Research theme
Molecular Cytogenetics and Chromosomes
Plant Genome Structure
The entire inheritance material of an organism is called a genome. Features of a genome in each organism are unique to themselves. This specificity can be generally determined in three ways:
a) chromosome number and chromatin characteristics of the species,
b) Total genome size in megabase pair (Mb),
c) The proportional content of the DNA constituting the genome and their dynamics.
In addition to its morphological features, genomic DNA features, if available and accessible, are also the basis for a better understanding of the organism. Several molecular strategies are available for determining the genome structure and content of a plant. Restriction cutting enzymes can be used for this purpose. The recombinant DNA clones obtained can be subjected to bioinformatics identification by DNA sequence analysis. These definitions shed light on the content and dynamics of the DNA elements that make up the plant genomic structure. Thus, structural comparison of genomes with DNA or protein sequences specific to the individual plant genome or similar other plant genomes can be performed to determine the mechanisms that command plants.
Plant Centromere Structure
In mitosis and meiosis, each eukaryotic chromosome must have a centromere for error-free cell division. The centromeres are involved in the formation of the kinetochore structure, also known as the spindle attachment sites. The DNA molecule packaged in the eukaryotic cell nucleus with the aid of the standard histone H3 protein consists of the nucleosome particle. Therefore, eukaryotic chromatin is commonly composed of standard nucleosomes. However, most eukaryotic centromeres have a specialized histone H3 protein variant with a slightly different structure. This specialized histone H3 variant that forms the centromeric nucleosome formed by the packaging of just centromere DNA molecules is called "centromere-specific histone H3" or simply CENH3 protein. For this reason, the CENH3 protein on which the kinetochore is located enables the functional centromere to be identified. Centromeres, known to play a critical role in the correct distribution of chromosomes in every cell division, have become a new target in plant breeding studies in recent years.
Agriculture, Plant Breeding and Centromere
Breeding in many agriculturally important species requires the development of fully homozygous parental lines. Classical breeding studies begin with several generations of self-pollination until an acceptable level of genetic homozygosity is reached, although it varies with plant species. Complete homozygosity is a slow process, usually covering a period of 8 to 10 generations. However, there is no fast and reliable method for many agriculturally important plant species. In recent years, thanks to the centromere modification, the potential of haploid plant production to be extremely effective and to be used in every plant in plant breeding studies have been pointed out. For this purpose, genome elimination strategies based on centromere modification emerge as an alternative approach. This can only be possible by understanding the centromeric DNA and centromeric proteins forming the centromere.
Plant Genome Structure
The entire inheritance material of an organism is called a genome. Features of a genome in each organism are unique to themselves. This specificity can be generally determined in three ways:
a) chromosome number and chromatin characteristics of the species,
b) Total genome size in megabase pair (Mb),
c) The proportional content of the DNA constituting the genome and their dynamics.
In addition to its morphological features, genomic DNA features, if available and accessible, are also the basis for a better understanding of the organism. Several molecular strategies are available for determining the genome structure and content of a plant. Restriction cutting enzymes can be used for this purpose. The recombinant DNA clones obtained can be subjected to bioinformatics identification by DNA sequence analysis. These definitions shed light on the content and dynamics of the DNA elements that make up the plant genomic structure. Thus, structural comparison of genomes with DNA or protein sequences specific to the individual plant genome or similar other plant genomes can be performed to determine the mechanisms that command plants.
Plant Centromere Structure
In mitosis and meiosis, each eukaryotic chromosome must have a centromere for error-free cell division. The centromeres are involved in the formation of the kinetochore structure, also known as the spindle attachment sites. The DNA molecule packaged in the eukaryotic cell nucleus with the aid of the standard histone H3 protein consists of the nucleosome particle. Therefore, eukaryotic chromatin is commonly composed of standard nucleosomes. However, most eukaryotic centromeres have a specialized histone H3 protein variant with a slightly different structure. This specialized histone H3 variant that forms the centromeric nucleosome formed by the packaging of just centromere DNA molecules is called "centromere-specific histone H3" or simply CENH3 protein. For this reason, the CENH3 protein on which the kinetochore is located enables the functional centromere to be identified. Centromeres, known to play a critical role in the correct distribution of chromosomes in every cell division, have become a new target in plant breeding studies in recent years.
Agriculture, Plant Breeding and Centromere
Breeding in many agriculturally important species requires the development of fully homozygous parental lines. Classical breeding studies begin with several generations of self-pollination until an acceptable level of genetic homozygosity is reached, although it varies with plant species. Complete homozygosity is a slow process, usually covering a period of 8 to 10 generations. However, there is no fast and reliable method for many agriculturally important plant species. In recent years, thanks to the centromere modification, the potential of haploid plant production to be extremely effective and to be used in every plant in plant breeding studies have been pointed out. For this purpose, genome elimination strategies based on centromere modification emerge as an alternative approach. This can only be possible by understanding the centromeric DNA and centromeric proteins forming the centromere.
Immunofluorescence staining on plant chromosomes
Miscellaneous documents
- Nohut Geveni İşlevsel Sentromerlerinin İmmünofloresan Yöntemiyle Tanımlanması - To download the pdf document, click here.
- Moleküler Sitogenetik Yöntemlerle Bitki Genom Analizi - To download the pdf document, click here.