title: Artificial chromosome formation in maize (Zea mays L.).
abstract: We report on the construction of maize minichromosomes using shuttle vectors harboring native centromeric segments, origins of replication, selectable marker genes, and telomeric repeats. These vectors were introduced into scutellar cells of maize immature embryos by microprojectile bombardment. Several independent transformation events were identified containing minichromosomes in addition to the normal diploid complement of 20 maize chromosomes. Immunostaining indicated that the minichromosomes recruited centromeric protein C, which is a specific component of the centromere/kinetochore complex. Minichromosomes were estimated to be 15-30 Mb in size based on cytological measurements. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that minichromosomes contain the centromeric, telomeric, and exogenous unique marker sequences interspersed with maize retrotransposons. Minichromosomes were detected for at least a year in actively dividing callus cultures, providing evidence for their stability through numerous cell cycles. Plants were regenerated and minichromosomes were detected in root tips, providing confirmation of their normal replication and transmission during mitosis and through organogenesis. Assembly of maize artificial chromosomes may provide a tool to study centromere function and a foundation for developing new high capacity vectors for plant functional genomics and breeding.
authors.affiliation: Pioneer Hi-Bred Int'l, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA.
authors.forename: Evgueni V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Ananiev
authors.forename: Chengcang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chamberlin
authors.forename: Sergei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Svitashev
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gordon-Kamm
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tingey
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019470:Biolistics; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D017343:Genes, Plant; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D005819:Genetic Markers; D010940:Plant Proteins; C060905:centromere protein C