Relationship Between the Number and Function of Human Ribosomal Genes

Overview

Journal Hum Genet

Specialty Genetics

Date 1988 Aug 1

PMID 3261706

Citations 8

Authors

A De Capoa

M P Felli

A Baldini

M Rocchi

N Archidiacono

C Aleixandre

O J MILLER

D A Miller

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The relative number of ribosomal RNA genes of the acrocentric chromosomes in one individual was measured by counting grains after in situ hybridization of 3H-labeled human 18S rDNA to fixed metaphase chromosomes. The relative amount of ribosomal RNA gene activity of each of the same chromosomes was estimated by determining the frequency with which the chromosome's nucleolus organizer region (NOR) was silver stained, the size of the silver-stained region, and how often the chromosome was found in satellite association. Results were similar in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated T-lymphocytes, Epstein-Barr virus transformed lymphoblasts, and fibroblasts. One chromosome 21 had few gene copies and low activity. One chromosome 22 had many gene copies but low activity. Both chromosomes 14 had few gene copies but high activity. The level of expression that can be achieved by rRNA gene clusters can, therefore, be determined by factors other than the number of gene copies.

Citing Articles

NORs and their transcription competence during the cell cycle.

Smirnov E, Kalmarova M, Koberna K, Zemanova Z, Malinsky J, Masata M Folia Biol (Praha). 2006; 52(3):59-70.

PMID: 17089916 PMC: 2446406.

Population differences in the expression of nucleolus organizer regions in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans.

Bakkali M, Cabrero J, Lopez-Leon M, Perfectti F, Camacho J Protoplasma. 2001; 217(4):185-90.

PMID: 11732310 DOI: 10.1007/BF01283399.

Chromosomal localization and heterochromatin association of ribosomal RNA gene loci and silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions in salmonid fishes.

Fujiwara A, Abe S, Yamaha E, Yamazaki F, Yoshida M Chromosome Res. 1998; 6(6):463-71.

PMID: 9865785 DOI: 10.1023/a:1009200428369.

Cytological evidence for 5-azacytidine-induced demethylation of the heterochromatic regions of human chromosomes.

De Capoa A, Menendez F, Poggesi I, Giancotti P, Grappelli C, Marotta M Chromosome Res. 1996; 4(4):271-6.

PMID: 8817066 DOI: 10.1007/BF02263676.

Ribosomal DNA clusters in pulsed-field gel electrophoretic analysis of human acrocentric chromosomes.

Srivastava A, Hagino Y, Schlessinger D Mamm Genome. 1993; 4(8):445-50.

PMID: 8374207 DOI: 10.1007/BF00296819.

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