B chromosomes of B. dichromosomatica show a reduced level of euchromatic histone H3 methylation marks

Chromosome Res. 2007;15(2):215-22. doi: 10.1007/s10577-006-1114-x. Epub 2007 Feb 5.

Abstract

B chromosomes (Bs) are dispensable, less-transcriptionally active components of the genomes of numerous species. Little information is available on the chromatin composition of Bs and whether it differs in any way from that of the A chromosomes. Methylated isoforms of histone H3 are of particular interest because of their role in eu/heterochromatin formation. Immunofluorescence using site-specific antibodies demonstrates that the chromatin in A and both types of Bs of B. dichromosomatica differs markedly in euchromatic histone H3 methylation marks. While A chromosomes are labelled brightly, the micro B and large B chromosomes are faintly labelled with antibodies against H3K4me2/3, H3K9me3 and H3K27me2/3. The heteropycnotic, tandem-repeat enriched micro Bs were even less labelled with euchromatic histone H3 methylation marks than large Bs, most probably due to different DNA composition. No differences in immunolabelling intensity between A and B chromosomes were found as to the heterochromatic marks H3K9me1/2 and H3K27me1, indicating that Bs are not additionally labelled by heterochromatin typical histone H3 modifications. Analysis of DNA replication timing suggests that micro Bs are replicating throughout S-phase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asteraceae / cytology
  • Asteraceae / genetics*
  • Asteraceae / metabolism
  • Chromosomes, Plant / chemistry*
  • Chromosomes, Plant / metabolism
  • DNA Replication Timing
  • Euchromatin
  • Heterochromatin
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Methylation
  • S Phase

Substances

  • Euchromatin
  • Heterochromatin
  • Histones