Pericentromere clustering in Tradescantia section Rhoeo involves self-associations of AT- and GC-rich heterochromatin fractions, is developmentally regulated, and increases during differentiation.

ABSTRACT: A spectacular but poorly recognized nuclear repatterning is the association of heterochromatic domains during interphase. Using base-specific fluorescence and extended-depth-of-focus imaging, we show that the association of heterochromatic pericentromeres composed of AT- and GC-rich chromatin occurs on a large scale in cycling meiotic and somatic cells and during development in ring- and bivalent-forming Tradescantia spathacea (section Rhoeo) varieties. The mean number of pericentromere AT-rich domains per root meristem nucleus was ca. half the expected diploid number in both varieties, suggesting chromosome pairing via (peri)centromeric regions. Indeed, regular pairing of AT-rich domains was observed. The AT- and GC-rich associations in differentiated cells contributed to a significant re

SUBMITTER: Golczyk H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7666280 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature