Many species exhibit polyploidy. The presence of more than one diploid set of similar chromosomes in polyploids can affect the assortment of homologous chromosomes, resulting in unbalanced gametes. Therefore, a mechanism is required to ensure the correct assortment and segregation of chromosomes for gamete formation. Ploidy has been shown to affect gene expression. We present in this study an example of a major effect on a phenotype induced by ploidy within the Triticeae. We demonstrate that centromeres associate early during anther development in polyploid species. In contrast, centromeres in diploid species only associate at the onset of meiotic prophase. We propose that this mechanism provides a potential route by which chromosomes can start to be sorted before meiosis in polyploids. This explains previous reports indicating that meiotic prophase is shorter in polyploids than in their diploid progenitors. Even artificial polyploids exhibit this phenotype, suggesting that the mechanism must be present in diploids, but only expressed in the presence of more than one diploid set of chromosomes.
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24 January 2000
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January 24 2000
Polyploidy Induces Centromere Association
Enrique Martinez-Perez,
Enrique Martinez-Perez
aJohn Innes Centre, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
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Peter J. Shaw,
Peter J. Shaw
aJohn Innes Centre, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
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Graham Moore
Graham Moore
aJohn Innes Centre, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
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Enrique Martinez-Perez
aJohn Innes Centre, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
Peter J. Shaw
aJohn Innes Centre, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
Graham Moore
aJohn Innes Centre, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
Abbreviations used in this paper: DAPI, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; PMCs, pollen mother cells.
Received:
October 12 1999
Revision Requested:
December 03 1999
Accepted:
December 08 1999
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
© 2000 The Rockefeller University Press
2000
The Rockefeller University Press
J Cell Biol (2000) 148 (2): 233–238.
Article history
Received:
October 12 1999
Revision Requested:
December 03 1999
Accepted:
December 08 1999
Citation
Enrique Martinez-Perez, Peter J. Shaw, Graham Moore; Polyploidy Induces Centromere Association. J Cell Biol 24 January 2000; 148 (2): 233–238. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.148.2.233
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