title: Differential gene expression in yellow-necked mice Apodemus flavicollis (Rodentia, Mammalia) with and without B chromosomes.
abstract: Most B chromosomes are heavily heterochromatic, promoting the general idea that they are genetically inert. The B chromosomes of Apodemus flavicollis are euchromatic and show a high degree of homology with the A chromosomes. The euchromatic nature of B chromosomes in A. flavicollis suggests that they may carry active genes and have transcriptional activity. We applied the differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (DD RT-PCR) in order to analyze and compare gene expression in animals possessing B chromosomes and animals without B chromosomes. After a second and third round of amplification, three cDNA fragments were differentially expressed in +B mice compared with 0B animals. These cDNAs were Chaperonin containing TCP-1, subunit 6b (zeta) (CCT6B), Fragile histidine triad gene (FHIT) and hypothetical gene XP transcript. The differential expression pattern was confirmed by Real Time RT-PCR. We suggest that altered expression of these important genes is due to the presence of B chromosomes. In elevating the expression of these genes, B chromosomes of A. flavicollis affect some of the crucial processes in the cell. The significance of these effects and the nature of B chromosomes of A. flavicollis are discussed in the context of the data presented.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biological Research Sinisa Stanković, 29. Novembra 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. nikolata@ibbi.ibiss.bg.ac.yu
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanić
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vujosević
authors.forename: Nasta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dedović-Tanić
authors.forename: Bogomir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dimitrijević
mesh_terms: D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009115:Muridae / Q000235:genetics*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase
chemical_list: D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase