Preparation of samples for comparative studies of plant chromosomes using in situ hybridization methods

Methods Enzymol. 2005:395:443-60. doi: 10.1016/S0076-6879(05)95024-6.

Abstract

The development of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has led to the advancement of chromosome studies not only for physical mapping and genome analyses but also as a tool for evolutionary studies. Isolated repetitive DNA sequences have been useful cytological markers, but large-insert genomic libraries (e.g., bacterial artificial chromosomes [BACs], yeast artificial chromosomes [YACs], and cosmids) are being increasingly used to serve as probes for large segments of DNA across related genomes. Although FISH is usually applied to metaphase chromosomes, fiber FISH, a variation of FISH using extended DNA fibers, is now used to measure loci at the resolution of a few kilobases to compare orthologous genome segments across related genomes. A generalized set of protocols for chromosome preparation, FISH, and fiber FISH are presented; however, it is often necessary to experiment with techniques for different plant taxa for successful molecular cytogenetic studies.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Biological Evolution
  • Cell Fractionation / methods
  • Chromosomes, Plant / genetics*
  • DNA, Plant / genetics
  • DNA, Plant / isolation & purification
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Meiosis / genetics
  • Mitosis / genetics
  • Molecular Probe Techniques
  • Nucleic Acid Denaturation
  • Plant Roots / genetics
  • Plants / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Plant