<p> The extremely halophilic bacterium, Halobacterium salinarium, contains a light density satellite DNA component which is 20% of the total DNA. </p> <p> The purpose of this investigation was to study the physical characteristics of the satellite DNA by ultra- centrifugation and electron microscopic methods in an attempt to answer the following questions: "(a) Does the amount of the satellite depend on DNA isolation conditions?" "(b) What is the biological derivation of the satellite?" "(c) What is the physical size( s) of the satellite?" "(d) How many copies of the satellite occur in the"cell?" </p> <p> The results of this investigation showed that the amount of the satellite is independent of isolation conditions, and that it exists in the form of closed circular duplexes. Although the possibility that the satellite represents multiple forms of closed circular molecules could not be completely ruled out, the majority of the closed circles appeared to have lengths about 37 u, so that there might be eight copies of the satellite per bacterial genome. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The long-range structure of the Y chromosome alphoid satellite DNA has been determined in the cell lines 3E7 and OXEN. Variation in alphoid DNA block size and restriction enzyme sites were observed. The alphoid block size and restriction enzyme site variations were determined for a collection of 42 normal Y chromosomes. The alphoid DNA polymorphisms observed denned 24 Y chromosome alleles. Unexpectedly, the Y alphoid DNA alleles analysed revealed two distinct groups of Y chromosomes indicating that most of the Caucasian and Asian men analysed were descended from one of two males. The structure of the alphoid DNA was determined for 25 cell lines expected to contain abnormal Y chromosomes. Six of the cell lines lacked Y chromosomes. Four lacked both alphoid DNA and Y a centromere. 13 out of the remaining 15 Y chromosomes had centromeres and Y alphoid DNA block sizes and restriction enzyme site variation similar to that of normal Y chromosome alphoid DNA. Two of the abnormal cell lines had alphoid DNA blocks significantly different from the normal Y alphoid DNA structure. These results confirm that alphoid DNA is located very close to, or at the centromere and make it a prime candidate for a functional mammalian centromere sequence.

Geminiviruses (family Geminiviridae) are characterized structurally by twinned (geminate) morphology of virions (ca. 18-30 nm) and genetically by a genome comprising one or two small circular single stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules and they are responsible for major crop losses worldwide. The genus Begomovirus (type member Bean golden yellow mosaic virus) is the largest genus of the family Geminiviridae. The members of this genus have either monopartite or bipartite genomes. They are transmitted by whiteflies and infect only dicotyledonous plants. DNA β molecules are symptom modulating single-stranded sat-DNA molecules which are associated with certain monopartite begomoviruses. These molecules are around half the size (approximately 1350 nt in length) of their helper viruses and rely on the helper begomovirus for movement in plant tissues, replication and plant-to-plant transmission by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). They contribute to production of symptoms and enhance helper virus accumulation in certain hosts. DNA β molecules encode a single gene, called βC1, on the complementary strand which is important for pathogenicity and suppression of post transcriptional gene silencing. In this study the regulation of βC1 gene expression, a host factor interacting with βC1 and its role in the pathogenicity of DNA β are described. Transient expression studies using Nicotiana tabacum plants and GUS as a reporter gene, identified the sequences important for transcription of βC1 from DNA β associated with Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMV). A 68 nt fragment (between -139 to -207), which contains a G-box motif was sufficient for DNA β promoter activity. Deletion of this region also led to loss of DNA β replication capacity. Mutation of the G-box, located at 143 nucleotides upstream of the βC1 start codon, resulted in a two to three times reduction in the DNA β promoter activity. This motif was shown to bind specifically to the nuclear factors isolated from tobacco leaf tissues. Histochemical staining of transgenic tobacco plants expressing the gus gene driven by full length DNA β promoter showed phloem specific localisation patterns. It was concluded that a G-box motif is required for binding of host nuclear factors and is necessary for efficient expression of this phloem specific βC1 gene. An ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, called SlUBC, was retrieved from screening of a tomato cDNA library, using βC1 encoded by DNA β associated with CLCuMV as the bait. The SlUBC was shown to complement yeast deficient in the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. It is thought that this enzyme is a key factor in the ubiquitin proteasome pathway, which plays a central role in many eukaryotic cellular processes. The authenticity and specificity of this interaction was confirmed both in vivo, using a bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay, and in vitro. Domain mapping of βC1 showed that a myristoylation-like motif is required for the interaction with SlUBC in the yeast system and induction of DNA β specific symptoms in host plants. Western blot analysis showed that expression of βC1 in transgenic tobacco plants decreased the level of poly-ubiquitinated proteins as compared with wild type plants. However, the level of expression of homologous SlUBC remained stable in these transgenic plants. These results indicated that interaction of βC1 with the SlUBC is required for DNA β specific symptom induction possibly through down-regulation of the host ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Using GFP transgenic N. benthamiana plants, the βC1 encoded by DNA β associated with CLCuMV showed suppression of post transcriptional gene silencing. This protein inhibited both local and systemic silencing. However, the low level of GFP fluorescence and also the results of RNA analysis in patch co-infiltration assay indicated that βC1 is a weak suppressor of local RNA silencing as compared with P19 protein from Tomato bushy stunt virus. A three-way grafting assay and separate patch infiltration assays showed that βC1 interferes with the activity of GFP silencing signal. Mutation of Gly103 in βC1 which was shown to be required for interaction with SlUBC and induction of DNA β specific symptoms in host plants, had no effect on the silencing suppression activity of βC1 protein. This work has provided a new insight into the importance of a G-box motif in expression of βC1 gene of DNA β and also for binding to the host nuclear proteins. In addition, interaction with a host factor, SlUBC, has been shown to be required for induction of DNA β specific symptoms in experimental plants using ToLCV as a helper virus. However, this interaction was not required for silencing suppression activity of βC1. The results of this study can be adapted to determine the mode of pathogenesis and regulation of expression of βC1 in cotton leaf curl disease. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1337164 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2008

Geminiviruses (family Geminiviridae) are characterized structurally by twinned (geminate) morphology of virions (ca. 18-30 nm) and genetically by a genome comprising one or two small circular single stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecules and they are responsible for major crop losses worldwide. The genus Begomovirus (type member Bean golden yellow mosaic virus) is the largest genus of the family Geminiviridae. The members of this genus have either monopartite or bipartite genomes. They are transmitted by whiteflies and infect only dicotyledonous plants. DNA β molecules are symptom modulating single-stranded sat-DNA molecules which are associated with certain monopartite begomoviruses. These molecules are around half the size (approximately 1350 nt in length) of their helper viruses and rely on the helper begomovirus for movement in plant tissues, replication and plant-to-plant transmission by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). They contribute to production of symptoms and enhance helper virus accumulation in certain hosts. DNA β molecules encode a single gene, called βC1, on the complementary strand which is important for pathogenicity and suppression of post transcriptional gene silencing. In this study the regulation of βC1 gene expression, a host factor interacting with βC1 and its role in the pathogenicity of DNA β are described. Transient expression studies using Nicotiana tabacum plants and GUS as a reporter gene, identified the sequences important for transcription of βC1 from DNA β associated with Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMV). A 68 nt fragment (between -139 to -207), which contains a G-box motif was sufficient for DNA β promoter activity. Deletion of this region also led to loss of DNA β replication capacity. Mutation of the G-box, located at 143 nucleotides upstream of the βC1 start codon, resulted in a two to three times reduction in the DNA β promoter activity. This motif was shown to bind specifically to the nuclear factors isolated from tobacco leaf tissues. Histochemical staining of transgenic tobacco plants expressing the gus gene driven by full length DNA β promoter showed phloem specific localisation patterns. It was concluded that a G-box motif is required for binding of host nuclear factors and is necessary for efficient expression of this phloem specific βC1 gene. An ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, called SlUBC, was retrieved from screening of a tomato cDNA library, using βC1 encoded by DNA β associated with CLCuMV as the bait. The SlUBC was shown to complement yeast deficient in the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. It is thought that this enzyme is a key factor in the ubiquitin proteasome pathway, which plays a central role in many eukaryotic cellular processes. The authenticity and specificity of this interaction was confirmed both in vivo, using a bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay, and in vitro. Domain mapping of βC1 showed that a myristoylation-like motif is required for the interaction with SlUBC in the yeast system and induction of DNA β specific symptoms in host plants. Western blot analysis showed that expression of βC1 in transgenic tobacco plants decreased the level of poly-ubiquitinated proteins as compared with wild type plants. However, the level of expression of homologous SlUBC remained stable in these transgenic plants. These results indicated that interaction of βC1 with the SlUBC is required for DNA β specific symptom induction possibly through down-regulation of the host ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Using GFP transgenic N. benthamiana plants, the βC1 encoded by DNA β associated with CLCuMV showed suppression of post transcriptional gene silencing. This protein inhibited both local and systemic silencing. However, the low level of GFP fluorescence and also the results of RNA analysis in patch co-infiltration assay indicated that βC1 is a weak suppressor of local RNA silencing as compared with P19 protein from Tomato bushy stunt virus. A three-way grafting assay and separate patch infiltration assays showed that βC1 interferes with the activity of GFP silencing signal. Mutation of Gly103 in βC1 which was shown to be required for interaction with SlUBC and induction of DNA β specific symptoms in host plants, had no effect on the silencing suppression activity of βC1 protein. This work has provided a new insight into the importance of a G-box motif in expression of βC1 gene of DNA β and also for binding to the host nuclear proteins. In addition, interaction with a host factor, SlUBC, has been shown to be required for induction of DNA β specific symptoms in experimental plants using ToLCV as a helper virus. However, this interaction was not required for silencing suppression activity of βC1. The results of this study can be adapted to determine the mode of pathogenesis and regulation of expression of βC1 in cotton leaf curl disease. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1337164 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2008

Sex chromosomes represent a unique part of the genome in many eukaryotic organisms. They differ significantly from autosomes by their evolution, specific features, and meiotic behaviour. Recent advances in the knowledge of sex chromosomes in non-model organisms have been largely enabled by modern cytogenetic methods. The present study explores several topics related to sex chromosomes in Lepidoptera, the largest group of animals with female heterogamety, using methods of molecular cytogenetics, immunocytogenetics, and molecular biology. These topics include physical mapping of chromosomes by BAC-FISH, molecular differentiation and composition of the W chromosome, differences in the evolution of the W and Z chromosome, and meiotic sex chromosome inactivation. The results obtained brought new information not only about the W and Z chromosomes in Lepidoptera, but also about the evolution and specific features of sex chromosomes in general.

Nos bancos de dados de T. cruzi há cerca de 3.750 ESTs de amastigotas e tripomastigotas, seqüenciadas a partir das extremidades 5\' ou 3\' de clones de cDNA. A metodologia ORESTES (Open Reading Frame Expressed Sequence Tags) possibilita obter seqüências transcritas parciais derivadas majoritariamente da porção central dos mRNAs, favorecendo a descoberta de novos genes. Neste trabalho, caracterizamos ORESTES de formas infectantes amastigotas e tripomastigotas da cepa humana VL10 (ATVL). A metodologia foi padronizada com formas epimastigotas da cepa CL Brener (ECL), monitorando-se nas preparações de mRNA a contaminação por DNA e a integridade dos transcritos. Populações de cDNA foram obtidas utilizando-se diferentes iniciadores aleatórios. O mesmo iniciador foi empregado nas etapas de RT e PCR, realizada em condições de baixa estringência. Obtivemos 776 e 1522 ORESTES de ECL e ATVL, respectivamente. Após análise com o programa PHRED, aceitaram-se 745 ORESTES de ECL e 1476 de ATVL. As ORESTES apresentaram um tamanho médio de 680 pb e um conteúdo de G+C de 53%. O agrupamento com CAP3 gerou 463 agrupamentos de ECL (360 singletons e 103 contigs) e 454 de ATVL (337 singletons e 117 contigs). A anotação foi feita utilizando-se o programa BLAST contra o banco nr do NCBI. Na biblioteca de ATVL observamos um número elevado de seqüências de RNA ribossômico (27%), amplificadas preferencialmente por dois iniciadores. Para ECL, a contaminação por rRNA foi de 3,6%. Para cerca de 50% das ORESTES de ATVL (n= 729) foi encontrada similaridade em bancos de dados de proteínas. Destas, 316 apresentaram similaridade com proteínas putativas conhecidas e 413 foram anotadas como proteínas hipotéticas e hipotéticas conservadas. Para 87 ORESTES de ATVL (5,9%) não foi observada nenhuma similaridade. 628 ORESTES de ECL (84%) apresentaram similaridade com proteínas depositadas em bancos públicos, ao passo que nenhuma similaridade foi encontrada para 18 cDNAs (2,4%). Ensaios de Southern blot confirmaram a presença de 4 ORESTES no match analisadas nos genomas das duas cepas. Não puderam ser atribuídas a processos biológicos conhecidos 39% e 68% das seqüências dos contigs de ECL e ATVL, respectivamente. Nos processos de Proteólise e Peptidólise, estão incluídas 11% das ORESTES de ECL e 0,3% das ORESTES de ATVL. Outras diferenças funcionais putativas foram observadas. A abundância diferencial dos transcritos de algumas ORESTES foi analisada por northern blot nos estágios evolutivos das cepas. Southern blot do contig ATVL95 originou um padrão de hibridização com múltiplas bandas, característico de seqüências repetitivas. Este contig corresponde ao transcrito do DNA satélite de 195 pb (195 SAT), uma seqüência repetitiva que perfaz cerca de 10% do genoma de T. cruzi e cuja transcrição é controversa na literatura. A transcrição do 195 SAT foi comprovada por experimentos de + northern blot e por RT-PCR. Transcritos de 195 SAT foram detectados nas frações de RNA de poliA+ e poliA-. Esses transcritos não conteriam a seqüência SL, presente nos mRNAs de tripanossomatídios. e poliA Utilizando oligonucleotídios complementares às duas fitas de 195 SAT concluímos que ambas são transcritas. Embora esteja claro que 195 SAT é transcrito, sua função biológica permanece desconhecida. / In T. cruzi databases, aproximately 3.750 ESTs of amastigotes and trypomastigotes, sequenced from the 3´ or 5´ ends cDNA clones can be found in T. cruzi databases. The ORESTES (Open Reading Frame Expressed Sequence Tags) methodology generates partial transcribed sequences derived mainly from the central portions of mRNAs, favoring the discovery of new genes. In this work, we have characterized ORESTES sequences from the infective amastigote and trypomastigote forms of the human strain VL10 (ATVL). The methodology was standardized with epimastigotes of the CL Brener strain (ECL), monitoring in the mRNA population DNA contamination and the integrity of the transcripts. cDNA populations were obtained using different arbitrarily selected, nondegenerate primers. The same primer was used in the RT and PCR steps, performed under low-stringency conditions. We obtained 776 and 1522 ORESTES of ECL and ATVL, respectively. After analysis with PHRED program, 745 ORESTES of ECL and 1476 of ATVL were accepted for further characterization. ORESTES showed a medium size of 680 bp and a G+C content of 53%. Clustering with CAP3 generated 463 unique sequences of ECL (360 singletons and 103 contigs) and 454 of ATVL (337 singletons and 117 contigs). The annotation was made with BLAST program against the NCBI nr database. In the ATVL library we observed an elevated number of ribosomal RNA sequences (27%), amplified mainly by two primers. In the ECL library, rRNA contamination was about 3.6%. Approximately 50% of the ATVL sequences (n= 729) were found in protein databases. From these, 316 showed similarity with putative known proteins and 413 were annotated as hypothetical proteins and hypothetical conserved proteins. No hit was observed for 87 ORESTES of ATVL (5.9%). 628 ORESTES of ECL (84%) showed similarity with proteins in public databases, while for 18 cDNAs (2.4%) no similarity was found. Southern blot assays confirmed the presence of four no match analyzed ORESTES in the genomes of the two strains. No known biological process could be assigned to 39% and 68% of the sequences of ECL and ATVL contigs, respectively. In Proteolysis and Peptidolysis processes 11% and 0.3% of ECL and ATVL ORESTES were allocated, respectively. Additional putative functional differences were observed. The differential abundance of transcripts of some ORESTES was analyzed by northern blot assays in the developmental stages of the strains. Southern blot of the contig ATVL95 originated a hybridization pattern with multiple bands, characteristic of repetitive sequences. This contig corresponds to the transcript of the 195 bp satellite DNA (195 SAT), a repetitive sequence that accounts for 10% of the T. cruzi genome and whose transcription is controversial in the literature. The transcription of the 195 SAT was evidenced by northern blot and RT-PCR experiments. Transcripts of 195 SAT were detected in polyA+ and poly- RNA fractions. These transcripts apparently do not contain the SL sequence, present in trypanosomatid mRNAs. By using oligonucleotides complementary to the two strands of 195 SAT, we concluded that both strands are transcribed. Although it is clear that 195 SAT is transcribed, its biological function remains unknown.

A espécie Bos indicus, particularmente a raça Nelore, é grande maioria no rebanho bovino da região acima do trópico no Brasil. Embora a habilidade desses animais em resistir às doenças parasitárias, condições climáticas e pastagens de baixa qualidade enalteçam a utilização em larga escala desta raça, estes animais não são considerados bons conversores de alimento e, conseqüentemente, precoces em comparação aos seus homólogos Bos taurus. Durante a formação das raças zebuínas brasileiras, houve uma participação das linhas maternas de Bos taurus, que pode ser demonstrada pela contribuição majoritária do genoma mitocondrial desta subespécie. Embora em escala muito menor, estima-se que exista também uma participação destas linhas maternas no genoma nuclear. O objetivo deste trabalho foi iniciar os estudos para estimar esta participação. Para os estudos foram utilizados 104 animais da raça Nelore e 8 animais de diferentes raças européias. Cinco regiões do DNA que produzem fragmentos microssatélites taurus/indicus específicos (HEL1, HEL9, ETH225, ILSTS005 e INRA063) foram amplificadas com a utilização de primers marcados com sondas fluorescentes. Os fragmentos foram submetidos à eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida desnaturante 6% e visualizados após excitação com laser. No total foram encontrados 23 alelos para os microssatélites analisados o que representa uma média de 4,6±1,82 alelos por locus. Amplificou-se também uma região do DNA satélite 1711b que posteriormente foi digerida com a enzima de restrição Msp I. Verificou-se a existência de três possíveis genótipos entre os animais Nelore mtDNA Bos taurus e mtDNA Bos indicus. Os animais europeus analisados apresentaram sempre o mesmo padrão de restrição. A comparação dos componentes de variância do tamanho dos alelos intra e inter população usando os fragmentos microssatélites permitem a separação dos animais Bos taurus dos animais Nelore, mas não dos Nelore de origem materna distinta. No entanto, a freqüência de alelos indicus específicos nos microssatélites e de padrões de digestão do DNA satélite também indicus específicos sugerem uma participação da ordem de aproximadamente 6% do genoma taurus na população de gado Nelore. / Bos indicus specie, especially Nellore breed is responsible for the majority of Brazilian tropical herd. These animals are notably capable to endure parasite infection as well as hot weather and low quality feed. In one hand this qualities suggest the large scale application of this breed, but in other hand this same breed is well characterized as bad food converter and consequently far from having good precocity status compared with its Bos taurus homologues. It has been reported a matrilineal European participation in Zebu cattle since its introduction in American lands. This hybridization is confirmed by the majority contribution of Bos taurus mtDNA in these animals. Although in a much lower frequency, we hypothesize a Bos taurus cow participation in nuclei genome. The main aim of this work was to give the firsts steps towards the estimation of this participation. A total of 104 Nellore and 8 animals of different European breeds were used for DNA analysis. Five microsatellites fragments (HEL1, HEL9, ETH225, ILSTS005 e INRA063) were amplified applying primers with fluorescent dye. Amplified fragments were used in 6% polyacrilamide electrophoresis and visualized after laser excitation. Overall 23 alleles were detected averaging 4.6±1,82/locus. Variance components of microsatellites allele size comparisons allowed the formation of two clusters separating both subspecies. No significant variation was observed between Nellore with different maternal origins. A satellite 1711b DNA was also amplified and digested with the restriction enzyme Msp I. Three possible genotypes were identified in Nellore animals harboring B. taurus and B. indicus mtDNA. European originated animals always showed the same restriction pattern. Finally B. indicus specific microsatellite allele and satellite 1711b digestion patterns frequency allowed the estimation of 6% of B. taurus contribution in purebred Nellore. These results are discussed in terms of application in cattle genetic improvement.

Cassava Manihot esculenta Crantz (Euphorbiaceae), is a source of food for more than 700 million people in developing countries and is cultivated in estimated global area of 18.6 million hectares with total annual production of 238 million tonnes. Diseases however, take a substantial toll of yield, with CMD being the most important disease and major constraint for cassava production in Tanzania and Africa. The disease causes an estimated loss of over US$ 14 million per annum. A study was undertaken in 2006/2007 to investigate the influence of satellite DNA molecules on severity of cassava begomoviruses and the breakdown of resistance to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) in Tanzania. The goal was to appraise the nature of resistance to CMD in indigenous and improved cassava cultivars in the presence of resistance-breaking satellites. Three specific aims were earmarked: to identify and characterize cassava mosaic virus isolates and satellite DNA molecules in major cassava growing areas of Tanzania; to screen cassava cultivars for resistance to begomoviruses in presence and absence of the satellite DNA molecules; and to determine the nature of interaction between begomovirus DNAs and Satellite DNA molecules in Nicotiana benthamiana. To achieve these aims, a survey was done in the major cassava growing areas of Tanzania to investigate occurrence of cassava mosaic begomoviruses and associated satellites namely, SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III. Stems from plants showing CMD symptoms were collected from field. The stems were re-planted in screenhouse to study more about the symptoms. Symptomatic leaves from sprouting cuttings were collected for DNA extraction to be used in two downstream assays - amplification of EACMV, ACMV, SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. In another experiment to evaluate cassava cultivars for resistance to CMD in presence of satellites, stem cuttings of the classical CMD-resistant cultivars were planted in greenhouse. Infectious clones of EACMV-TZ and EACMV-UG2 comprising both DNA-A and DNA-B components of bipartite begomoviruses (EACMV-TZ and EACMV-UG2) as well as infectious clones of SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III were bombarded onto the greenhouse cassava plants using a gene gun. Emerging disease symptoms on inoculated plants were scored using standard procedure. Total nucleic acid extraction from the inoculated plants was done and PCR was performed to amplify AC1 and βC1 genes as well as full length SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III. Southern blot analysis was performed to determine the presence of AC1, βC1, SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III on the DNA. In order to study interaction between cassava mosaic begomovirus (EACMV-TZ) and satellites, infectious clones of EACMV-TZ (DNA-A and DNA-B) and that of SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III were used. The clones (DNAs) were used to infect Nicotiana benthamiana by abrasion. Inoculated plants were covered with a plastic dome and placed in insect-free growth chamber for symptom development, which were scored on a standard scale of 1 to 5. Total DNA was extracted from the N. benthamiana leaves and used for Southern blot analysis. Results from the field survey showed that disease incidences varied from 60 to 90% in the Lake Victoria Zone and from 10 to 90% in the Eastern Zone. Cultivar Lyongo had the highest disease symptom severity in the Lake Victoria Zone while in the Eastern zone plants with high severity levels were from cvs Maiza and Tabora. In the screenhouse, some sprouted cuttings remained healthy up to 16 days after planting (DAP) and others recovered from the disease. Reversion was also observed in some cultivars. Using PCR, East African cassava mosaic Tanzania virus (EACMV-TZ) was amplified from 72.8% of tested samples while African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) was amplified from 4.3%. Five percent of plants had dual infection of the two viruses. While ACMV was detected in samples collected from Lake Victoria, EACMV-TZ was mostly found on samples from the Eastern zone. Sequencing showed the presence of two new virus isolates: EACMV-TZ [TZ113] and EACMV-TZ [TZ108]. Seventy five percent of plants, which showed reversion of symptoms, contained SatDNA-II. It was found that full length SatDNA-II occurred in both zones, while SatDNA-III was exclusive to the Lake Zone. Multiple DNA bands were noted in PCR agarose gels, more so in SatDNA-II than SatDNA-III. For SatDNA-II, the multiple bands were more evident for samples collected from Eastern zone than for those from the Lake Zone. Using primers based on expressed sequence tags (EST-primers) for SatDNA-II (895 bp) and SatDNA-III (306 bp), genome integrated forms of the satellites were amplified from 68% and 71.17% of samples, respectively. Thirty percent of the samples showed co-infection of the satellites. While EST-primers for detection of the integrated forms of SatDNA-III produced single bands on gels, those of SatDNA-II still produced additional bands, most noteworthy being the closely spaced „double bands‟. Upon sequencing, the satellite DNA isolates showed similarity with sequences deposited in the genebank and bearing accession numbers AY836366 and AY836367 for SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III isolates, respectively. Alignment reports (Clustal W) revealed presence of GC-rich regions, TATA protein binding motifs (TATAAAT) and CAAT boxes as well as poly (A) signal. GC-rich regions in SatDNA-II were mostly trinucleotides (CGC) and hexanucleotides (CCGCCG) while in SatDNA-III the regions were trinucleotides (CGC) and pentanucleotides (CCGCC). Following biolistic inoculation, five-week scoring for the symptoms showed that plants from cvs AR37-92, CR27-24 and AR16-3 remained symptomless while plants from cv T200 were symptomatic. PCR amplification of βC1 gene five weeks post inoculation (wpi) gave PCR products in 19.6% of the samples while AC1 was amplified from only two plants. Full-length SatDNA-II was amplified from 70% of DNA samples, mostly from plants in which a begomovirus was co-inoculated with SatDNA-II. Amplification of full-length SatDNA-III from bombarded plants was unsuccessful. Amplification of integrated fragments of SatDNA-II from bombarded plants using EST-primers gave a PCR product in 93.7% of the samples. PCR amplification of the fragments from DNAs extracted from plants of cvs AR17-5 and CR27-24 previously inoculated with EACMV-TZ + SatDNA-II and EACMV-UG2 + SatDNA-III, respectively, gave closely spaced bands on 13% of the DNA samples. Amplification of integrated forms of SatDNA-III gave bands in 52.4% of samples. Probing for full-length SatDNA-II, SatDNA-III and AC1 from DNAs extracted from plants pre-inoculated with these DNAs using DIG- labeled probes gave hybridization signals in 60%, 83% and 68% of the samples, respectively. Further analysis of the signals in the context of screening suggested that cvs AR37-92 and AR37-96 were highly resistant to CMD while cv AR40-10 was susceptible. In the interaction experiment, Nicotiana benthamiana plants inoculated with an infectious clone of EACMV-TZ developed moderate CMD symptoms 7 days post inoculation (dpi) with symptoms consisting of leaf distortion and moderate stunting of plants. There were also plants which recovered from the symptoms by 35 dpi. Plants inoculated with EACMV-TZ + SatDNA-II produced similar symptoms with N. benthamiana plants developing symptoms 7 dpi that became severe by 14 dpi and without recovery even after 35 dpi. Very severe symptoms were also observed when N. benthamiana plants were inoculated with EACMV-TZ + SatDNA-II + SatDNA-III. Plants inoculated with SatDNA-II or SatDNA-III alone remained asymptomatic even after 35 dpi. Southern blot analysis showed clear increase in DNA accumulation when EACMV-TZ was inoculated together with both SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III as compared to when EACMV-TZ was inoculated alone or with SatDNA-II only and probed with EACMV-TZ. In conclusion, symptom recovery and reversion of symptoms in screenhouse plants is associated with virus resistance. There is a wide occurrence of satellites (SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III) across the sampled regions consistent with distribution of their helper cassava begomoviruses. The satellites are of a wider occurrence and diversity in Eastern zone than elsewhere in the country. The occurrence of SatDNA-III was not confined to the Lake zone as previously thought. There is evidence for satellite sequence integration into host plant genome, a further indication that the satellites are wider spread in cassava germplasm than earlier conceptualized. In few instances, both SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III isolates co-existed in the same plant though its effect on symptom enhancement could not be immediately established. The observed recovery in screening studies is thought to result from resistance introduced in the plant materials involved. Since labeled probes for satellites that were used in hybridization had been prepared from satellite sequences considered to be integrated, the hybridization signals did not depend on whether the leaf samples were picked from symptomatic or asymptomatic plants. From the study, three observations clearly suggest that SatDNA-II and SatDNA-III are biologically functional and that their effects on host plants are distinctly different. The study has demonstrated enhanced cassava begomovirus symptoms in N. benthamiana in the presence of satellite DNA molecules. This is the first detailed study undertaken to highlight the occurrence and role played by satellite DNA molecules in breaking the resistance to CMD of cassava cultivars grown in Tanzania. Keywords: Cassava mosaic disease, Cassava mosaic begomoviruses, Satellite DNA molecules, Tanzania.

Orientador: Luciana Bolsoni Lourenço Morandini / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T00:03:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nascimento_Juliana_M.pdf: 2159511 bytes, checksum: 592ca4a405512c2a06472a0c276eb206 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Os primeiros resultados citogenéticos obtidos para a espécie Physalaemus ephippifer, atualmente alocada no grupo P. cuvieri, mostraram um interessante heteromorfismo cromossômico ligado ao sexo. As 14 fêmeas analisadas presentaram um par cromossômico 8 heteromórfico, enquanto nos 7 machos analisados esse par era homomórfico. A diferença entre os cromossomos das fêmeas era devida à presença de um segmento adicional, composto por uma NOR e uma banda heterocromática a ela adjacente, localizado na região terminal do braço curto de apenas um desses homólogos, denominado de morfo 8b. Apesar desse importante achado, o uso de técnicas citogenéticas convencionais nessa e em outras espécies do grupo P. cuvieri não foram suficientes para esclarecer os mecanismos envolvidos na evolução cromossômica, já que poucos caracteres citogenéticos informativos foram evidenciados e também uma grande variação em relação às NORs foi encontrada. Com a intenção de buscar novos marcadores citogenéticos que auxiliem no estudo dos cromossomos sexuais de P. ephippifer e que colaborem na análise citogenética desse grupo de Physalaemus, foram estudadas sequências de DNA repetitivo isoladas desta espécie. Para tanto, o DNA genômico extraído de duas fêmeas de P. ephippifer, provenientes de Belém (Pará), foi digerido com a enzima de restrição BamHI e os fragmentos gerados foram separados por eletroforese em gel de agarose. Fragmentos posteriormente denominados de Pep194, Pep165 e Pep320 isolados a partir desse gel, foram clonados, sequenciados e localizados in situ no cariótipo de P. ephippifer. A seqüência Pep320 mostrou correspondência parcial com o fragmento EU343727.1 isolado de P. cuvieri, cuja sequência está disponível no GenBank. Apesar desses fragmentos não apresentarem similaridade entre si, as sequências Pep165 e Pep320 foram mapeadas no mesmo sítio cromossômico, correspondente à banda pericentromérica do braço curto do cromossomo 3. Esse resultado levanta um questionamento, ainda não respondido, acerca da organização molecular dessas sequências, que podem estar arranjadas em clusters independentes ou representar partes de uma mesma unidade repetitiva. A sequência Pep194 foi mapeada em regiões coincidentes com as NORs, localizadas no braço longo dos cromossomos identificados como Z e W, e no braço curto do cromossomo W. Apesar deste resultado, a análise da sequência Pep194 não apresentou nenhuma similaridade com regiões codificadoras do DNAr nucleolar, nem mesmo com regiões intergênicas associadas a elas já descritas. Tal sequência apresentou interessante arranjo interno, sendo composta de duas repetições diretas terminais, cada uma com 63 pb, sendo ambas flanqueadoras deuma região interna de 68 pb. Para melhor investigar a organização desta sequência no genoma de P. ephippifer, foram analisados produtos resultantes da amplificação por PCR de segmentos do DNA genômico, efetuada com o auxílio de primers construídos especificamente para se anelarem em regiões internas do segmento isolado. Os resultados obtidos por essa análise evidenciaram a presença de uma unidade repetitiva de 131 pb, que representa parte do fragmento Pep194, diferindo desse por não apresentar uma das regiões de 63 pb. No entanto, não é possível descartar a co-existência de uma unidade repetitiva de 194 pb, não detectada nessas análises. Em paralelo a esses experimentos, sequências pertencentes a elementos retrotransponíveis Rex1 foram isoladas do genoma de P. ephippifer por PCR, clonadas, sequenciadas e mapeadas por FISH em uma região heterocromática pericentromérica do braço curto do cromossomo 3. A análise das sequências desses fragmentos comprovou serem correspondentes a parte da sequência codificadora da enzima transcriptase reversa do elemento Rex1. A fim de verificar a presença desse elemento em outras espécies de Physalaemus, os mesmos primers utilizados nos experimentos com P. ephippifer, foram usados para a amplificação de sequências a partir de amostras do DNA genômico de P. albifrons, P. albonotatus, P. henselli e P. spiniger. A sequência isolada de P. albonotatus apresentou uma deleção interna de cerca de 220 pb quando comparada com as sequências correspondentes, aqui descritas ou disponíveis no GenBank. Isso permite sugerir que, embora derivado de um elemento Rex1, esse segmento provavelmente deixou de ser um elemento de transposição ativo. Embora esse seja o primeiro trabalho que descreve a ocorrência de Rex1 em anuros, a presença desse elemento parece comum, pelo menos no gênero Physalaemus. Além de apresentar similaridade com o segmento de Rex1 e com os fragmentos Pep165 e Pep320, a banda heterocromática pericentromérica de 3p é também o sítio de ocorrência de DNAr 5S. Tal região, reconhecida como DAPI-positiva na presente análise, permite clara distinção entre os cromossomos 3 e 4 de P. ephippifer, frequentemente confundidos se analisados apenas em relação à sua morfologia. As quatro sequências repetitivas aqui isoladas apresentaram-se eficientes marcadores citogenéticos e poderão ser utilizadas para futuros estudos comparativos entre espécies do gênero Physalaemus. / Abstract: Previous cytogenetic studies of Physalaemus ephippifer, a species currently allocated to the group P. cuvieri, showed an interesting female-specific chromosome heteromorphism. In 14 females of P. ephippifer, chromosome pair 8 was heteromorphic with regard to the occurrence of an NOR anda terminal C-band. Such heteromorphism was not found in the seven analyzed male specimens. These findings suggest that the chromosomes of pair 8 may be sex chromosomes in P. ephippifer, characterizing a ZZ ?/ ZW ? sex-determination system in this species. Despite these important data, conventional cytogenetic techniques performed in this and other species of the Physalaemus group were not sufficient to clarify the processes involved in the karyological divergence in this anuran group. Aiming to look for new cytogenetic markers that may help in the study of P. ephippifer sex chromosomes and in the cytogenetic analysis of this group of Physalaemus, we studied repetitive DNA sequences isolated from P. ephippifer. Genomic DNA extracted from two females of P. ephippifer from Belém (Pará) was digested with the restriction enzyme BamHI. The restriction fragments were separated by electrophoresis in agarose gel. DNA fragments, which were ultimately named Pep194, Pep165, and Pep320, were isolated from the gel, cloned, sequenced, and localized in situ in the karyotype of P. ephippifer. The sequence Pep320 was very similar to the fragment EU343727.1 isolated from P. cuvieri. Although Pep320 and Pep165 were totally different in nucleotide sequence, they were mapped on the same chromosome site, which corresponded to the pericentromeric C-band in the short arm of chromosome 3. This raises doubts about the molecular organization of these sequences, which can be arranged in independent clusters, but can also represent partial regions of the same repeat unit. The sequence Pep194 was mapped in regions that coincided with the NORs, located in the long arm of Z and W chromosomes and in the short arm of the W chromosome. However, the Pep194 sequence had no similarity with the coding regions of the nucleolar rDNA or with intergenic spacers associated to them. The restriction fragment Pep194 had an interesting internal arrangement, being composed of two terminal direct repeats, each with 63 bp, flanking an internal region of 68 bp. To further investigate the organization of this sequence in the genome of P. ephippifer, we amplified some Pep194 segments from genomic DNA by PCR using specific primers designed to anneal in inner / Mestrado / Biologia Celular / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

A espécie Bos indicus, particularmente a raça Nelore, é grande maioria no rebanho bovino da região acima do trópico no Brasil. Embora a habilidade desses animais em resistir às doenças parasitárias, condições climáticas e pastagens de baixa qualidade enalteçam a utilização em larga escala desta raça, estes animais não são considerados bons conversores de alimento e, conseqüentemente, precoces em comparação aos seus homólogos Bos taurus. Durante a formação das raças zebuínas brasileiras, houve uma participação das linhas maternas de Bos taurus, que pode ser demonstrada pela contribuição majoritária do genoma mitocondrial desta subespécie. Embora em escala muito menor, estima-se que exista também uma participação destas linhas maternas no genoma nuclear. O objetivo deste trabalho foi iniciar os estudos para estimar esta participação. Para os estudos foram utilizados 104 animais da raça Nelore e 8 animais de diferentes raças européias. Cinco regiões do DNA que produzem fragmentos microssatélites taurus/indicus específicos (HEL1, HEL9, ETH225, ILSTS005 e INRA063) foram amplificadas com a utilização de primers marcados com sondas fluorescentes. Os fragmentos foram submetidos à eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida desnaturante 6% e visualizados após excitação com laser. No total foram encontrados 23 alelos para os microssatélites analisados o que representa uma média de 4,6±1,82 alelos por locus. Amplificou-se também uma região do DNA satélite 1711b que posteriormente foi digerida com a enzima de restrição Msp I. Verificou-se a existência de três possíveis genótipos entre os animais Nelore mtDNA Bos taurus e mtDNA Bos indicus. Os animais europeus analisados apresentaram sempre o mesmo padrão de restrição. A comparação dos componentes de variância do tamanho dos alelos intra e inter população usando os fragmentos microssatélites permitem a separação dos animais Bos taurus dos animais Nelore, mas não dos Nelore de origem materna distinta. No entanto, a freqüência de alelos indicus específicos nos microssatélites e de padrões de digestão do DNA satélite também indicus específicos sugerem uma participação da ordem de aproximadamente 6% do genoma taurus na população de gado Nelore. / Bos indicus specie, especially Nellore breed is responsible for the majority of Brazilian tropical herd. These animals are notably capable to endure parasite infection as well as hot weather and low quality feed. In one hand this qualities suggest the large scale application of this breed, but in other hand this same breed is well characterized as bad food converter and consequently far from having good precocity status compared with its Bos taurus homologues. It has been reported a matrilineal European participation in Zebu cattle since its introduction in American lands. This hybridization is confirmed by the majority contribution of Bos taurus mtDNA in these animals. Although in a much lower frequency, we hypothesize a Bos taurus cow participation in nuclei genome. The main aim of this work was to give the firsts steps towards the estimation of this participation. A total of 104 Nellore and 8 animals of different European breeds were used for DNA analysis. Five microsatellites fragments (HEL1, HEL9, ETH225, ILSTS005 e INRA063) were amplified applying primers with fluorescent dye. Amplified fragments were used in 6% polyacrilamide electrophoresis and visualized after laser excitation. Overall 23 alleles were detected averaging 4.6±1,82/locus. Variance components of microsatellites allele size comparisons allowed the formation of two clusters separating both subspecies. No significant variation was observed between Nellore with different maternal origins. A satellite 1711b DNA was also amplified and digested with the restriction enzyme Msp I. Three possible genotypes were identified in Nellore animals harboring B. taurus and B. indicus mtDNA. European originated animals always showed the same restriction pattern. Finally B. indicus specific microsatellite allele and satellite 1711b digestion patterns frequency allowed the estimation of 6% of B. taurus contribution in purebred Nellore. These results are discussed in terms of application in cattle genetic improvement.