Back to Search
Start Over
Programmed Minichromosome Elimination as a Mechanism for Somatic Genome Reduction in Tetrahymena thermophila.
- Source :
-
PLoS genetics [PLoS Genet] 2016 Nov 02; Vol. 12 (11), pp. e1006403. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Nov 02 (Print Publication: 2016). - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- The maintenance of chromosome integrity is crucial for genetic stability. However, programmed chromosome fragmentations are known to occur in many organisms, and in the ciliate Tetrahymena the five germline chromosomes are fragmented into hundreds of minichromosomes during somatic nuclear differentiation. Here, we showed that there are different fates of these minichromosomes after chromosome breakage. Among the 326 somatic minichromosomes identified using genomic data, 50 are selectively eliminated from the mature somatic genome. Interestingly, many and probably most of these minichromosomes are eliminated during the growth period between 6 and 20 doublings right after conjugation. Genes with potential conjugation-specific functions are found in these minichromosomes. This study revealed a new mode of programmed DNA elimination in ciliates similar to those observed in parasitic nematodes, which could play a role in developmental gene regulation.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Cell Nucleus genetics
Chromosomal Instability genetics
Databases, Genetic
Gene Expression genetics
Genomic Library
Germ Cells growth & development
Tetrahymena thermophila growth & development
Chromosome Breakage
Chromosomes genetics
Telomere genetics
Tetrahymena thermophila genetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1553-7404
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PLoS genetics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27806059
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1006403