81 research outputs found

    Y-Chromosome Variation in Hominids: Intraspecific Variation Is Limited to the Polygamous Chimpanzee

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    The original publication is available at www.plosone.orgBackground: We have previously demonstrated that the Y-specific ampliconic fertility genes DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) and CDY (chromodomain protein Y) varied with respect to copy number and position among chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). In comparison, seven Y-chromosomal lineages of the bonobo (Pan paniscus), the chimpanzee’s closest living relative, showed no variation. We extend our earlier comparative investigation to include an analysis of the intraspecific variation of these genes in gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), and examine the resulting patterns in the light of the species’ markedly different social and mating behaviors. Methodology/Principal Findings: Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH) of DAZ and CDY in 12 Y-chromosomal lineages of western lowland gorilla (G. gorilla gorilla) and a single lineage of the eastern lowland gorilla (G. beringei graueri) showed no variation among lineages. Similar findings were noted for the 10 Y-chromosomal lineages examined in the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), and 11 Y-chromosomal lineages of the Sumatran orangutan (P. abelii). We validated the contrasting DAZ and CDY patterns using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in chimpanzee and bonobo. Conclusion/Significance: High intraspecific variation in copy number and position of the DAZ and CDY genes is seen only in the chimpanzee. We hypothesize that this is best explained by sperm competition that results in the variant DAZ and CDY haplotypes detected in this species. In contrast, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans—species that are not subject to sperm competition—showed no intraspecific variation in DAZ and CDY suggesting that monoandry in gorillas, and preferential female mate choice in bonobos and orangutans, probably permitted the fixation of a single Y variant in each taxon. These data support the notion that the evolutionary history of a primate Y chromosome is not simply encrypted in its DNA sequences, but is also shaped by the social and behavioral circumstances under which the specific species has evolved.Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SCHE 214/8)Publisher's versio

    The Acute Phase Protein Ceruloplasmin as a Non-Invasive Marker of Pseudopregnancy, Pregnancy, and Pregnancy Loss in the Giant Panda

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    After ovulation, non-pregnant female giant pandas experience pseudopregnancy. During pseudopregnancy, non-pregnant females exhibit physiological and behavioral changes similar to pregnancy. Monitoring hormonal patterns that are usually different in pregnant mammals are not effective at determining pregnancy status in many animals that undergo pseudopregnancy, including the giant panda. Therefore, a physiological test to distinguish between pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in pandas has eluded scientists for decades. We examined other potential markers of pregnancy and found that activity of the acute phase protein ceruloplasmin increases in urine of giant pandas in response to pregnancy. Results indicate that in term pregnancies, levels of active urinary ceruloplasmin were elevated the first week of pregnancy and remain elevated until 20–24 days prior to parturition, while no increase was observed during the luteal phase in known pseudopregnancies. Active ceruloplasmin also increased during ultrasound-confirmed lost pregnancies; however, the pattern was different compared to term pregnancies, particularly during the late luteal phase. In four out of the five additional reproductive cycles included in the current study where females were bred but no birth occurred, active ceruloplasmin in urine increased during the luteal phase. Similar to the known lost pregnancies, the temporal pattern of change in urinary ceruloplasmin during the luteal phase deviated from the term pregnancies suggesting that these cycles may have also been lost pregnancies. Among giant pandas in captivity, it has been presumed that there is a high rate of pregnancy loss and our results are the first to provide evidence supporting this notion

    Quorum sensing:Implications on rhamnolipid biosurfactant production

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    Inefficient purifying selection: the mammalian Y chromosome in the rodent genus Mus

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    Two related genes with potentially similar functions, one on the Y chromosome and one on the X chromosome, were examined to determine if they evolved differently because of their chromosomal positions. Six hundred fifty-seven base pairs of coding sequence of Jarid1d ( Smcy ) on the Y chromosome and Jarid1c ( Smcx ) on the X chromosome were sequenced in 13 rodent taxa. An analysis of replacement and silent substitutions, using a counting method designed for samples with small evolutionary distances, showed a significant difference between the two genes. The different patterns of replacement and silent substitutions within Jarid1d and Jarid1c may be a result of evolutionary mechanisms that are particularly strong on the Y chromosome because of its unique properties. These findings are similar to results of previous studies of Y chromosomal genes in these and other mammalian taxa, suggesting that genes on the mammalian Y evolve in a chromosome-specific manner.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46987/1/335_2005_Article_50.pd

    Neuer Biochipreader für Forschung und Entwicklung

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    Die DNA-Chip-Technologie wird zunehmend für die Analyse von Nukleinsäuren eingesetzt [1]. Die Vorteile gegenüber herkömmlichen Methoden beruhen auf der Miniaturisierung, Parallelisierung, Kostenreduzierung und Zeitersparnis. Anwendungsgebiete sind die medizinische Diagnostik, Lebensmittel- und Umweltanalytik. Das Analyseprinzip basiert auf der Paarung von komplementären DNA-Einzelsträngen. Die Kenntnis der Sequenzabfolge eines Einzelstrangs erlaubt die Identifizierung des komplementären Partnerstrangs. Auf dem Chip sind punktrasterförmig Messpunkte angeordnet, die aus bekannten kovalent an die Oberfläche angebundenen DNA-Einzelsträngen, sog. DNA-Sonden bestehen. Verschiedene Messpunkten enthalten DNA-Sonden mit unterschiedlicher Sequenzabfolge. Wird auf das Messfeld eine flüssige Probe mit unbekannten DNA-Einzelsträngen gegeben findet selektiv eine Anbindung (Hybridisierung) statt, falls Messpunkte komplementäre Bindungspartner in der Probe finden. Da die DNA Probe fluoreszenzmarkiert ist erlaubt die ortsaufgelöste Messung der Fluoreszenzemission die Identifikation der DNA-Probe. Eine Vielzahl optischer Analysegeräte für fluoreszenzmarkierte Biochips sind entwickelt worden und sind auf dem Markt erhältlich. Die Readertechnologie beschränkt sich gegenwärtig auf das optische Auslesen von Biochips nach abgeschlossener Hybridisierungsreaktion. Somit kann also nur der Endpunkt der Hybridisierung, aber nicht der Verlauf der Anbindung beobachtet werden. Dieses Verfahren ist besonders geeignet für Routineanwendungen mit festem Hybridisierungsprotokoll. Für Forschung & Entwicklung ist die Untersuchung von Hybridisierungsverläufen und die schnelle Veränderung von Hybridisierungsparameter, wie z.B. Temperatur und Pufferkonzentration, von besonderem Interesse. Dies erfordert die Integration der bisher extern durchgeführten Hybridisierung in das optische Analysegerät

    Characterizing the chromosomes of the Australian model marsupial Macropus eugenii (tammar wallaby)

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    Marsupials occupy a phylogenetic middle ground that is very valuable in genome comparisons of mammal and other vertebrate species. For this reason, whole genome sequencing is being undertaken for two distantly related marsupial species, including the model kangaroo species Macropus eugenii (the tammar wallaby). As a first step towards the molecular characterization of the tammar genome, we present a detailed description of the tammar karyotype, report the development of a set of molecular anchor markers and summarize the comparative mapping data for this species.Amber E. Alsop, Pat Miethke, Ruth Rofe, Edda Koina, Natasha Sankovic, Janine E. Deakin, Helen Haines, Robert W. Rapkins and Jennifer A. Marshall Grave

    Construction of a highly enriched marsupial Y chromosome-specific BAC sub-library using isolated Y chromosomes

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    © Springer 2006The Y chromosome is perhaps the most interesting element of the mammalian genome but comparative analysis of the Y chromosome has been impeded by the difficulty of assembling a shotgun sequence of the Y. BAC-based sequencing has been successful for the human and chimpanzee Y but is difficult to do efficiently for an atypical mammalian model species (Skaletsky et al. 2003, Kuroki et al. 2006). We show how Y-specific sub-libraries can be efficiently constructed using DNA amplified from microdissected or flow-sorted Y chromosomes. A Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) library was constructed from the model marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). We screened this library for Y chromosome-derived BAC clones using DNA from both a microdissected Y chromosome and a flow-sorted Y chromosome in order to create a Y chromosome-specific sub-library. We expected that the tammar wallaby Y chromosome should detect approximately 100 clones from the 2.2 times redundant library. The microdissected Y DNA detected 85 clones, 82% of which mapped to the Y chromosome and the flow-sorted Y DNA detected 71 clones, 48% of which mapped to the Y chromosome. Overall, this represented a approximately 330-fold enrichment for Y chromosome clones. This presents an ideal method for the creation of highly enriched chromosome-specific sub-libraries suitable for BAC-based sequencing of the Y chromosome of any mammalian species.N. Sankovic, M. L. Delbridge, F. Grützner, M. A. Ferguson-Smith, P. C. M. O’Brien and J. A. Marshall Grave
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