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DNA content varies significantly over land plants, and is known to correlate with various aspects of plant form and function. In the present study, two measures of DNA content were examined in taxa across the land plant phylogeny: genome size (or C-value) and endopolyploidy (or endoreduplication index, EI). Additionally, the relationships between DNA content and various morphological and ecological traits were assessed. DNA content was determined for 64 liverwort species from 33 families. There was a large range in 1C-values from 0.27 to 20.46 pg, but no endopolyploidy was observed. There was no correlation between genome size and breeding system (monoecy vs. dioecy). Genome size and degree of endopolyploidy were determined for 74 moss species from 21 families. Genome sizes were constrained in this group, with 1C-values ranging from 0.25 to 1.21 pg. Endopolyploidy was high in all species except from the Sphagnaceae. Additionally, 1C-value was negatively correlated with desiccation tolerance but was not correlated with breeding system. DNA content variation was determined in 31 monilophyte (fern) species (including three horsetails) and 6 lycophyte (clubmoss) species. There was a wide range in 1C-values from 2.79 to 26.90 pg, and there was no indication of endopolyploidy in any of the species. Multivariate analyses were used to explore the relative contribution of traits and phylogenetic placement to DNA content varation in 41 angiosperm species. Six measures of DNA content (2C-value, 1Cx-value, leaf EI, stem EI, petal EI and root EI) were assessed. Phylogeny explained more of the variation observed in the six measures of DNA content than 21 ecological and morphological traits. However, many of the traits were able to explain some of the variation in DNA content, both with and without phylogeny included as a covaraite. One trait that was consistently correlated with DNA content was the association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In a controlled experiment, the EI in root cells colonized by AM fungi significantly increased compared to non-mycorrhizal plants. This thesis increases our knowledge regarding the extent and significance of variation in DNA content in land plants.

Submitted by Katiane Souza (katyane.souza@gmail.com) on 2016-06-05T16:57:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2970217 bytes, checksum: d54e4990a98e77a7f5d22ad2384ffdd3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-05T16:57:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2970217 bytes, checksum: d54e4990a98e77a7f5d22ad2384ffdd3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-10 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The subtribe Laeliinae comprises about 2000 species in 38 genera, exclusively neotropical and is considered the third largest family of subtribe. Cytological features most species with basic chromosome number x = 20 and karyotype evolution mainly associated with polyploidy. This study aimed performed a comparative cytogenetic analysis in 42 species of Laeliinae subtribe based on banding fluorochromes with CMA/DAPI, and estimate the nuclear DNA content of many of these species through citmetria of flow. All species presented 2n = 40 except Cattleya nobilior with 2n = 42 and the polyploid C. elongata, C. crispata, Encyclia alboxanthina, E. jenischiana, E. seidelii, Laelia gouldiana and Prosthechea faresiana (2n = 80). We observed two blocks CMA+/DAPI terminals in all species. The DNA content of species ranged from 2C = 3.45 pg in Brassavola nodosa to 2C = 7.96 pg in C. guttata. The leaf tissues of the analyzed representatives presented endoreduplication cycles in most species. Our data suggest that although it occurs an apparent macrostructural stable karyotype (2n = 40) in the species of the subtribe Laeliinae as well as the genus Cattleya studied, they present a pattern of diversification of heterochromatin consistent with the phylogenetic clusters and identify possible sinapomorphies that allow better understanding of taxonomically complex species. / A subtribo Laeliinae compreende cerca de 2000 espécies distribuídas em 38 gêneros, exclusivamente neotropical, sendo considerada a terceira maior subtribo da família. Citologicamente apresenta a maioria das espécies com número cromossômico básico x = 20 e evolução cariotípica principalmente associada a poliploidia. O presente trabalho objetivou realizada uma análise citogenética comparativa em 42 espécies da subtribo Laeliinae com base em bandeamento com fluorocromos, CMA/DAPI, além de estimar o conteúdo de DNA nuclear de várias dessas espécies através de citometria de fluxo. Todas as espécies apresentaram 2n = 40, exceto Cattleya nobilior com 2n = 42 e os poliploides C. elongata, C. crispata, Encyclia alboxanthina, E. jenischiana, E. seidelii, Laelia gouldiana e Prosthechea faresiana (2n = 80). Foram observados pelo menos dois blocos CMA+/DAPI terminais em todas as espécies, além de bandas DAPI+/CMA– proximais ou terminais em várias outras espécies. O conteúdo de DNA das espécies variou de 2C = 3,45 pg em Brassavola nodosa até 2C = 7,96 pg em C. guttata, com ciclos de endoreduplicação na maioria das espécies. Nossos dados sugerem que embora ocorra uma aparente estabilidade cariotípica macroestrutural (2n = 40) nas espécies da subtribo Laeliinae e no gênero Cattleya como um todo, em geral, o padrão de diversificação da heterocromatina foi compatível com os agrupamentos filogenéticos, identificando possíveis sinapomorfias que permitem um melhor entendimento de espécies taxonomicamente complexas.

Penstemon is the largest genus in North America with more than 270 reported species. However, little is known about the genome size of this genus and how this information may be useful in selecting species in developing hybrids for landscape use. Using flow cytometry, we estimated the genome size of approximately 40% of the genus (117 specimens from 104 different species.) Genome sizes for the putative diploids ranged from 2C = 0.94 – 1.89 pg (1C = 462 – 924 Mbp) and the putative polyploids ranged from 2.57 – 6.54 pg (1C = 1,257 – 3,156 Mbp). Chromosome counts were compiled and compared with the flow cytometry results for the species within this publication. Ploidy within the genus ranged from diploid to dodecaploid. These data were compared and contrasted with the current taxonomy of Penstemon and previously published ITS and cpDNA phylogenetic work. Based on genome size, reassigning P. montanus, P. cardinalis, and P. uintahensis to the subgenus Penstemon and P. personatus to the subgenus Dasanthera, would better reflect the phylogeny of the genus. Both auto- and allo-polyploidization are plausible mechanisms for increasing ploidy within the genus. The diploid species within the subgenus Saccanthera contain on average 1.09 pg (1C = 532 Mbp); however, two species within this subgenus are tetraploid and octaploid. The DNA content of subgenus Penstemon exhibits high plasticity and spans a six-fold increase. Our study found flow cytometry to be useful in species identification and verification. This represents the first published work on the genome size of Penstemon. This research will aid in future DNA sequencing experiments and breeding programs.

Cell replication and division are central to the proliferation of life, and have implications for normal growth and development as well as disease state. Assembly of a complete picture of the systems which control this process requires identification of individual genetic components, but the identity and complete sequence of events that trigger initiation of cell division, at a point called START in yeast, remain unknown. Here, we evaluated panels of non-essential single gene deletion strains and tested the effects of FDA-approved drugs on cell-cycle progression, using flow cytometry to detect altered DNA content. Previous studies relied mainly on cell size changes to systematically identify genes required for the timely completion of START. This analysis revealed that most gene deletions that altered cell-cycle progression did not change cell size. Our results highlight a strong requirement for ribosomal biogenesis and protein synthesis for initiation of cell division. We also identified numerous factors that have not been previously implicated in cell-cycle control mechanisms. We found that cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS) advances START in two ways: by promoting cell growth, which requires CBS's catalytic activity, and by a separate function which does not require that activity. CBS defects cause disease in humans, and in animals CBS has vital, non-catalytic, unknown roles. Hence, our results may be relevant for human biology. Screening chemical libraries to identify compounds that affect overall cell proliferation is common. However, it is generally not known whether the compounds tested alter the timing of particular cell-cycle transitions. Our approach revealed strong cell-cycle effects of several commonly used pharmaceuticals. We show that the antilipemic gemfibrozil delays initiation of DNA replication, while cells treated with the antidepressant fluoxetine severely delay progression through mitosis. We discovered a strong suppressive interaction between gemfibrozil and fluoxetine. The novel interaction between gemfibrozil and fluoxetine suggests that identifying and combining drugs that show cell-cycle effects might streamline identification of drug combinations with a pronounced impact on cell proliferation. Our studies not only transform our view of START, but also expand the repertoire of genetic and chemical means to modulate the eukaryotic cell cycle.

Considerable variation exists both within and between species in nuclear DNA content. Despite there being no obvious functional role for much of this DNA, many studies have reported phenotypic correlations with genome size at various taxonomic levels. This suggests that DNA plays a functional role beyond the traditionally understood mechanisms. One such example of a phenotypic correlation with DNA content is present in the genus Silene, where a negative correlation between DNA content and flower size exists within and between species. This relationship is consistent with the direction of sexual dimorphism in DNA content (caused by heteromorphic sex-chromosomes) and flower size in the most studied species in the genus: S. latifolia. This thesis takes a comparative approach between two closely related species in the genus (S. latifolia and S. marizii), which differ markedly in their nuclear DNA content, in order to investigate the nature and phenotypic impacts of variation in DNA content. A phenotypic survey from a number of S. marizii populations reveals that the pattern of DNA content variation in this species is very different to that in S. latifolia. In particular, phenotypic correlations with DNA content appear be much weaker, whilst sexual dimorphism in DNA content, when present, appears to occur in either direction. A survey of interspecific hybrids suggests that this may be due to an enlarged S. marizii X-chromosome and that DNA content in hybrids may be biased with regard to their parents. Repetitive elements may be significant constituents of plant genomes. A study of Ty1-copia class retrotransposons in the two species reveals that they are present as a large and highly heterogeneous population. Phylogenetic analysis of these elements suggests a substantial degree of genetic isolation between the two species. Finally, an assessment of the flow-cytometric method, used to estimate DNA content, reveals substantial error associated with the method, but only limited evidence for stoichiometric effects.

Nuclear DNA content (genome size) is one of the basic characteristics of living organisms. In the Angiosperms, the range of genome size is 2,300-fold, which raises questions about the causes and consequences of this tremendous variation. This thesis deals with genome size in plants from the level of intraspecific homoploid variation, through intraspecific ploidy variation, to interspecies comparisons. On various study systems we investigated the dynamics and ranges of genome size variation, tried to reveal possible associations between genome size and selected biological traits, and assessed the extent to which differences in genome size are manifested at the ecological and evolutionary level. As a means of estimating genome size we applied flow cytometry (FCM). In Taraxacum stenocephalum we conducted a detailed study of its enormous genome size variation. We carried out crossings of parents with various genome sizes and compared these parental genome sizes with those of F1 offspring. We also attempted to reveal the association of genome size with various growth traits. In Galium valdepilosum and Arabidopsis arenosa we carried out an extensive flow-cytometric ploidy level screening and compared the distribution and ecological preferences of detected cytotypes. We studied the Andean genus...

Amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba spp. are free-living unicellular organisms found in disparate ecosystems all over the world. Due to their ability to invade human body, evade its defensive mechanisms and cause extensive tissue damage, Acanthamoeba infection can lead to serious, if rare, diseases, affecting most commonly the eye and the central nervous system. Specific therapy for Acanthamoeba infections is not available. A major reason for therapeutic failure in ameobiasis is the ability of the protist to differentiate into resistant stages. These are cysts, known to be formed under prolonged unfavorable conditions, both in the environment and the infected tissues, and the pseudocysts, less durable but rapidly formed under acute stress. The present thesis focuses on as yet unexplored mechanisms of resistance of cysts and pseudocysts. Moreover, further characteristics distinguishing cysts and pseudocysts as well as the processes involved in their formation are investigated. One of the issues addressed is a presence of protective carbohydrate compounds mannitol and trehalose that participate in defensive reactions against abiotic stress in many organisms. Although putative genes for enzymes of the trehalose and mannitol synthetic pathways are present in the genome of Acanthamoeba, only one of the...