Supernumerary B chromosomes of Aegilops speltoides undergo precise elimination in roots early in embryo development

Alevtina Ruban, Thomas Schmutzer, Dan D. Wu, Joerg Fuchs, Anastassia Boudichevskaia, Myroslava Rubtsova, Klaus Pistrick, Michael Melzer, Axel Himmelbach, Veit Schubert, Uwe Scholz and Andreas Houben ()
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Alevtina Ruban: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Thomas Schmutzer: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Dan D. Wu: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Joerg Fuchs: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Anastassia Boudichevskaia: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Myroslava Rubtsova: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Klaus Pistrick: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Michael Melzer: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Axel Himmelbach: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Veit Schubert: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Uwe Scholz: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben
Andreas Houben: Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) Gatersleben

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Not necessarily all cells of an organism contain the same genome. Some eukaryotes exhibit dramatic differences between cells of different organs, resulting from programmed elimination of chromosomes or their fragments. Here, we present a detailed analysis of programmed B chromosome elimination in plants. Using goatgrass Aegilops speltoides as a model, we demonstrate that the elimination of B chromosomes is a strictly controlled and highly efficient root-specific process. At the onset of embryo differentiation B chromosomes undergo elimination in proto-root cells. Independent of centromere activity, B chromosomes demonstrate nondisjunction of chromatids and lagging in anaphase, leading to micronucleation. Chromatin structure and DNA replication differ between micronuclei and primary nuclei and degradation of micronucleated DNA is the final step of B chromosome elimination. This process might allow root tissues to survive the detrimental expression, or overexpression of B chromosome-located root-specific genes with paralogs located on standard chromosomes.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16594-x

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