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Fragile sites of 45S rDNA of Lolium multiflorum are not hotspots for chromosomal breakages induced by X-ray

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Abstract

Sites of 45S rDNA of Lolium are regions denominated fragile sites (FSs), constituting regions slightly stained with DAPI due to increased DNA unpacking in metaphasic chromosomes. Considered to be fragile regions in the genome, the FSs might be more responsive to induced breaks and result in chromosomal fragments and rearrangements, unless repairing mechanisms such as recombination or de novo telomere formation play a role at the break site of the DNA. Thus, this study aimed at investigating if SFs from Lolium are hotspots for the occurrence of breakages induced by X-ray and if they are regions favorable to synthesize new telomeres, using Hordeum vulgare as a comparative model. Lolium multiflorum and H. vulgare seedlings were irradiated with 20 and 50 Gy X-ray and evaluated one day following the irradiation and at 7-days intervals for a 28-days period, using FISH technique with 45S rDNA and Arabidopsis-type telomere probes in order to investigate the presence of chromosomal breakages and new telomere formation. H. vulgare did not survive after a few days of irradiation due to the increased rate of abnormalities. L. multiflorum also exhibited chromosomal abnormalities following the exposure, yet over the 28-days trial it had a decrease in the chromosomal damage rate and formation of de novo telomere has not been detected along this time. Despite being considered to be fragile regions in the genome, the 45S rDNA sites of Lolium are not hotspots to chromosomal breakages after the induction of breakages.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Dr. Evelyn Klocke (Institute for Breeding Research and Horticultural Crops, Quedlinburg, Germany) for inducing the irradiation, to National Council of Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq, to Foundation for Research Support of Minas Gerais—FAPEMIG, and to Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel—CAPES for the financial supporting and scholarship provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras - UFLA, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Laiane Corsini Rocha & Vânia Helena Techio

  2. Embrapa Dairy Cattle/Embrapa Temperate Agriculture, Juiz de Fora/Pelotas, Minas Gerais State/Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

    Andrea Mittelmann

  3. Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), OT Gatersleben, 06466, StadtSeeland, Germany

    Andreas Houben

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  1. Laiane Corsini Rocha
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  2. Andrea Mittelmann
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  4. Vânia Helena Techio
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Correspondence to Andreas Houben or Vânia Helena Techio.

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Rocha, L.C., Mittelmann, A., Houben, A. et al. Fragile sites of 45S rDNA of Lolium multiflorum are not hotspots for chromosomal breakages induced by X-ray. Mol Biol Rep 43, 659–665 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-016-4003-1

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