A5034601178- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Folate and B Vitamins Research
- Plant Genetic and Mutation Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Studies
- Bone and Dental Protein Studies
- Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Connective tissue disorders research
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Scientific Research and Studies
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Polar Research and Ecology
University of Pavia
2015-2025
University of Bologna
2015
Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
2015
Sorbonne Université
2015
A Horse Is a Horse, of Course The history horse domestication is closely tied to the human society. Wade et al. (p. 865 ) report on sequencing and provide single nucleotide polymorphism map ( Equus caballus genome. Horses are member order perissodactyla (odd-toed animals with hooves). analysis reveals an evolutionarily new centromere equine chromosome 11 that displays properties immature but fully functioning devoid centromeric satellite sequence. findings clarify nature genetic diversity...
Archaeological and genetic evidence concerning the time mode of wild horse ( Equus ferus ) domestication is still debated. High levels diversity in mtDNA have been detected when analyzing control region; recurrent mutations, however, tend to blur structure phylogenetic tree. Here, we brought phylogeny highest level molecular resolution by 83 mitochondrial genomes from modern horses across Asia, Europe, Middle East, Americas. Our data reveal 18 major haplogroups (A–R) with radiation times...
The longstanding dogma that telomeres, the heterochromatic extremities of linear eukaryotic chromosomes, are transcriptionally silent was overturned by discovery DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcribes telomeric DNA into repeat-containing (TERRA). Here, we show CpG dinucleotide-rich islands, shared among multiple human chromosome ends, promote transcription TERRA molecules. promoters sustain cellular expression reporter genes, located immediately upstream start sites, and bound...
In a previous study, we showed that centromere repositioning, is the shift along chromosome of centromeric function without DNA sequence rearrangement, has occurred frequently during evolution genus Equus. this work, analysis chromosomal distribution satellite tandem repeats in Equus caballus, E. asinus, grevyi, and burchelli highlighted two atypical features: 1) several centromeres, including previously described evolutionary new centromeres (ENCs), seem to be devoid DNA, 2) are often...
Mammalian centromeres are associated with highly repetitive DNA (satellite DNA), which has so far hindered molecular analysis of this chromatin domain. Centromeres epigenetically specified, and binding the CENPA protein is their main determinant. In previous work, we described first example a natural satellite-free centromere on Equus caballus Chromosome 11. Here, investigated asinus by using ChIP-seq anti-CENPA antibodies. We identified an extraordinarily high number lacking satellite (16...
Abstract Lysyl hydroxylases catalyze hydroxylation of collagen lysines, and sustain essential roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) maturation remodeling. Malfunctions these enzymes cause severe connective tissue disorders. Human lysyl hydroxylase 3 (LH3/PLOD3) bears multiple enzymatic activities, as it catalyzes lysine also their subsequent glycosylation. Our understanding LH3 functions is currently hampered by lack molecular structure information. Here, we present high resolution crystal...
Abstract Background In vertebrates, tandem arrays of TTAGGG hexamers are present at both telomeres and intrachromosomal sites (interstitial telomeric sequences (ITSs)). We previously showed that, in primates, ITSs were inserted during the repair DNA double-strand breaks proposed that they could arise from either capture fragments or action telomerase. Results An extensive comparative analysis two primate ( Homo sapiens Pan troglodytes ) rodent Mus musculus Rattus norvegicus genomes allowed...
The centromere directs the segregation of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. It is a distinct genetic locus whose identity established through epigenetic mechanisms that depend on deposition centromere-specific protein A (CENP-A) nucleosomes. This important chromatin domain has so far escaped comprehensive molecular analysis due to its typical association with highly repetitive satellite DNA. In previous work, we discovered horse chromosome 11 completely devoid DNA; this peculiar...
Short blocks of telomeric-like DNA (Interstitial Telomeric Sequences, ITSs) are found far from chromosome ends. We addressed the question as to how such sequences arise by comparing loci 10 human ITSs with their genomic orthologs in 12 primate species. The did not derive expansion pre-existing TTAGGG units, described for other microsatellites, but appeared suddenly during evolution. Nine insertion events were dated along evolutionary tree, dates ranging between 40 and 6 million years ago....
Trade-offs select for optimal allocation of resources among competing functions. Parents are selected to maximize production viable offspring by balancing between progeny number and “quality.” Telomeres nucleoproteins, at the ends eukaryotic chromosomes, that shorten when cells divide. Because shortening below a certain threshold depresses organismal functioning rate depends on environmental conditions, telomeres good candidates as mediators trade-offs. We altered brood size barn swallow...
Telomeres are conserved DNA-protein structures at the termini of eukaryotic chromosomes which contribute to maintenance genome integrity, and their shortening leads cell senescence, with negative consequences for organismal functions. Because telomere erosion is influenced by extrinsic endogenous factors, dynamics may provide a mechanistic basis evolutionary physiological trade-offs. Yet, knowledge fundamental aspects biology under natural selection regimes, including sex- context-dependent...
Summary The insertion of mitochondrial DNA in the nuclear genome generates numts, sequences origin. In horse reference genome, we identified 82 numts and showed that entire is represented as without gross bias. Numts were inserted at random sites probably generated during repair double‐strand breaks. We then analysed 12 numt loci 20 unrelated horses found null alleles, lacking insertion, present six these loci. At some loci, allele prevalent sample analysed, suggesting that, population,...
Oxidative stress experienced during early development can negatively affect diverse life-history traits, and organisms have evolved complex defence systems against its detrimental effects. Bird eggs contain maternally derived exogenous antioxidants that play a major role in embryo protection from oxidative damage, including the negative effects on telomere dynamics. In this study yellow-legged gull ( Larus michahellis ), we manipulated concentration of vitamin E (VE) egg yolk analysed...
Abstract Centromeres are epigenetically specified by the histone H3 variant CENP-A and typically associated with highly repetitive satellite DNA. We previously discovered natural satellite-free neocentromeres in Equus caballus asinus. Here, through ChIP-seq an anti-CENP-A antibody, we found extraordinarily high number of centromeres lacking DNA zebras burchelli (15 22) grevyi (13 23), demonstrating that absence at majority is compatible genome stability species survival challenging role...
While CENP-A is the epigenetic determinant of centromeric function, role CENP-B, a protein binding specific DNA sequence, CENP-B-box, remains elusive. In few mammalian species analyzed so far, CENP-B box contained in major satellite repeat that present at all centromeres, with exception Y chromosome. We previously demonstrated that, genus Equus, numerous centromeres lack any repeat. four Equus species, expressed but does not bind majority satellite-based or satellite-free ones, while it...
The transcription of human telomeres gives rise to a family long noncoding RNAs, named TERRA. We previously showed that TERRA is driven by CpG island promoters are composed stretches three types repeats. Using the genome assembly was available at time, putative promoter sequences were localized several subtelomeres. In this work, using T2T-CHM13v2.0 reference genome, we found 39 out 46 subtelomeres contain and grouped them in classes depending on their organization. sequence subtelomeric...
Horses, asses and zebras belong to the genus <i>Equus</i> are only extant species of family Equidae in order Perissodactyla. In a previous work we demonstrated that key factor rapid karyotypic evolution this was evolutionary centromere repositioning, is, shift centromeric function new position without alteration markers along chromosome. search previously undiscovered evolutionarily centromeres, traced phylogeny horse chromosome 5, analyzing BAC markers, derived from genomic...
Individuals differ in realized fitness but the genetic/phenotypic traits that underpin such variation are often unknown. Telomere dynamics may be a major source of because physiological telomere shortening depends on environmental and genetic factors impair individual performance. Here, we showed that, population socially monogamous, biparental passerine bird, barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), breeding northern Italy, length (TL) both adult males females positively correlated with seasonal...
The centromere is the specialized locus required for correct chromosome segregation during cell division. DNA of most eukaryotic centromeres composed extended arrays tandem repeats (satellite DNA). In horse, we previously showed that, although 11 completely devoid repeat arrays, all other are characterized by presence satellite DNA. We isolated three horse sequences (37cen, 2P1 and EC137) described their chromosomal localization in four species genus Equus. work presented here, using...
Abstract Centromeres are epigenetically specified by the histone H3 variant CENP-A. Although mammalian centromeres typically associated with satellite DNA, we previously demonstrated that centromere of horse chromosome 11 (ECA11) is completely devoid DNA. We also showed localization its CENP-A binding domain not fixed but slides within an about 500 kb region in different individuals, giving rise to positional alleles. These epialleles inherited as Mendelian traits their position can move one...
Mammalian telomeres are transcribed into long non-coding telomeric RNA molecules (TERRA) that seem to play a role in the maintenance of telomere stability. In human cells, CpG island promoters drive TERRA transcription and regulated by methylation. It was suggested amount may be related length. To test this hypothesis we measured length levels single clones isolated from five cell lines: HeLa (cervical carcinoma), BRC-230 (breast cancer), AKG GK2 (gastric cancers) GM847 (SV40 immortalized...