Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
09:40
A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model
Published on: February 6, 2018
15.6K
CENP-A binding domains and recombination patterns in horse spermatocytes
Eleonora Cappelletti1, Francesca M Piras1, Claudia Badiale1
1Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
Scientific Reports
|November 3, 2019
Summary
Satellite DNA does not cause the centromere effect, which suppresses meiotic recombination. Horse chromosome 11
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Centromeres inhibit meiotic recombination, a phenomenon termed the 'centromere effect'.
- The role of satellite DNA in this effect is debated.
- Horses possess satellite DNA at centromeres, except for chromosome 11.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of satellite DNA in centromere-mediated recombination suppression in horses.
- To determine if satellite-less centromeres also suppress recombination.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of MLH1 protein distribution (recombination foci marker) relative to CENP-A (centromere marker) in pachytene spermatocytes.
- Immunofluorescence microscopy to visualize centromeric signals.
Main Results:
- The satellite-less centromere of horse chromosome 11 exhibited crossover suppression, similar to centromeres with satellite DNA.
- These findings indicate that satellite DNA is not required for the centromere effect.
- Observed variations in centromeric signals suggest high plasticity of equine centromeres and pericentromeric regions.
Conclusions:
- The centromere effect on meiotic recombination suppression is independent of satellite DNA.
- Equine centromeres display significant structural plasticity during meiosis.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:30Histone Variants at the Centromere
4.9K
Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3...
4.9K
01:23Catenins
3.0K
Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the...
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the...
3.0K
02:32Position-effect Variegation
6.9K
In 1928, a German botanist Emil Heitz observed the moss nuclei with a DNA binding dye. He observed that while some chromatin regions decondense and spread out in the interphase nucleus, others do not. He termed them euchromatin and heterochromatin, respectively. He proposed that the heterochromatin regions reflect a functionally inactive state of the genome. It was later confirmed that heterochromatin is transcriptionally repressed, and euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.
6.9K
02:38Heterochromatin
17.7K
The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at...
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at...
17.7K