Chromosome Dynamics Regulating Genomic Dispersion and Alteration of Nucleolus Organizer Regions (NORs). 2020

Hirohisa Hirai
Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan.

The nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) demonstrate differences in genomic dispersion and transcriptional activity among all organisms. I postulate that such differences stem from distinct genomic structures and their interactions from chromosome observations using fluorescence in situ hybridization and silver nitrate staining methods. Examples in primates and Australian bulldog ants indicate that chromosomal features indeed play a significant role in determining the properties of NORs. In primates, rDNA arrays that are located on the short arm of acrocentrics frequently form reciprocal associations ("affinity"), but they lack such associations ("non-affinity") with other repeat arrays-a binary molecular effect. These "rules" of affinity vs. non-affinity are extrapolated from the chromosomal configurations of meiotic prophase. In bulldog ants, genomic dispersions of rDNA loci expand much more widely following an increase in the number of acrocentric chromosomes formed by centric fission. Affinity appears to be a significantly greater force: associations likely form among rDNA and heterochromatin arrays of acrocentrics-thus, more acrocentrics bring about more rDNA loci. The specific interactions among NOR-related genome structures remain unclear and require further investigation. Here, I propose that there are limited and non-limited genomic dispersion systems that result from genomic affinity rules, inducing specific chromosomal configurations that are related to NORs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008540 Meiosis A type of CELL NUCLEUS division, occurring during maturation of the GERM CELLS. Two successive cell nucleus divisions following a single chromosome duplication (S PHASE) result in daughter cells with half the number of CHROMOSOMES as the parent cells. M Phase, Meiotic,Meiotic M Phase,M Phases, Meiotic,Meioses,Meiotic M Phases,Phase, Meiotic M,Phases, Meiotic M
D009697 Nucleolus Organizer Region The chromosome region which is active in nucleolus formation and which functions in the synthesis of ribosomal RNA. Nucleolar Organizer,Nucleolar Organizers,Nucleolus Organizer Regions,Organizer Region, Nucleolus,Organizer Regions, Nucleolus,Organizer, Nucleolar,Organizers, Nucleolar,Region, Nucleolus Organizer,Regions, Nucleolus Organizer
D002875 Chromosomes In a prokaryotic cell or in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, a structure consisting of or containing DNA which carries the genetic information essential to the cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed) Chromosome
D004275 DNA, Ribosomal DNA sequences encoding RIBOSOMAL RNA and the segments of DNA separating the individual ribosomal RNA genes, referred to as RIBOSOMAL SPACER DNA. Ribosomal DNA,rDNA
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016678 Genome The genetic complement of an organism, including all of its GENES, as represented in its DNA, or in some cases, its RNA. Genomes
D023281 Genomics The systematic study of the complete DNA sequences (GENOME) of organisms. Included is construction of complete genetic, physical, and transcript maps, and the analysis of this structural genomic information on a global scale such as in GENOME WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDIES. Functional Genomics,Structural Genomics,Comparative Genomics,Genomics, Comparative,Genomics, Functional,Genomics, Structural

Related Publications

Hirohisa Hirai
February 1989, Human genetics,
Hirohisa Hirai
December 1990, Anales de la Facultad de Odontologia,
Hirohisa Hirai
April 1989, Genetical research,
Hirohisa Hirai
January 1986, Cytogenetics and cell genetics,
Hirohisa Hirai
January 1981, American journal of human genetics,
Hirohisa Hirai
January 1994, Sao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina,
Copied contents to your clipboard!