• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.86-89
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• 2010

Closely related species share large genomic segments called syntenic regions, where the genomic elements such as genes are arranged co-linearly among the species. While synteny is an important criteria in establishing orthologous regions between species, non-syntenic regions may display species-specific features. As the first step in cataloging human- or primate- specific genomic elements, we surveyed human genomic regions that are not syntenic with any other non-primate mammalian genomes sequenced so far. Based on the data compiled in Ensembl databases, we were able to identify 10 such regions located in eight different human chromosomes. Interestingly, most of these highly human- or primate- specific loci are concentrated in subtelomeric or pericentromeric regions. It has been reported that subtelomeric regions in human chromosomes are highly plastic and filled with recently shuffled genomic elements. Pericentromeric regions also show a great deal of segmental duplications. Such genomic rearrangements may have caused these large human- or primate- specific genome segments.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.747-751
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• 2009

Transcriptional silencing of subtelomeric genes is associated with telomere length, which is correlated with age. Long and short telomeres in young and old people, respectively, coincide with gene repression and activation in each case. In addition, differential location of genes with respect to telomeres causes telomere position effect. There is very little evidence of the manner in which age-related telomere length affects the expression of specific human subtelomeric genes. We analyzed the relationship between telomere length and gene expression levels in fibroblasts derived from human donors at ages ranging from 0-70 years. We studied three groups of genes located between 100 and 150 kb, 200 and 250 kb, and >300 kb away from telomeres. We found that the chromatin modifier-encoding genes Eu-HMTase1, ZMYND11, and RASA3 were overexpressed in adults. Our results suggest that short telomere length-related overexpression of chromatin modifiers could underlie transcriptional changes contributing to cellular senescence.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.443-447
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• 2009

This paper reports on the structural rearrangement of satellite DNA type I repeats and heterochromatin during the dedifferentiation and cell cycling of mesophyll protoplasts of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). These repeats were localized in the telomeric heterochromatin of cucumber chromosomes and in the chromocenters of interphase nuclei. The dramatic reduction of heterochromatin involves decondensation of subtelomeric repeats in freshly isolated protoplasts; however, there are not a great many remarkable changes in the expression profile. In spite of that, reformation of the chromocenters, occurring 48 h after protoplast isolation, is accompanied by recondensation of satellite DNA type I; however, only partial reassembly of these repeats was revealed. In this study, FISH and a flow cytometry assay show a correlation between the partial chromocenter and the repeats reassembly, and with the reentry of cultivated protoplasts into the cell cycle and first cell division. After that, divided cells displayed a higher variability in the expression profile than did leaves' mesophyll cells and protoplasts.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2008

Molecular cytogenetics allows the identification of unknown chromosome rearrangements, which is clinically useful in patients with mental retardation and/or development delay. We report on a 31-year-old woman with severe mental retardation, behavior development delay, and verbal performance delay. Conventional cytogenetic analysis showed a 46,XX,add(8)(p23.3) karyotype. To determine the origin of this unbalanced translocation, we performed array CGH and subtelomeric FISH. The results showed that the distal region of chromosome 8p was added to the terminal of chromosome 13q. This was confirmed the final result of 46,XX,der(8)t(8:13)(p23.3;q32.1)dn.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 2019

Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes at the physical ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes. They protect the chromosome ends from various external attacks to avoid the loss of genetic information. Telomeres are maintained by cellular activities associated with telomerase and telomere-binding proteins. In addition, epigenetic regulators have pivotal roles in controlling the chromatin state at telomeres and subtelomeric regions, contributing to the maintenance of chromosomal homeostasis in yeast, animals, and plants. Here, we review the recent findings on chromatin modifications possibly associated with the dynamic states of telomeres in Arabidopsis thaliana.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.426-430
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• 2008

We report clinical, cytogenetic, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies of a patient with ring chromosome 9. She presented with failure to thrive, facial dysmorphysm and mild psychomotor development delay in the absence of major malformations. Peripheral blood karyotype of the patient was 46,XX,r(9)(p24q34). G-band analysis suggested no loss of material in the ring chromosomes. FISH analysis using the subtelomere-specific sequences on chromosome 9p and 9q, revealed 46,XX,r(9)(p24q34),ish r(9)(D9S913-,D9S325+). Failure to detect any hybridization of a probe for the subtelomeric sequences in the ring 9p terminal suggested that this ring arose from breakage in the distal short arm. The cytogenetic and FISH data in our case provided further evidence for the existence of a "complete ring" phenotype with incomplete subtelomeric sequences.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.156-159
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• 2010

Inversion, one of the balanced rearrangements, usually does not lead to phenotypic abnormalities; all genetic information exists in the proper amount, merely in a different order or in an abnormal location. However, offspring of an inversion carrier is at risk of chromosomal imbalance because an inversion loop can be formed during crossing-over of the paternal and the maternal chromosomes in meiosis. We report a 38-year-old woman with inversion and balanced translocation and her fetus with unusual rearrangement causing chromosomal imbalance. We performed conventional cytogenetic analysis, MLPA, and subtelomeric FISH in the cells of the embryo. The results showed that the distal portion of chromosome 13q was added to the terminal portion of chromosome 9p during crossing-over. Therefore, the final karyotype of the fetus was 46,XY,rec(9)t(9;13)(p22;q32)inv(9)(p12q13)mat, confirmed using molecular-cytogenetic analyzing tools.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.80-83
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• 2007

A 36-year-old pregnant woman was referred for amniocentesis at 19.5 weeks gestation because of advanced maternal age and evidence of increased risk for Edward syndrome in the maternal serum screening test. Cytogenetic analysis of the cultured amniotic fluid cells revealed mosaicism for ring chromosome 11: 46,XX,r(11)[65]/ 45,XX,-11[16]/ 46,XX [34]. Parental karyotypes were normal. A targeted ultrasound showed intrauterine grow th restriction (IUGR). Cordocentesis was performed to characterize the ring chromosome and to rule out tissue specific mosaicism. Karyotype was confirmed as 46,XX,r(11) (p15.5q24.2)[229]/45,XX,-11[15]. And a few new form of ring w ere detected in this culture. The deletion of subtelomeric regions in the ring chromosome were detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The pregnancy was terminated. The fetal autopsy showed a growth-retarded female fetus with rocker bottom feet. We report a case of prenatally detected a de novo ring chromosome 11.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.468-473
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• 2009

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) were used for chromosome analysis of hybrids (2n=16) between onion (Allium cepa L., 2n=2X=16) and welsh onion (A. fistulosum L., 2n=2X=16). 5S rDNA, 45S rDNA, and tandemly repeated DNA (TSD) sequence were used as probes for FISH analysis. A. fistulosum specific DNA probe of telomeric repeats and A. fistulosum DNA were used for GISH analysis. In the analysis of meiotic chromosome GISH revealed that hybrids have 7 bivalants and 2 univalents chromosome and 2 univalents were derived from A. fistulosum chromosomes. In somatic chromosomes of hybrid each 8 chromosomes were derived from A. cepa and A. fistulosum, respectively. FISH signal of 45S rDNA probe in A. fistulosum was detected at secondary constriction of chromosomes, while FISH signal in A. cepa was observed in both secondary constriction and telomere of chromosomes. TDS signals in A. fistulosum chromosomes were detected at all subtelomeric of 8 chromosomes and also in 2 pericentromeric of the chromosomes, whereas TDS signals in A. cepa were observed only in subtelomeric in all chromosomes. The pattern of TDS signal in hybrid chromosomes was similar to those of A. fistulosum chromosomes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.238-241
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• 2011

A 35-year-old man with infertility was referred for chromosomal analysis. In routine cytogenetic analysis, the patient was seen to have additional material of unknown origin on the terminal region of the short arm of chromosome 4. To determine the origin of the unknown material, we carried out high-resolution banding, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and FISH. CGH showed a gain of signal on the region of $4q32{\rightarrow}q35$. FISH using whole chromosome painting and subtelomeric region probes for chromosome 4 confirmed the aberrant chromosome as an intrachromosomal insertion duplication of $4q32{\rightarrow}q35$. Duplication often leads to some phenotypic abnormalities; however, our patient showed an almost normal phenotype except for congenital dysfunction in spermatogenesis.