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Zexi Cai

ChIP-cloning analysis uncovers centromere-specific retrotransposons in Brassica nigra and reveals their rapid diversification in Brassica allotetraploids

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  • Gui-Xiang Wang, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Improvement, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.
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  • Qun-Yan He, National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University
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  • Hong Zhao, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Improvement, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.
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  • Zexi Cai
  • Ning Guo, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Improvement, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.
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  • Mei Zong, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Improvement, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.
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  • Shuo Han, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Improvement, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.
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  • Fan Liu, Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Improvement, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China.
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  • Wei-Wei Jin, National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University

Centromeres are indispensable functional units of chromosomes. The evolutionary mechanisms underlying the rapid evolution of centromeric repeats, especially those following polyploidy, remain unknown. In this study, we isolated centromeric sequences of Brassica nigra, a model diploid progenitor (B genome) of the allopolyploid species B. juncea (AB genome) and B. carinata (BC genome) by chromatin immunoprecipitation of nucleosomes containing the centromere-specific histone CENH3. Sequence analysis detected no centromeric satellite DNAs, and most B. nigra centromeric repeats were found to originate from Tyl/copia-class retrotransposons. In cytological analyses, six of the seven analyzed repeat clusters had no FISH signals in A or C genomes of the related diploid species B. rapa and B. oleracea. Notably, five repeat clusters had FISH signals in both A and B subgenomes in the tetraploid B. juncea. In the tetraploid B. carinata, only CL23 displayed three pairs of signals in terminal or interstitial regions of the C-derived chromosome, and no evidence of colonization of CLs onto C-subgenome centromeres was found in B. carinata. This observation suggests that centromeric repeats spread and proliferated between genomes after polyploidization. CL3 and CRB are likely ancient centromeric sequences arising prior to the divergence of diploid Brassica which have detected signals across the genus. And in allotetraploids B. juncea and B. carinata, the FISH signal intensity of CL3 and CRB differed among subgenomes. We discussed possible mechanisms for centromeric repeat divergence during Brassica speciation and polyploid evolution, thus providing insights into centromeric repeat establishment and targeting.

Original languageEnglish
JournalChromosoma
Volume128
Issue2
Pages (from-to)119-131
Number of pages13
ISSN0009-5915
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2019
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Brassica, Centromere, Chromatin immunoprecipitation, Polyploids

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