Abstract

This study is the third stage of the project initiated on April 1, 1979. It deals with the problem of genome reorganization during animal development. We have chosen the model system Tetrahymena for this investigation. Two specific problems are currently being examined: amplification of ribosomal RNA gene and elimination of some specific sequences. Using recombinant DNA techniques we have isolated some of the DNA fragments involved in these processes from the germinal micronucleus. In this study period we are trying to determine the nucleotide sequences in the relevant regions of these cloned DNA, such as the junction between rDNA and the flanking region. We are also examining the changes that occur to these regions of the genome during development. Effects of environmental factors such as temperature and nutrients on these alteration processes will also be investigated. It is hoped that this study will lead to a better understanding of the stability and the differentiation of eukaryotic genomes.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM026210-06
Application #
3273694
Study Section
Genetics Study Section (GEN)
Project Start
1979-04-01
Project End
1985-11-30
Budget Start
1984-12-01
Budget End
1985-11-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Washington University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
062761671
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130

  Publications

Tanaka, Hisashi; Cao, Yi; Bergstrom, Donald A et al. (2007) Intrastrand annealing leads to the formation of a large DNA palindrome and determines the boundaries of genomic amplification in human cancer. Mol Cell Biol 27:1993-2002
Howard-Till, Rachel A; Yao, Meng-Chao (2007) Tudor nuclease genes and programmed DNA rearrangements in Tetrahymena thermophila. Eukaryot Cell 6:1795-804
Yao, Meng-Chao; Yao, Ching-Ho; Halasz, Lia M et al. (2007) Identification of novel chromatin-associated proteins involved in programmed genome rearrangements in Tetrahymena. J Cell Sci 120:1978-89
Howard-Till, Rachel A; Yao, Meng-Chao (2006) Induction of gene silencing by hairpin RNA expression in Tetrahymena thermophila reveals a second small RNA pathway. Mol Cell Biol 26:8731-42
Cervantes, Marcella D; Coyne, Robert S; Xi, Xiaohui et al. (2006) The condensin complex is essential for amitotic segregation of bulk chromosomes, but not nucleoli, in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. Mol Cell Biol 26:4690-700
Cervantes, Marcella D; Xi, Xiaohui; Vermaak, Danielle et al. (2006) The CNA1 histone of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila is essential for chromosome segregation in the germline micronucleus. Mol Biol Cell 17:485-97
Chalker, Douglas L; Fuller, Patrick; Yao, Meng-Chao (2005) Communication between parental and developing genomes during tetrahymena nuclear differentiation is likely mediated by homologous RNAs. Genetics 169:149-60
Yao, Meng-Chao; Chao, Ju-Lan (2005) RNA-guided DNA deletion in Tetrahymena: an RNAi-based mechanism for programmed genome rearrangements. Annu Rev Genet 39:537-59
Wiley, Emily A; Myers, Tamara; Parker, Kathryn et al. (2005) Class I histone deacetylase Thd1p affects nuclear integrity in Tetrahymena thermophila. Eukaryot Cell 4:981-90
Yao, Meng-Chao; Fuller, Patrick; Xi, Xiaohui (2003) Programmed DNA deletion as an RNA-guided system of genome defense. Science 300:1581-4

Showing the most recent 10 out of 45 publications