Telomere-length regulation in inter-ecotype crosses of Arabidopsis.
Telomeres, the nucleoprotein complexes at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, are maintained at a species-specific equilibrium length. Arabidopsis thaliana is a self-fertilizing plant and different geographical isolates or ecotypes show differing telomere-lengths. We have exploited this telomere-length polymorphism between Arabidopsis ecotypes to investigate the genetic regulation of telomere length by analysing telomere lengths in 16 different inter-ecotype crosses between plants with differing telomere sizes. With two exceptions, the inter-ecotype hybrid plants present a new telomere-length set point, intermediate between that of the two parents. A regulation mechanism thus shortens the longer and lengthens the shorter telomeres.
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CNRS UMR6547, Université Blaise Pascal, 24, avenue des Landais, 63177, Aubiere, France.
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D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000378:metabolism; D014644:Genetic Variation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013045:Species Specificity; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*
D018744:DNA, Plant; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; C024405:GATC-specific type II deoxyribonucleases