Germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) is widespread among songbirds.

An unusual supernumerary chromosome has been reported for two related avian species, the zebra and Bengalese finches. This large, germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) is eliminated from somatic cells and spermatids and transmitted via oocytes only. Its origin, distribution among avian lineages, and function were mostly unknown so far. Using immunolocalization of key meiotic proteins, we found that GRCs of varying size and genetic content are present in all 16 songbird species investigated and absent from germline genomes of all eight examined bird species from other avian orders. Results of fluorescent in situ hybridization of microdissected GRC probes and their sequencing indicate that GRCs show little homology between songbird species and contain a variety of repetitive elements and unique sequences with paralogs in the somatic genome. Our data suggest that the GRC evolved in the common ancestor of all songbirds and underwent significant changes in the extant descendant lineages.

New high copy tandem repeat in the content of the chicken W chromosome.

The content of repetitive DNA in avian genomes is considerably less than in other investigated vertebrates. The first descriptions of tandem repeats were based on the results of routine biochemical and molecular biological experiments. Both satellite DNA and interspersed repetitive elements were annotated using library-based approach and de novo repeat identification in assembled genome. The development of deep-sequencing methods provides datasets of high quality without preassembly allowing one to annotate repetitive elements from unassembled part of genomes. In this work, we search the chicken assembly and annotate high copy number tandem repeats from unassembled short raw reads. Tandem repeat (GGAAA)n has been identified and found to be the second after telomeric repeat (TTAGGG)n most abundant in the chicken genome. Furthermore, (GGAAA)n repeat forms expanded arrays on the both arms of the chicken W chromosome. Our results highlight the complexity of repetitive sequences and update data about organization of sex W chromosome in chicken.

Homoploid hybrid speciation and genome evolution via chromosome sorting.

Genomes of numerous diploid plant and animal species possess traces of interspecific crosses, and many researches consider them as support for homoploid hybrid speciation (HHS), a process by which a new reproductively isolated species arises through hybridization and combination of parts of the parental genomes, but without an increase in ploidy. However, convincing evidence for a creative role of hybridization in the origin of reproductive isolation between hybrid and parental forms is extremely limited. Here, through studying Agrodiaetus butterflies, we provide proof of a previously unknown mode of HHS based on the formation of post-zygotic reproductive isolation via hybridization of chromosomally divergent parental species and subsequent fixation of a novel combination of chromosome fusions/fissions in hybrid descendants. We show that meiotic segregation, operating in the hybrid lineage, resulted in the formation of a new diploid genome, drastically rearranged in terms of chromosome number. We also demonstrate that during the heterozygous stage of the hybrid species formation, recombination was limited between rearranged chromosomes of different parental origin, representing evidence that the reproductive isolation was a direct consequence of hybridization.

Assessment of quadrivalent characteristics influencing chromosome segregation by analyzing human preimplantation embryos from reciprocal translocation carriers.

Patterns of meiotic chromosome segregation were analyzed in cleavage stage and blastocyst stage human embryos from couples with autosomal reciprocal translocations (ART). The influence of quadrivalent asymmetry degree, the presence of terminal breakpoints, and the involvement of acrocentric chromosomes in the rearrangement were analyzed to evaluate their contribution to the formation of non-viable embryos with significant chromosomal imbalance due to pathological segregation patterns and to assess the selection of human embryos by the blastocyst stage. A selection of viable embryos resulting from alternate and adjacent-1 segregation and a significant reduction in the detection frequency of the 3 : 1 segregation pattern were observed in human embryos at the blastocyst stage. The presence of terminal breakpoints increased the frequency of 3 : 1 segregation and was also associated with better survival of human embryos resulting from adjacent-1 mode, reflecting the process of natural selection of viable embryos to the blastocyst stage. The demonstrated patterns of chromosome segregation and inheritance of a balanced karyotype in humans will contribute to optimizing the prediction of the outcomes of in vitro fertilization programs and assessing the risks of the formation of unbalanced embryos for ART carriers.

[NSI (+)]: a novel non-Mendelian nonsense suppressor determinant in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Non-Mendelian determinants that control heritable traits in yeast are subdivided into two major groups-one that includes DNA- or RNA-based elements and another that comprises protein-based factors that are analogous to mammalian prion. All yeast non-Mendelian determinants show dominant inheritance, and some of them demonstrate cytoplasmic infectivity. Only prions, however, harbor-specific features, such as high frequency of induction following overproduction of prion-encoding protein, loss of the protein's normal function, and reversible curability. Here, we describe a novel nonchromosomal determinant that, in addition to [PSI (+)] and [ISP (+)], is involved in epigenetic control of nonsense suppression. This determinant, which we have designated [NSI (+)], causes nonsense suppression in the strains bearing the N-terminal-deleted or -modified SUP35 gene, but has no manifestation in the strains with the intact copy of SUP35. [NSI (+)] shows dominant non-Mendelian inheritance, reversible curability and may be transmitted by cytoduction, albeit with low frequency. Similar to yeast prions, this determinant can be cured by deletion or mutational inactivation of Hsp104. We have shown that [NSI (+)] does not correspond to the already identified yeast prions. Based on the data obtained, we hypothesize that [NSI (+)] is a novel prion factor involved in epigenetic control of nonsense suppression.

Identification of sex chromosomes in Eremiasvelox (Lacertidae, Reptilia) using lampbrush chromosome analysis.

Reptiles are good objects for studying the evolution of sex determination, since they have different sex determination systems in different lineages. Lacertid lizards have been long-known for possessing ZZ/ZW type sex chromosomes. However, due to morphological uniformity of lacertid chromosomes, the Z chromosome has been only putatively cytologically identified. We used lampbrush chromosome (LBC) analysis and FISH with a W-specific probe in Eremiasvelox (Pallas, 1771) to unequivocally identify the ZW bivalent and investigate its meiotic behavior. The heterochromatic W chromosome is decondensed at the lampbrush stage, indicating active transcription, contrast with the highly condensed condition of the lampbrush W chromosomes in birds. We identified the Z chromosome by its chiasmatic association with the W chromosome as chromosome XIII of the 19 chromosomes in the LBC karyotype. Our findings agree with previous genetic and genomic studies, which suggested that the lacertid Z chromosome should be one of the smaller macrochromosomes.

Karyosystematics and molecular taxonomy of the anomalous blue butterflies (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from the Balkan Peninsula.

The Balkan Peninsula represents one of the hottest biodiversity spots in Europe. However, the invertebrate fauna of this region is still insufficiently investigated, even in respect of such well-studied organisms as Lepidoptera. Here we use a combination of chromosomal, molecular and morphological markers to rearrange the group of so-called anomalous blue butterflies (also known as 'brown complex' of the subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822] and as the Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) admetus (Esper, 1783) species group) and to reveal its cryptic taxonomic structure. We demonstrate that Polyommatus aroaniensis (Brown, 1976) is not as widespread in the Balkans as was previously thought. In fact, it has a dot-like distribution range restricted to the Peloponnese Peninsula in South Greece. Polyommatus orphicus Kolev, 2005 is not as closely related to the Turkish species Polyommatus dantchenkoi (Lukhtanov & Wiemers, 2003) as was supposed earlier. Instead, it is a Balkan endemic represented by two subspecies: Polyommatus orphicus orphicus (Bulgaria) and Polyommatus orphicus eleniae Coutsis & De Prins, 2005 (Northern Greece). Polyommatus ripartii (Freyer, 1830) is represented in the Balkans by an endemic subspecies Polyommatus ripartii pelopi. The traditionally recognized Polyommatus admetus (Esper, 1783) is shown to be a heterogeneous complex and is divided into Polyommatus admetus sensu stricto (the Balkans and west Turkey) and Polyommatus yeranyani (Dantchenko & Lukhtanov, 2005) (east Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran). Polyommatus nephohiptamenos (Brown & Coutsis, 1978) is confirmed to be a species with a dot-like distribution range in Northern Greece. Finally, from Central Greece (Timfristos and Parnassos mountains) we describe Polyommatus timfristos Lukhtanov, Vishnevskaya & Shapoval, sp. n. which differs by its haploid chromosome number (n=38) from the closely related and morphologically similar Polyommatus aroaniensis (n=47-48) and Polyommatus orphicus (n=41-42). We provide chromosomal evidence for three separate south Balkan Pleistocene refugia (Peloponnesse, Central Greece and Northern Greece/South Bulgaria) and stress the biogeographic importance of Central Greece as a place of diversification. Then we argue that the data obtained have direct implications for butterfly karyology, taxonomy, biogeography and conservation.

Chicken rRNA Gene Cluster Structure.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, whose activity results in nucleolus formation, constitute an extremely important part of genome. Despite the extensive exploration into avian genomes, no complete description of avian rRNA gene primary structure has been offered so far. We publish a complete chicken rRNA gene cluster sequence here, including 5'ETS (1836 bp), 18S rRNA gene (1823 bp), ITS1 (2530 bp), 5.8S rRNA gene (157 bp), ITS2 (733 bp), 28S rRNA gene (4441 bp) and 3'ETS (343 bp). The rRNA gene cluster sequence of 11863 bp was assembled from raw reads and deposited to GenBank under KT445934 accession number. The assembly was validated through in situ fluorescent hybridization analysis on chicken metaphase chromosomes using computed and synthesized specific probes, as well as through the reference assembly against de novo assembled rRNA gene cluster sequence using sequenced fragments of BAC-clone containing chicken NOR (nucleolus organizer region). The results have confirmed the chicken rRNA gene cluster validity.

Yeast red pigment modifies Amyloid beta growth in Alzheimer disease models in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Drosophila melanogaster.

The effect of yeast red pigment on amyloid-ß (Aß) aggregation and fibril growth was studied in yeasts, fruit flies and in vitro. Yeast strains accumulating red pigment (red strains) contained less amyloid and had better survival rates compared to isogenic strains without red pigment accumulation (white strains). Confocal and fluorescent microscopy was used to visualise fluorescent Aß-GFP aggregates. Yeast cells containing less red pigment had more Aß-GFP aggregates despite the lower level of overall GFP fluorescence. Western blot analysis with anti-GFP, anti-Aß and A11 antibodies also revealed that red cells contained a considerably lower amount of Aß GFP aggregates as compared to white cells. Similar results were obtained with exogenous red pigment that was able to penetrate yeast cells. In vitro experiments with thioflavine and TEM showed that red pigment effectively decreased Aß fibril growth. Transgenic flies expressing Aß were cultivated on medium containing red and white isogenic yeast strains. Flies cultivated on red strains had a significant decrease in Aß accumulation levels and brain neurodegeneration. They also demonstrated better memory and learning indexes and higher locomotor ability.