considered that the main distinguishing feature of Homo sapiens from other living beings is the presence of his mind. There are many hypotheses regarding the origin of the human mind. The complexity of the problem lies in the fact that it is impossible to experimentally test any of the existing hypotheses. Perhaps we will never fully know how the human mind arose, but it is necessary to strive for this. Here we discuss the possible causes of the origin of a large brain in modern man, implying that the mind is ultimately a product of the human brain. We believe that in order for such a large brain to arise, profound and possibly unique changes in the genome and in the human body had to occur, which did not take place in other higher primates. The role of the evolution of the karyotype and heterochromatin part of the genome in the immediate ancestors of Homo s. sapiens, which led to an increase in the level of heat conductivity of their bodies changed the existing mechanisms of thermoregulation and led to the appearance of hairless skin, which, together, led to a sharp increase in the size of the brain, with the ensuing consequences, is discussed. We believe that the increase of the human brain size was not the result of drastically changes of the structural genes. Most likely it was the consequence of more ordinary events, such as evolution of karyotype, constitutive heterochromatin in chromosomes, human body heat conductivity, skin and thermoregulation. An experimental test is proposed to test the hypothesis put forward.

Epigenetic Silencing of P-Element Reporter Genes Induced by Transcriptionally Active Domains of Constitutive Heterochromatin in Drosophila melanogaster.

Reporter genes inserted via P-element integration into different locations of the Drosophila melanogaster genome have been routinely used to monitor the functional state of chromatin domains. It is commonly thought that P-element-derived reporter genes are subjected to position effect variegation (PEV) when transposed into constitutive heterochromatin because they acquire heterochromatin-like epigenetic modifications that promote silencing. However, sequencing and annotation of the D. melanogaster genome have shown that constitutive heterochromatin is a genetically and molecularly heterogeneous compartment. In fact, in addition to repetitive DNAs, it harbors hundreds of functional genes, together accounting for a significant fraction of its entire genomic territory. Notably, most of these genes are actively transcribed in different developmental stages and tissues, irrespective of their location in heterochromatin. An open question in the genetic and molecular studies on PEV in D. melanogaster is whether functional heterochromatin domains, i.e., heterochromatin harboring active genes, are able to silence reporter genes therein transposed or, on the contrary, can drive their expression. In this work, we provide experimental evidence showing that strong silencing of the Pw+ reporters is induced even when they are integrated within or near actively transcribed loci in the pericentric regions of chromosome 2. Interestingly, some Pw+ reporters were found insensitive to the action of a known PEV suppressor. Two of them are inserted within Yeti, a gene expressed in the deep heterochromatin of chromosome 2 which carries active chromatin marks. The difference sensitivity to suppressors-exhibited Pw+ reporters supports the view that different epigenetic regulators or mechanisms control different regions of heterochromatin. Together, our results suggest that there may be more complexity regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying PEV.

A Spontaneous Inversion of the X Chromosome Heterochromatin Provides a Tool for Studying the Structure and Activity of the Nucleolus in Drosophila melanogaster.

The pericentromeric heterochromatin is largely composed of repetitive sequences, making it difficult to analyze with standard molecular biological methods. At the same time, it carries many functional elements with poorly understood mechanisms of action. The search for new experimental models for the analysis of heterochromatin is an urgent task. In this work, we used the Rif1 mutation, which suppresses the underreplication of all types of repeated sequences, to analyze heterochromatin regions in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. In the Rif1 background, we discovered and described in detail a new inversion, In(1)19EHet, which arose on a chromosome already carrying the In(1)sc8 inversion and transferred a large part of X chromosome heterochromatin, including the nucleolar organizer to a new euchromatic environment. Using nanopore sequencing and FISH, we have identified the eu- and heterochromatin breakpoints of In(1)19EHet. The combination of the new inversion and the Rif1 mutation provides a promising tool for studies of X chromosome heterochromatin structure, nucleolar organization, and the nucleolar dominance phenomenon. In particular, we found that, with the complete polytenization of rDNA repeats, the nucleolus consists of a cloud-like structure corresponding to the classical nucleolus of polytene chromosomes, as well as an unusual intrachromosomal structure containing alternating transcriptionally active and inactive regions.

A Perspective of Molecular Cytogenomics, Toxicology, and Epigenetics for the Increase of Heterochromatic Regions and Retrotransposable Elements in Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) Exposed to the Parasiticide Trichlorfon.

Simple SummaryThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the Trichlorfon effects on the retrotransposable elements in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) genome, which is a highly popular and well-known fish in the Amazon with a large reproduction number mediated by pisciculture. Thereby, tambaqui specimens were submitted to two different Trichlorfon concentrations (30% and 50% of LC50–96 h) under experimental conditions. The retrotransposons were analyzed using the FISH technique and the heterochromatin standard with the C-band technique. The retrotransposons studied presented a dispersed distribution profile in the tambaqui karyotype with Rex3 being more prominent than the others, showing the greatest increase in markings. Furthermore, the heterochromatin profile showed that these retrotransposons can be found in the heterochromatic portions of the chromosomes. Thus, it was observed that Trichlorfon has an activation mechanism for these retroelements, especially Rex3.Rex retroelements are the best-known transposable elements class and are broadly distributed through fish and also individual genomes, playing an important role in their evolutionary dynamics. Several agents can stress these elements; among them, there are some parasitic compounds such as the organochlorophosphate Trichlorfon. Consequently, knowing that the organochlorophosphate Trichlorfon is indiscriminately used as an antiparasitic in aquaculture, the current study aimed to analyze the effects of this compound on the activation of the Transposable Elements (TEs) Rex1, Rex3, and Rex6 and the structure of heterochromatin in the mitotic chromosomes of the tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). For this, two concentrations of the pesticide were used: 30% (0.261 mg/L) and 50% (0.435 mg/L) of the recommended LC50–96 h concentration (0.87 mg/L) for this fish species. The results revealed a dispersed distribution for Rex1 and Rex6 retroelements. Rex3 showed an increase in both marking intensity and distribution, as well as enhanced chromosomal heterochromatinization. This probably happened by the mediation of epigenetic adaptive mechanisms, causing the retroelement mobilization to be repressed. However, this behavior was most evident when Trichlorfon concentrations and exposure times were the greatest, reflecting the genetic flexibility necessary for this species to successfully adapt to environmental changes.

Heterochromatin Dosage Compensation: A Review

The fact that there is a phenomenon of dosage compensation for the euchromatin part of the genome in eukaryotes has been known for almost a seventy years. This phenomenon is currently being studied under the name epigenetic control of gene expression. Evidence for the existence of dosage compensation at the gene level is obtained from genes localized on the sex chromosomes, the most famous example of which is the X-chromosome inactivation in mammals. As for genes localized on autosomes, there are no convincing data on this score. The question of whether there is a dosage compensation for the heterochromatic part of the genome in eukaryotes remains open. We have data indicating the existence of dosage compensation for the heterochromatin part of the human genome, using the example of chromosomal Q-heterochromatin regions (Q-HRs). It turned out that this phenomenon manifests itself both in sex chromosomes and in autosomes, regardless of gender, age, racial-ethnic origin and climatogeographical characteristics of the place of permanent residence of a human. Moreover, this process is associated with an important part of human life (maintaining temperature homeostasis) and has a phenotypic manifestation, which can be objectively studied. The question is discussed whether the phenomenon of chromosomal heterochromatin dosage compensation should be considered as an example of epigenetics, or it is a different phenomenon, since it does not affect genes?

Human Chromosomal Q-heterochromatin Regions as a System

The eukaryotic genome consists of the two forms of chromatin: euchromatin and heterochromatin. The DNA of euchromatin contains the gene portion of the genome, while heterochromatin is represented predominantly from non-coding repetitive nucleotide sequences that do not encode proteins or enzymes. In higher eukaryotes, some part of the non-coding, highly repetitive nucleotide sequences were transformed into complex forms of DNA organization as chromosomal constitutive heterochromatin regions. There are two types of constitutive heterochromatin: C- and Q-heterochromatin. C-heterochromatin is found in the chromosomes of all eukaryotic cells, while Q-heterochromatin is found in the karyotype of only three higher primates (Homo sapiens, Gorilla gorilla and Pan troglodytes). Since the discovery of the position effect variegation phenomenon C-heterochromatin has been attributed to gene silencing effects. Dosage compensation of genes is another epigenetic gene silencing mechanism that makes it possible to equalize the level of expression of sex-linked genes in males and females. In mammals, this is done by inactivating one X chromosome in the cells of females using facultative heterochromatin, which is a heterochromatinized euchromatin. However, no epigenetic gene silencing was found in chromosomal Q-heterochromatin regions (Q-HRs). The question is discussed why human chromosomal Q-HRs does not exhibit gene silencing or other epigenetic effects and what their biological role might be.

The Missing Link in the Human Thermoregulation Systems

The study of human thermoregulation is one of the most developed areas of modern physiology and medicine. This is due to the important role of temperature in normal and pathological conditions. Directly or indirectly almost all systems and organs are involved in maintaining of relatively constant temperature in the body, since their normal functioning is closely related to the temperature of the internal environment (temperature homeostasis). Currently, the existence of two systems of thermoregulation is recognized: a physiological organ-based system with a center in the hypothalamus and a molecular system, which manifests itself in the form of the production of proteins (heat shock- and cold shock proteins) and by activation of RNA thermometers in response to heat or cold shock. Based on studies of the variability of chromosomal heterochromatin regions in the genome of human populations permanently living in various climatic and geographical conditions of Eurasia and Africa, as well as individuals well adapted to the extreme conditions of the high altitudes of the Pamirs and Tien-Shan (mountaineers) and the Far North (oil drillers of the Yamal Peninsula, Eastern Siberia), we came to the conclusion that, apparently, there is a third system of thermoregulation at the cellular level (cell thermoregulation). By cell thermoregulation, we mean the removal of excess heat from the nucleus of an interphase cell in order to avoid the harmful effects of high temperature on the complex molecular processes occurring in the nucleoplasm. We believe that some intracellular formations (a dense layer of condensed chromatin around the nucleus, nucleoli, chromocenters and other membraneless bodies) serve as a structural basis for the removal of heat from the cell nucleus, because the material basis of all these temporary structures in the interphase nucleus is the chromosomal heterochromatin regions. In this review, we discuss a set of data, which indicate that cell thermoregulation, may be a missing link between organism and molecular level in maintaining temperature homeostasis in the human body.

Heterochromatin and polyploidy in Opuntia Mill. (Cactaceae: Opuntioideae): implications for plant breeding

ABSTRACT Despite the importance of polyploidy for the evolution of Opuntia, few researches have been focused to identify the ploidy of cultivars used in plant breeding programmes. We aimed to provide chromosome numbers, ploidy and heterochromatin band patterns of seven species and 24 cultivars from Opuntia, and investigate the relationship between phenotypic characteristics and ploidy in these species. All cultivars analyzed of Opuntia atropes, O. cochenillifera, and one cultivar of O. undulata are diploids, O. larreyi, one cultivar of O. stricta and two cultivars of O. undulata are tetraploids and all cultivars of O. ficus-indica, one cultivar of O. stricta and four cultivars of Opuntia sp. are octoploids. CMA/DAPI banding revealed the occurrence of terminal bands in all cultivars and pericentromeric bands in six cultivars. Polyploid species of Opuntia had superior mean values than diploid ones in relation to the cladode width, cladode length, cladode area, cladode thickness and plant height. Diploids had superior mean values than polyploids in relation to the number of cladodes. Polyploidy may be a useful tool for obtaining Opuntia cultivars with quantitative characteristics of interest.

IGSF11 is required for pericentric heterochromatin dissociation during meiotic diplotene.

Meiosis initiation and progression are regulated by both germ cells and gonadal somatic cells. However, little is known about what genes or proteins connecting somatic and germ cells are required for this regulation. Our results show that deficiency for adhesion molecule IGSF11, which is expressed in both Sertoli cells and germ cells, leads to male infertility in mice. Combining a new meiotic fluorescent reporter system with testicular cell transplantation, we demonstrated that IGSF11 is required in both somatic cells and spermatogenic cells for primary spermatocyte development. In the absence of IGSF11, spermatocytes proceed through pachytene, but the pericentric heterochromatin of nonhomologous chromosomes remains inappropriately clustered from late pachytene onward, resulting in undissolved interchromosomal interactions. Hi-C analysis reveals elevated levels of interchromosomal interactions occurring mostly at the chromosome ends. Collectively, our data elucidates that IGSF11 in somatic cells and germ cells is required for pericentric heterochromatin dissociation during diplotene in mouse primary spermatocytes.