[Molecular cytogenetic markers of cryptic species and hybrids of the common vole superspecies complex Microtus arvalis s. l].

Molecular markers of cryptic cytogenetical differentiation were shown in chromosomal polymorphic Pan-European model group of rodents Microtus arvalis s. l. by FISH analysis. The polytypy of 46-chromosomes karyotypes determined by the sites of interstitial telomeric sequences (ITS) and ribosomal DNA emphasizes the genetical isolation of M. arvalis s. s. and M. obscurus.

[Comparative cytogenetics of main Laurasiatheria taxa].

This short communication is a review of key trends in the karyotypic evolution of mammalian taxa Laurasiatheria, inferred from comparative chromosome painting.

[Comparative cytogenetics of rodents].

Here, we present analysis of data on comparative chromosome painting produced using various chromosome-specific libraries for members of different Glires groups. Based on the results of comparative cytogenetic and molecular studies, the modern rodents can be conventionally classified into two groups with sharply differing directions and tempoes of karyotypic evolution. One group (suborders Sciuromorpha, Castorimorpha, and Anomaluromoprpha) preserved conserved genomes, which are probably close in structure to the genome of the ancestor of all mammals. The genomes of the other group (suborder Myomorpha) underwent "catastrophic evolution," which resulted in numerous breaks and fusions of the ancient chromosomes. The current data do not allow unambiguously assigning the order Hystricomorpha to any of these groups.

[Analysis of chromosome composition in interspecific embryonic stem hybrid cells of mice].

Chromosome complements of twenty hybrid clones obtained by fusion of Mus musculus embryonic stem cells (ESC) and M. caroli splenocytes were studied. Using of double-color in situ hybridization with chromosome- and species-specific probes we were able to detect the parental origin for each chromosome in hybrid cells. Based on parental chromosome ratio, all 20 hybrid clones were separated in some different groups: from the group containing practically tetraploid M. musculus genome with single M. caroli chromosomes to hybrids with dominance of M. caroli chromosome homologues. In 8 hybrid cells clones we observed prevalence of chromosomes originated from ESC in ratio from 5:1 to 3:1. Another hybrid cells clones have either equal (1:1, 1:2) ratio of M. musculus to M. caroli chromosomes or with the prevalence of ESC- (2:1) or splenocyte- (1:2) originated parental chromosome homologues. In 3 hybrid cells clones, we observed preferable segregation of ESC-originated pluripotent chromosomes. This phenomenon was found for the first time and it possibly indicates compensation of the epigenetic differences between parental chromosomes of ESC- and splenocyte-origination.

[Analysis of expression of parental alleles Xist and Gla in interspecific embryonic hybrid cells during induced in vitro inactivation of X-chromosomes].

The results of in situ hybridization with labeled species specific and X-chromosome-specific probes suggest that hybrid cells obtained by fusion of Mus musculus embryonic stem cells (genotype XY) and splenocytes of M. caroli females contain two parental X-chromosomes. In five clones of hybrid cells, differentiation was induced in embryoid bodies in vitro, which was accompanied by inactivation of one of X-chromosomes. We analyzed the expression of Xist and Gla alleles in the embryoid bodies using RT-PCR with an account that expression of locus Xist is one of key events in X-chromosome inactivation, while gene Gla was used as a marker of active X-chromosome. Identification of allele transcripts of loci Xist and Gla was based on restriction polymorphism between M. musculus and M. caroli that we had described. Transcripts of both parental alleles of loci Xist and Gla were present in the embryoid bodies of all studied hybrid clones. No preferential inactivation of M. musculus or M. caroli X-chromosome was found in the tested embryonic hybrid cells despite the initial differences in ontogenetic status between X-chromosomes of embryonic stem cells and splenocytes.

[A new approach to the analysis of complex chromosomal rearrangements in cell hybrids]. / Novye vozmozhnosti analiza slozhnykh khromosomnykh perestroek v kletochnykh gibridakh.

The chromosomal complements of somatic cell pig-mink hybrids was determined by a new approach. This approach includes microdissection of metaphase chromosomes, generation of chromosome and region-specific DNA libraries, and fluorescence in situ hybridization of these libraries with pig lymphocyte chromosomes. The studied hybrid cells were shown to contain two small acrocentric chromosomes and a microchromosome of porcine origin. Identification of these chromosomes by differential GTG-staining was impossible. Chromosome isolation by a micromanipulation technique followed by DNA amplification in TOPO-DOP polymerase chain reaction provided chromosome-specific DNA libraries of the rearranged chromosomes. Based on these libraries, the labeled DNA probes were prepared and hybridized to pig chromosomes. This allowed us to determine the origin of the material contributing to the hybrid cell chromosomes. One of these chromosomes contained five pig chromosomal regions: 15cen-q2; 6q21-q23; 13q21; 13q22; 7q25-qter, while the other contained the following pig chromosomal regions: 4p12-p13; 16q12-q14; 12pter-p15. The microchromosome contained the Xp11-Xq11 region. The minimal size of the revealed chromosomal regions was about 3 to 4 x 10(6) bp. Segregation analysis of the thymidine kinase gene 1 (TK1), which was earlier localized to the pig 12p region, and the hybrid cell pig chromosomes in the hybrid subclones suggested that TK1 gene can be assigned to 12p15-pter. The results obtained demonstrate the efficiency of the applied approach in its detailed and reliable description of complex chromosomal rearrangements in hybrid clones, when differential chromosome staining failed to identify these chromosomes.

[Feasibility of analysis of macroevolutionary rearrangements of mammalian chromosomes]. / Vozmozhnosti analiza makroévoliutsionnykh preobrazovanii khromosom mlekopitaiushchikh.

In the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, detailed studies on chromosome sets of humans and domestic animals were initiated and supported by D.I. Belyaev and started by S.I. Radzhabli. They believed that analysis of differentially stained chromosomes and mapping of the genomes of main commercial species provide for a better understanding of the processes that occurred during their evolution and domestication. Several new approaches to studying macroevolutionary karyotypic rearrangements associated with divergence of remote taxa, such as primates and paridigitate ungulates, are discussed.

[Highly-sensitive nonradioactive detection of the tick-borne encephalitis virus]. / Vysokochuvstvitel'naia neradioaktivnaia detektsiia virusa kleshchevogo éntsefalita.

The non-radioactive reverse dot-blot method was used for the detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in clinical specimens. The method involves reverse transcription (RT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a pair of biotin-labelled oligonucleotide primers. These primers flank a region in the gene of the envelope protein E, which is more conserved than other regions, and initiate the polymerisation with RNAs of all the investigated strains. The amplified cDNA was captured from solution on a solid support using complementary oligonucleotides covalently bound to a polyamide membrane. The biotin labels of the resulting hybrids were visualized by means of the streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate. The detection limit of the test was about 10(3)-10(4) molecules of target RNA. The sensitivity was comparable to that obtained by dot-hybridization of PCR-product with 32P-labelled DNA probe. The method was used for the detection of RNA in specimens of tick and blood.

[Electron microscopic research on the extrachromosomal genetic elements of Escherichia coli]. / Elektronno-mikroskopicheskoe issledovanie vnekhromosomnykh geneticheskikh élementov Escherichia coli.

The structural organization of extrachromosomal genetic elements were studied in a subfraction obtained after centrifugation of the lysate of E. coli spheroplasts. With this method of isolation, the tertiary structure of the extrachromosomal genetic elements was preserved. The majority of DNA macromolecules were released in the form of single and connected rosettes. Typical rosettes composed of radial loops of DNA clustered around the central dense core (the diameter is about 60 nm). The mean length of the rosette loops was 1.06 +/- 0.4 micron. Both relaxed folded and supercoiled folded forms of DNA were observed on the preparation. Sometimes the rosettes were connected with large aggregates of DNA (possibly the material of bacterial chromosomes) and had the appearance of thick fibers with numerous lateral loops. Linear, cyclic and various replicative forms of DNA have also been observed. It is assumed that rosettes of the extrachromosomal elements of E. coli reflect one of the levels of organization of prokaryotic genetic material.

[Changes in the RNA-dependent DNA-polymerase activity in Escherichia coli cells correlated with changes in the bacterial growth conditions]. / Izmeneniia aktivnosti RNK-zavisimoi DNK-polimerazy v kletkakh Escherichia coli, korreliruiushchie s izmeneniiami uslovii rosta bakterii.

The experimental data suggest that the increase in the RNA-dependent DNA-polymerase activity occurs within 5-8 min following the nutritional shift-up and is correlated with the rise in RNA and protein synthesis but not with DNA synthesis. The activity of DNA-dependent DNA-polymerase starts to increase only within 15 min after the shift-up and considerably exceeds the increase of the RNA-dependent DNA-polymerase activity.