Application of Texture Measures to Study Effect of B Chromosomes on the 3D Architecture of Plant Chromatin英文文献资料.docVIP

American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2012, 3, 1283-1293 1283 /10.4236/ajps.2012.39155 Published Online September 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ajps) Application of Texture Measures to Study Effect of B Chromosomes on the 3D Architecture of Plant Chromatin Hanna Sas-Nowosielska , Jolanta Ma?uszyńska , Tytus Bernas 1* 1 2,3 1 Department of Plant Anatomy and Cytology, Faculty of Biology and Protection of Environment, University of Silesia, Jagiellonska, 2 3 Poland; Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, St. Stephens Green, Ireland; Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa, Poland. * Email: h.sasnowosielska@ Received September 15 , 2011; revised October 25 , 2011; accepted November 15 , 2011 th th th ABSTRACT Background: Supernumerary chromosomes (B) comprise optional complement to basic (A) chromosome set. The presence of B-chromosomes may significantly reduce plant vigor and fertility. Potentially active genes constitute only small fraction of DNA of these chromosomes indicating that these effects are mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. One example is down-regulation of rDNA genes and condensation of their respective chromatin regions (demonstrated in squashed preparations using 2D microscopy). It may be postulated that the presence of B chromosomes leads to more extensive changes of local chromatin structure. Verification of hypothesis requires studying 3D spatial architecture of intact nuclei in tissue. Results: An image processing algorithm was developed and applied for isolation (fr