Pericentromeric regions of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) chromosomes consist of retroelements and tandemly repeated DNA and are structurally and evolutionarily labile.
Little is known about the physical makeup of heterochromatin in the soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) genome. Using DNA sequencing and molecular cytogenetics, an initial analysis of the repetitive fraction of the soybean genome is presented. BAC 076J21, derived from linkage group L, has sequences conserved in the pericentromeric heterochromatin of all 20 chromosomes. FISH analysis of this BAC and three subclones on pachytene chromosomes revealed relatively strict partitioning of the heterochromatic and euchromatic regions. Sequence analysis showed that this BAC consists primarily of repetitive sequences such as a 102-bp tandem repeat with sequence identity to a previously characterized approximately 120-bp repeat (STR120). Fragments of Calypso-like retroelements, a recently inserted SIRE1 element, and a SIRE1 solo LTR were present within this BAC. Some of these sequences are methylated and are not conserved outside of G. max and G. soja, a close relative of soybean, except for STR102, which hybridized to a restriction fragment from G. latifolia. These data present a picture of the repetitive fraction of the soybean genome that is highly concentrated in the pericentromeric regions, consisting of rapidly evolving tandem repeats with interspersed retroelements.
Lin
Jer-Young
JY
Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
Jacobus
Barbara Hass
BH
SanMiguel
Phillip
P
Walling
Jason G
JG
Yuan
Yinan
Y
Shoemaker
Randy C
RC
Young
Nevin D
ND
Jackson
Scott A
SA
D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018626:Retroelements / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics*; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics*
D006570:Heterochromatin; D018626:Retroelements