title: Molecular refinement of gibbon genome rearrangements.
abstract: The gibbon karyotype is known to be extensively rearranged when compared to the human and to the ancestral primate karyotype. By combining a bioinformatics (paired-end sequence analysis) approach and a molecular cytogenetics approach, we have refined the synteny block arrangement of the white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys, NLE) with respect to the human genome. We provide the first detailed clone framework map of the gibbon genome and refine the location of 86 evolutionary breakpoints to <1 Mb resolution. An additional 12 breakpoints, mapping primarily to centromeric and telomeric regions, were mapped to approximately 5 Mb resolution. Our combined FISH and BES analysis indicates that we have effectively subcloned 49 of these breakpoints within NLE gibbon BAC clones, mapped to a median resolution of 79.7 kb. Interestingly, many of the intervals associated with translocations were gene-rich, including some genes associated with normal skeletal development. Comparisons of NLE breakpoints with those of other gibbon species reveal variability in the position, suggesting that chromosomal rearrangement has been a longstanding property of this particular ape lineage. Our data emphasize the synergistic effect of combining computational genomics and cytogenetics and provide a framework for ultimate sequence and assembly of the gibbon genome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roberto
authors.forename: Oronzo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Capozzi
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Elaine R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Mardis
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lomiento
authors.forename: Eray
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tuzun
authors.forename: Ze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mootnick
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Archidiacono
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rocchi
authors.forename: Evan E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Eichler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D019295:Computational Biology; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D006922:Hylobates / Q000235:genetics*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007621:Karyotyping; D011323:Primates / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity