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Ribosomal genes in the human genome: Identification of four fractions, their organization in the nucleolus and metaphase chromosomes

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Abstract

Completion of human genome reading stimulated intense studies in the field of functional genomics and characterization of individual genomes. Of considerable importance is the study of the complex of multicopy ribosomal genes (RGs), but its thorough analysis was not a task of the “Human Genome” program. In this short review we present our data on the copy number of rRNA genes in individual human genomes and on their heterogeneity in the functional respect. Fractions of active and potentially active RGs as well as fractions of inactive and silent RGs intensively methylated in the transcribed region are characterized. Their location in the nucleolus structures and in metaphase chromosomes is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Medical Genetics, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, 115478, Russia

    N. A. Lyapunova & N. N. Veiko

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  1. N. A. Lyapunova
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  2. N. N. Veiko
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Correspondence to N. A. Lyapunova.

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Original Russian Text © N.A. Lyapunova, N.N. Veiko, 2010, published in Genetika, 2010, Vol. 46, No. 9, pp. 1205–1209.

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Lyapunova, N.A., Veiko, N.N. Ribosomal genes in the human genome: Identification of four fractions, their organization in the nucleolus and metaphase chromosomes. Russ J Genet 46, 1070–1073 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795410090140

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795410090140

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