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Cytomolecular characterization and origin of de novo formed maize B chromosome variants

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Abstract

B chromosomes are dispensable elements that occur in many species, including maize. The maize B chromosome is acrocentric and highly heterochromatic and undergoes nondisjunction during the second pollen mitosis. In this study, we determined the genetic behavior and organization of two naturally occurring B chromosome variants (designated Bta and Btb). The morphology and genetic behavior of the Bta chromosome were similar to those of the typical B chromosome, but the Bta chromosome contained a deletion in the first heterochromatin region and had higher transmission frequencies through both male and female parents. The Btb chromosome was reduced in size, consisted primarily of heterochromatin, and had a lower transmission frequency. The Btb chromosome lacked nondisjunctional behavior, which was restored by the presence of normal B chromosomes in the cell. Furthermore, the Btb chromosome contained two centromeric regions, only one of which was active. The organization of these two naturally occurring B chromosome variants was also determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization with B-associated sequences and by amplification of B-specific molecular markers to create possible evolutionary models.

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Abbreviations

BFB:

Breakage-fusion-bridge

CK:

Centromeric knob

DE:

Distal euchromatin

DH:

Distal heterochromatin

FISH:

Fluorescence in situ hybridization

PE:

Proximal euchromatin

SCAR:

Sequence-characterized amplified region

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the National Science Council grant of Taiwan (NSC 102-2311-B-005-001) and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan (MOST 104-2311-B-005-012-MY3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Road, Taichung, 402, Taiwan

    Ya-Ming Cheng & Ying-Ru Feng

  2. Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yao-Pin Lin

  3. Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Shu-Fen Peng

Authors
  1. Ya-Ming Cheng
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  2. Ying-Ru Feng
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  3. Yao-Pin Lin
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  4. Shu-Fen Peng
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Correspondence to Ya-Ming Cheng.

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Responsible Editor: Jiming Jiang.

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Supplemental Fig. S1

Mitotic behavior of B chromosome variants. Cells in mitotic metaphase (a, d, g), anaphase (b, e, h), and telophase (c, f, i) carrying one copy of the B (a-c), Bta (d-f), or Btb (g-i) chromosome were hybridized with the CentC (green) and the B-repeat (red) probes. Chromosomes were stained with DAPI (blue). White arrows indicate the B chromosome or B variants. Scale bars all equal to 10 μm (GIF 95 kb)

High resolution image (TIF 526 kb)

Supplemental Fig. S2

Locations of six B-specific molecular markers on the B chromosome. The figure was modified from Kao et al. (2015) and shows where four B-specific SCAR markers (SCAR313, SCAR345, SCAR349 and SCAR426) were mapped using the breakpoints of 15 B-A translocations (Arrows). The locations of the CL-repeat and Stark markers were indicated based on the results of Cheng (2010) and Lamb et al. (2007), respectively. Black lines indicate the mapped positions of the six B-specific markers. Dotted lines represent regions in which the presence of the markers cannot be verified. S, short arm; CK, centromeric knob; PE, proximal euchromatin; DH1-DH4, four blocks of distal heterochromatin; DE, distal euchromatin (GIF 24 kb)

High resolution image (TIF 164 kb)

Supplemental Fig. S3

Amplification of six B-specific molecular markers from B chromosome variants. Genomic DNA from L289 plants lacking the B chromosome (0B) and containing one B (1B), Bta, or Btb chromosome was amplified using primers for the B-specific markers CL-repeat, Stark, SCAR426, SCAR313, SCAR345 and SCAR349. Quality and an equal quantity of the genomic DNA of different genotypes were conducted by amplification using a maize Actin primer pair. M molecular weight marker (molecular weights are shown at the left) (GIF 188 kb)

High resolution image (TIF 1003 kb)

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Cheng, YM., Feng, YR., Lin, YP. et al. Cytomolecular characterization and origin of de novo formed maize B chromosome variants. Chromosome Res 24, 183–195 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-015-9516-2

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