Interplay of Ribosomal DNA Loci in Nucleolar Dominance: Dominant NORs Are Up-Regulated by Chromatin Dynamics in the Wheat-Rye System
2008

Wheat-Rye Nucleolar Dominance and Ribosomal DNA Dynamics

Sample size: 74 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Silva Manuela, Pereira H. Sofia, Bento Miguel, Santos Ana Paula, Shaw Peter, Delgado Margarida, Neves Nuno, Viegas Wanda

Primary Institution: Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Technical University of Lisbon

Hypothesis

How do ribosomal DNA loci interact in the context of nucleolar dominance between wheat and rye?

Conclusion

The study shows that wheat-origin NORs are up-regulated in the presence of rye nucleolar chromosomes, indicating a complex interplay between the two species' ribosomal DNA.

Supporting Evidence

  • The wheat-specific rRNA expression was found to be significantly higher in the wheat-rye addition line compared to wheat alone.
  • Silver-staining revealed a clear dominance of wheat NORs over rye NORs in the addition line.
  • Confocal microscopy showed distinct patterns of ribosomal chromatin organization in wheat and the addition line.

Takeaway

When wheat and rye are combined, the wheat genes that help make ribosomes become more active, while the rye genes become less active.

Methodology

The study used quantitative real-time PCR and silver-staining techniques to analyze transcriptional activity and chromatin topology in a wheat-rye addition line.

Participant Demographics

The study involved wheat and rye plant lines.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.0025

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0003824

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