Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007. / Prepared for: Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology. Bibliography: leaves 146-162. Available to VCU users online via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Graduate School, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-122).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-73).

Orientador: Cesar Martins / Resumo: B chromosomes (Bs) are additional to the standard regular chromosome set (As), and present in all groups of eukaryotes. A reference genome is key to understand genomics aspects of an organism. Here, we present the de novo genome assembly of the cichlid fish A. latifasciata: a well known model to study Bs. The assembly of A. latifasciata genome has not been performed so far. The main focus of this study is to analyze and assemble the A. latifasciata genome with no B (B-) and with B (B+) chromosomes. The assembled draft B- and B+ genomes comprised of 774 Mb and 781 Mb with 1.8 Mb and 2.5Mb of N50 value of scaffolds respectively, and spanning 23,391 number of genes. High coverage data with Illumina sequencing was obtained for males and females with 0B, 1B and 2B chromosomes to provide information regarding the population polymorphism of these genomes. We observed a high scale genomic diversity in all analyzed genomes showing a high rate/frequency of population polymorphism with no evident effect of B chromosome presence. However, the B specific single nucleotide polymorphisms were found in the sequences that were located on B chromosome. While, the whole-genome rearrangements (inter chromosomal translocations) were detected in B+ genome, and structural variations including insertions, deletions, inversions and duplications were predicted in a representative genomic region of B chromosome. These results bring an evidence that existence of Bs in a genome should favour the accumu... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

No description available.

The superinfection exclusion gene (sieB) of Salmonella phage P22 was mapped using phage deletion mutants. The DNA sequence in the region was re-examined in order to find an open reading frame consistent with the deletion mapping. Several discrepancies from the previously published sequence were discovered. The revised sequence revealed a single open reading frame of 242 codons with six likely translation initiation codons. On the basis of deletion and amber mutant phenotypes the second of these six sites was inferred to be the translation initiation site of the sieB gene. The sieB gene encodes a polypeptide with 192 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 22,442, which is in reasonable agreement with that estimated from polyacrylamide gels. The transcription start-site of sieB was identified by the use of an RNAase protection assay. The sieB promoter thus identified was inactivated by a two-base substitution in its -10 hexamer. The sieB gene of coliphage λ was also identified. The promoter for λ sieB was identified by homology to that of P22 sieB. sieB aborts the lytic development of some phages. P22 itself is insensitive to the lethal effect of SieB because it harbours a determinant called esc. It was found that the sieB gene encodes two polypeptides-SieB, which is the exclusion protein, and Esc, which is a truncated version of SieB that inhibits its action. Superinfecting P22 synthesizes an antisense RNA, sas, that inhibits synthesis of SieB but allows continued synthesis of Esc, thus allowing P22 to by-pass SieB-mediated exclusion. This translational switch induced by sas RNA is essential to vegetatively developing P22; a mutation that prevents this switch causes P22 to commit SieB-mediated suicide. It was also found that P22's Esc allows it to circumvent the SieB-mediated exclusion system of bacteriophage λ.

Tetraploid cells, which typically arise from errors in mitosis, are genomically unstable and promote tumorigenesis. Recent evidence suggests that ~40% of tumors undergo a tetraploid intermediate during their evolution, with ~20% of all solid tumors maintaining a tetraploid karyotype. Consequently, tumor suppression mechanisms have evolved to limit the proliferation of tetraploid cells. However, it remains unclear how tetraploid cells are able to overcome these tumor suppression mechanisms to initiate tumorigenesis. To address this unresolved question, we developed and validated a genome-wide screening assay to comprehensively identify miRNAs whose overexpression promotes tetraploid cell proliferation. We then profiled those miRNAs to mechanistically define how each miRNA functions to overcome tetraploid induced arrest. Our results demonstrate that miRNAs can promote proliferation via multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of the p53 tumor suppressor pathway, hyperactivation of growth factor signaling, and inactivation of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway. Additionally, we investigated mechanisms that facilitate tumorigenesis from proliferating tetraploid cells. It is well established that tetraploid cell proliferation promotes both numerical and structural chromosome abnormalities, although the precise mechanisms underlying these phenomena remain incompletely understood. Chromosome missegregation can lead to the formation of micronuclei separate from the primary nucleus, a result of either lagging or polar chromosomes. Micronuclei have been shown to rupture during interphase, leading to massive amounts of DNA damage and chromothripsis, resulting in extensive DNA breaks and rearrangements. We followed micronuclei formed from both lagging and polar chromosomes to determine whether all micronuclei are equally prone to nuclear envelope rupture. Our results show that polar micronuclei have nuclear envelopes that are significantly more stable than the nuclear envelopes of micronuclei formed from lagging chromosomes. Furthermore, micronuclei have been shown to be deficient at nuclear import of proteins. Kinetochore assembly, vital for proper chromosome segregation, is dependent upon the nuclear import of many proteins. We sought to establish whether micronuclei have defects in kinetochore assembly since without functional kinetochores, chromosomes cannot bind to the mitotic spindle. We found that chromosomes in micronuclei fail to assemble kinetochores efficiently, and thus promote additional chromosome missegregation. Overall, this dissertation identifies multiple mechanisms that facilitate tumorigenesis from tetraploid intermediates.

The maintenance of genomic stability through suppression of retrotransposon activity is vital for the avoidance of potentially mutagenic genomic disruption caused by retrotransposition. Germline development is a particularly important phase for retrotransposon silencing as retrotransposition events here have the potential for transmission to the entire embryo, threatening the health of offspring. A collection of germline genome defence genes are required for the suppression of retrotransposons in the developing germline of male mice (e.g. Tex19.1, Dazl, Mili, Miwi2, Gasz, Mov10l1, Mael, Dnmt3l), all of which trigger meiotic prophase arrest when mutated. I have analysed the meiotic defects which arise in Tex19.1-/- male mice to contribute to the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms required for successful completion of meiosis and to investigate the involvement of retrotransposon silencing in this process. The absence of TEX19.1 in male mice causes infertility; with failed chromosome synapsis in ~50% of pachytene nuclei and associated apoptosis, as well as individual univalent chromosomes in 67% of remaining nuclei progressing to metaphase I. Where studied, failed chromosome synapsis is a common feature of germline genome defence mutant spermatocytes. One aim of my studies has been to better understand the mechanism responsible for this failed chromosome synapsis. I have demonstrated that unlike Mael-/- spermatocytes, additional SPO11-independent DNA damage potentially attributable to retrotransposition is not detectable in Tex19.1-/- spermatocytes. Rather, the formation of meiotic DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) is dramatically reduced in early prophase to around 50%, resulting in a reduction in nuclear γH2AX signal, production of SPO11- oligonucleotide complexes and foci formation by early recombination proteins RPA, DMC1 and RAD51. Despite this early reduction, DSB frequency recovers to more normal levels shortly after in zygotene. I have shown that defective pairing of homologous chromosomes by meiotic recombination is likely responsible for the asynapsis previously reported. The initial reduction in DSB frequency could be sufficient to cause failed chromosome synapsis in this mutant, assuming that late-forming DSBs cannot participate effectively in promoting homologous pairing. Alternative hypotheses include altered positioning of DSBs in response to altered chromatin organisation relating to retrotransposon upregulation, misguiding the pairing of homologous chromosomes. Such a model of disruption could also extend to other germline genome defence mutants. I have demonstrated that despite successful pairing of homologous chromosomes in a sub-population of Tex19.1-/- spermatocytes, subsequent progression of these cells through pachytene is delayed. Numerous diverse features of progression are all delayed, including recombination, ubiquitination on autosomes and sex chromosomes, expression of the mid-pachytene marker H1t, and chromosome organisation. The delay identified is related to recombination therefore this feature is likely to stem from the initial defect in DSB formation early in prophase. While some delayed features are probably directly related to recombination, others are not. The coordinated delay observed may suggest the presence of a recombination-sensitive cell-cycle checkpoint operating to regulate progression through pachytene. My research has also aimed to establish the cause of elevated univalent chromosomes not connected by chiasmata in metaphase I Tex19.1-/- spermatocytes. I have demonstrated that that absence of chiasmata is not due to failed crossover formation between synapsed chromosomes. Rather, the frequent observation of individual unsynapsed chromosomes during crossover formation suggests that some spermatocytes with low-level asynapsis are leaking through meiotic checkpoints and are unable to form a crossover before reaching metaphase. Therefore, again this later meiotic defect appears to stem from the initial defect in meiotic DSB formation, the consequences of which vary widely in severity. Remarkably the unsynapsed chromosomes present during crossover formation include both sex chromosomes, and autosomes. Tolerance of an unsynapsed autosome from pachytene into metaphase is an unusual observation in mice and this observation may aid the understanding of spermato cyte quality control mechanisms during this progression. Together these findings have greatly advanced the understanding of the infertility incurred during meiosis in Tex19.1-/- male mice. These findings may also extend to benefit the understanding of other germline genome defence mutants. Diverse observations made during my investigations also reveal a potential system of coordinated progression through pachytene relating to meiotic recombination. The variable severity of the synapsis defects incurred in this mutant appears to have variable effects on spermatocyte survival and could also inform the understanding of meiotic checkpoint sensitivity.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-07-05Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:54:06Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 melloni_mng_me_jabo.pdf: 575216 bytes, checksum: 964654498d107722386fb35eacc4817a (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O Brasil tem uma flora nativa exuberante, muito explorada e pouco estudada. A economia florestal brasileira tem importante papel na qualidade de vida do país sendo necessárias informações que possibilitem uma exploração mais consciente e sustentável das espécies nativas. Uma das formas de se obter esclarecimentos relevantes a respeito das espécies arbóreas do Brasil é por meio de estudos citogenéticos. Esses estudos cromossômicos podem fornecer informações importantes na taxonomia, evolução, genética, melhoramento de plantas e na preservação dos sistemas florestais. Por meio de técnicas de citogenética convencional estabeleceu-se o número cromossômico diplóide de: Balfourodendron riedelianum, 2n = 58 cromossomos, com tamanho médio dos cromossomos de 1,877μm ± 0,44, Cedrela fissilis, 2n = 56 cromossomos, com tamanho médio dos cromossomos de 1,01μm ± 0,26; Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa, 2n = 24 cromossomos, com tamanho médio dos cromossomos de 3,52μm ± 0,68 ; Myroxylon peruiferum, 2n=26 cromossomos, com tamanho médio dos cromossomos de 1,25μm ± 0,30; Pterogyne nitens, 2n=20 cromossomos, com tamanho médio dos cromossomos de 1,13μm ± 0,27; Tabebuia aurea, 2n = 40 cromossomos, com tamanho médio dos cromossomos de 1,05μm ± 0,23; T. ochracea , 2n=80 cromossomos, com tamanho médio dos cromossomos de 1,02μm ± 0,22 e C. odorata com variação cromossômica de 2n = 42 a 2n = 104 cromossomos. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho poderão fornecer suporte para futuras pesquisas de manipulação dos cromossomos, comparação em estudos taxonômicos, estudos evolutivos, produção de progênies híbridas para fins comerciais e melhoramento genético de espécies madeireiras / Brazil has a lush native flora, much exploited and little studied. The Brazilian forestry economy has an important role in the life quality of the country being necessary information to enable a more conscious and sustainable exploitation of native species. One way to obtain relevant details about the tree species in Brazil is through cytogenetic studies. These chromosome studies may provide important information on taxonomy, evolution, genetics and plant breeding as also as on the conservation of forest systems. Using conventional cytogenetics techniques the diploid chromosome number was established: Balfourodendron riedelianum, 2n = 58 chromosomes, with the average size of chromosomes 1, 877μm ± 0.44, Cedrela fissilis, 2n = 56 chromosomes, with the average size of chromosomes 1, 01μm ± 0.26; Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa, 2n = 24 chromosomes, with an average size of the chromosomes of 3.52 μm ± 0.68; Myroxylon peruiferum, 2n = 26 chromosomes, with the average size of chromosomes 1, 25μm ± 0.30; Pterogyne nitens, 2n = 20 chromosomes with average size of chromosomes 1, 13μm ± 0.27, Tabebuia aurea, 2n = 40 chromosomes, with an average size of the chromosomes of 1.05 μm ± 0.23; T. ochracea, 2n = 80 chromosomes, with an average size of the chromosomes of 1.02 ± 0.22 μm and Cedrela odorata with chromosome variation of 2n = 42 to 2n = 104 chromosomes. The results of this study may provide support for future research in chromosome manipulation, comparative taxonomy, evolutionary studies, commercial hybrid seed production and breeding timber species

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-07-24Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:43:06Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 abril_vv_dr_jabo.pdf: 1648950 bytes, checksum: a989c1942e3dd9ac9da5d7078193a943 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Estudos com veado-mateiro (Mazama americana) mostram que há muitas controvérsias quanto ao número de subespécies ou até quanto ao desdobramento destas em espécies. Em estudo citotaxonômico foram encontradas variações cromossômicas intra e interpopulacionais em populações de M. americana geograficamente distantes, com número diplóide de 48 a 53 e número fundamental de 46 a 57. Com base nisto, o presente estudo visou compreender como ocorreu a reorganização cromossômica dentro das variantes encontradas durante a evolução do grupo. Para isto, estrutura e organização dos cromossomos de M. americana foram analisadas para identificar os rearranjos que originaram a variação intraespecífica através das técnicas de bandamento cromossômico (bandas G, C, Ag-NOR), hibridação in situ (FISH) com sondas teloméricas e pintura cromossômica com o uso de sondas cromossômicas da espécie Mazama gouazoubira. Foram identificados seis citótipos distribrídos em 12 cariótipos diferentes: Rondônia (2n=42 ou 43 e NF=46; 2n=42 e NF=49), Juína (2n= 43, 44 ou 45 e NF=48; 2n=44 e NF=46), Jarí (2n=49; NF=56, Carajás (2n=50 e NF=54), Santarém (2n=51 e NF=56) e Paraná (2n=51,52 ou 53 e NF=56). O cariótipo básico do citótipo Paraná foi utilizado como base comparativa para os demais. Os rearranjos que originaram essas diferenças foram fusões cêntricas, em tandem e inversões pericêntricas. A análise de complexo sinaptonêmico confirmou a existência de um sistema sexual múltiplo do tipo XX/XY1Y2 através da detecção de uma trivalente sexual. Sítios teloméricos intersticiais evidenciam que a ocorrência de eventos de fusões em tandem foi essencial para a evolução cariotípica desta espécie e a homologia de sondas cromossomo-específicas de M. gouazoubira corroboram que o caminho da reorganização cromossômica entre estas espécies foi principalmente através de fusões. / Studies with the red brocket deer (Mazama americana) shown that there are a lot of controversies about the number of subspecies or about the unfolding of these in new species. Citotaxonomic studies found intra and interpopulational chromosomal variations, with diploid number varing from 48 to 53 and fundamental number from 46 to 57. Based on these studies, the aim of the present study was understood how the chromosomal reorganization occurred between this variants during the evolution process. For that, we analyzed the chromosomal structure and organization of M. americana, identifying the rearrangements responsible for the intraspecific variation through chromosome banding (G and C-banding, Ag-NOR), in situ hybridization of telomeric probes and chromosome painting using probes of M. gouazoubira species. It were found six different variants: Rondônia (2n=42 or 43 and FN=46; 2n=42 and FN=49), Juína (2n= 43, 44 or 45 and FN=48; 2n=44 and FN=46), Jarí (2n=49 and FN=56), Carajás (2n=50 and FN=54), Santarém (2n=51 and FN=56) and Paraná (2n=51,52 or 53 and FN=56). The basic karyotype of Paraná variant was choosing for comparative analysis. The rearrangements responsible for these chromosomal differences were centric and tandem fusions and pericentric inversions. The synaptonemal analysis sustained the existence of a multiple sexual system (XX/XY1Y2) with detection of a sexual trivalent. Intersticial telomeric sites shown the occurrence of tandem fusions was essential for the karyotype evolution of this species and the homology with the probes of M. gouazoubira corroborated that the way of chromosomal reorganization between these species was mainly through chromosome fusions.