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Annotation:  Grasses are an important source of food for domestic animals worldwide and perform important ecological and environmental functions. Here we report on characterization of repetitive DNA sequences in nuclear genomes of ten representatives of fescues (Festuca spp.) and ryegrasses (Lolium spp.). We performed global analysis of repetitive DNA sequences and characterized their abundance and variability after partial Illumina sequencing . . .

Annotation: In this paper, we compared the effects of several epigenetic inhibitors on transcriptional gene silencing, stability of DNA, chromatin, and chromosomes. We found that all drugs cause DNA damage, which is repaired by multiple pathways. Our study suggests a link between the formation of DNA damage and cytidine-analogs induced DNA demethylation.Link

Annotation: Research on the formation of mitotic chromosomes from interphase chromatin domains made significant progress in recent years. We summarized and compared several models of chromatin fiber folding to form mitotic chromosomes and discussed them in the light of the recent findings. We also compared available data on the role of condensins and cohesins, the major players in chromosome condensation, across lower and higher eukaryotes and pointed to . . .

Annotation:  Our review targets interspecific hybridization, one of the main mechanisms of plant speciation. Genomes of newly established interspecific hybrids undergo dramatic changes including chromosome rearrangements, amplifications of tandem repeats, activations of mobile repetitive elements and gene expression modifications. To ensure genome stability and proper transmission of chromosomes from both parental genomes into subsequent generations . . .

Annotation:  The identification of genes of agronomic interest in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is hampered by its allopolyploid nature and its considerable genome size,  largely covered by transposable elements. In this study, the 2C gametocidal chromosome from Aegilops cylindrica was used to develop a set of 113 deletion lines for chromosome 3D in the reference cultivar 'Chinese Spring'. Eighty-four markers were used to . . .

Annotation:  Microtubule-associated protein TPX2 is in plants represented by the whole TPX2-like gene family. In this study, we described functional differences of different TPX2-like subgroups. While group A proteins are localized mainly to the cell nucleus and are activators of Aurora kinase 1 in vitro, group B proteins lack Aurora kinase binding domain and are strictly localized on microtubules.Link

Annotation: Effect of cold hardening and drought treatment on the pattern of changes in phytohormone content and their homeostasis in double haploid lines of winter barley extremely differentiated in respect of freezing/drought tolerance level. The summary shows the correlation between the level of phytohormones, stress tolerance and the activity of nonspecific peroxidase (POX) and low molecular weight antioxidants (LMW AOX).Link

Annotation:  Oligo painting FISH was established to identify all chromosomes in banana (Musa spp.) and to anchor pseudomolecules of reference genome sequence of Musa acuminata spp. malaccensis “DH Pahang” to individual chromosomes in situ. The study demonstrates the potential of chromosome painting for comparative karyotype analysis and identification of structural chromosome changes that accompanied . . .

Annotation:  The effects of the non-denaturing RGEN-ISL and standard denaturing FISH on the chromatin structure of maize were compared. A, B Comparison of the chromatin ultrastructure after Knob 2-specific labeling by RGEN-ISL (red) and subsequent FISH (green) of fixed chromosomes (A) and interphase nuclei of maize (B). To analyze the ultrastructure and spatial arrangement of signals and chromatin at a lateral resolution of ∼140 nm, 3D . . .

Annotation:  Research on the formation of mitotic chromosomes from interphase chromatin domains made significant progress in recent years. We summarized and compared several models of chromatin fiber folding to form mitotic chromosomes and discussed them in the light of the recent findings. We also compared available data on the role of condensins and cohesins, the major players in chromosome condensation, across lower and higher eukaryotes and . . .

As a little boy he wanted to be a gamekeeper, but eventually his passion for plants won. Plant geneticist Aleš Pečinka from the Center of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research has moved from classical “flower lover” through cytology to molecular biology and epigenetics.

Annotation: Mutants in centromeric histone variant, cenh3-1, complemented by CENH3 S65A or S65D are defective with respect to their floral meristem development. (A) Main stems of Wt and cenh3-1 complemented mutants (S65S, S65A or S65D under native promotor). (B) Scanning electron micrograph of flowers of Wt and cenh3-1 complemented mutants (S65S, S65A or S65D under native promotor).Link

Scientists from the Olomouc laboratory of the Institute of Experimental Botany (IEB) at the Czech Academy of Sciences, which is part of the Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research (CRH), have achieved another success. They were part of an international team that has sequenced the common pea genome after six years. The findings have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Genetics.

Annotation:  Using 3D FISH, we studied alien chromosome posiotining in various wheat-rye and wheat-barley introgression lines. In the majority of cases, the detected homologous chromosomes did not show any association. Interestingly, there appeared to be a relationship between the chromosome length and its positioning in the nucleus: longer chromosomes frequently occupied position close to the nuclear periphery, while shorter chromosomes were . . .

A year ago, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that plants obtained by methods of precision breeding (so-called CRISPR) are genetically modified organisms. However, this means that even crops with the smallest genome modifications that can occur spontaneously in nature are subject to restrictive European regulations prohibiting such modifications.