Transcriptional repression mechanisms of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in humans and chimpanzees

Polymorphisms related to transcriptional inactivation of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) have long been described in many animals, particularly humans. However, the precise aetiology of such variations is not always clear. We conducted analyses to investigate the repression mechanisms in humans a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chromosome research 2004-01, Vol.12 (3), p.225-237
Main Authors: Guillén, Ana Karina Zavala, Hirai, Yuriko, Tanoue, Tetsuya, Hirai, Hirohisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Centromere - metabolism
Chromosomes - metabolism
DNA Methylation
DNA, Ribosomal - metabolism
Down-Regulation
Female
Gene Silencing
Heterochromatin - metabolism
Humans
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
Male
Nucleolus Organizer Region - genetics
Nucleolus Organizer Region - metabolism
Pan troglodytes
Pan troglodytes - genetics
Silver Staining
Telomere - metabolism
Transcription, Genetic - genetics
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Summary:Polymorphisms related to transcriptional inactivation of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) have long been described in many animals, particularly humans. However, the precise aetiology of such variations is not always clear. We conducted analyses to investigate the repression mechanisms in humans and chimpanzees using FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridisation) with 18S rDNA, Ag-NOR (silver nitrate) staining, C-banding, and the in situ nick translation technique with the HpaII restriction enzyme. Examination of 48 humans and 46 chimpanzees suggested that there are at least three different mechanisms that produce inactivation of NORs. These include: (1) elimination of rDNA; (2) DNA methylation: (3) gene silencing due to position effects induced by heterochromatin (C-bands) and/or telomeres.
ISSN:0967-3849
1573-6849
DOI:10.1023/b:chro.0000021911.43225.eb