title: Chromosomal size conservation through the cell cycle supports karyotype stability in Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: The Trypanosoma cruzi karyotype shows an extensive chromosomal size polymorphism. Absence of condensed mitotic chromosomes and chromatin fragility are characteristic features of T. cruzi which would allow DNA breaks and chromosomal rearrangements during cell proliferation. We have investigated by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) eventual changes in chromosomal size during exponential and stationary phases of T. cruzi epimastigotes in culture, in G0 trypomastigotes and throughout the cell cycle in synchronized epimastigotes. T. cruzi molecular karyotype was stable throughout the cell cycle and during differentiation. Thus, the chromosomal size polymorphism previously reported in T. cruzi contrasts with the stability of the molecular karyotype observed here and suggests that chromosomal rearrangements leading to changes in chromosomal size are scarce events during the clonal propagation of this parasite.
authors.affiliation: Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. mgalindo@med.uchile.cl
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galindo
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sabaj
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Gabriela Cecilia
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Toro
authors.forename: Jaqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Búa
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grenet
authors.forename: Remigio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Solís
authors.forename: Andres Mariano
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Norbel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galanti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004261:DNA Replication; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018503:Genome, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D042822:Genomic Instability; D007621:Karyotyping; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan