B chromosomes, also known as supernumerary chromosomes, are genetic elements that
typically do not provide any advantage to their carrier. However, they persist in the population
due to their evolved mechanisms of accumulation. One such mechanism is the nondisjunction
of the maize B chromosome, where individual chromatids fail to segregate and both pass into a
single daughter nucleus. This behaviour defies the laws of classical Mendelian genetics, and
although it is an attractive topic, little is known about its mechanism.
Aim of the project is to characterize selected candidate factors that may be involved in the
nondisjunction process. For protein-coding genes, we will use proteomic, molecular and
cytogenetic techniques to track spatiotemporal localization of their products. Additionally, we will
investigate their natural variation in the population to determine its effect on the nondisjunction
process. Finally, we will define protein composition at the region of cis factor (ZmBs repeat),
which may aid in identifying additional proteins involved in the regulation of nondisjunction.