Comparative chromosome painting defines the high rate of karyotype changes between pigs and bovids.

Human and sheep chromosome-specific probes were used to construct comparative painting maps between the pig (Suiformes), cattle and sheep (Bovidae), and humans. Various yet unknown translocations were observed that would assist in a more complete reconstruction of homology maps of these species. The number of homologous segments that can be identified with sheep probes in the pig karyotype exceeds that described previously by chromosome painting between two non-primate mammals belonging to the same order. Sheep probes painted 62 segments on pig autosomes and delineated not only translocations, but also 9 inversions. All inversions were paracentric and indicate that these rearrangements may be characteristic for chromosomal changes in suiforms. Hybridizations of all sheep painting probes to cattle chromosomes confirmed the chromosome conservation in bovids. In addition, we observed a small translocation that was previously postulated from linkage mapping data, but was not yet described by physical mapping. The chromosome painting data are complemented with a map of available comparative gene mapping data between pig and sheep genomes. A detailed table listing the comparative gene mapping data between pig and cattle genomes is provided. The reanalysis of the pig karyotype with a new generation of human paint probes provides an update of the human/pig comparative genome map and demonstrates two new chromosome homologies. Seven conserved segments not yet identified by chromosome painting are also reported.

Emerging patterns of comparative genome organization in some mammalian species as revealed by Zoo-FISH.

Although gene maps for a variety of evolutionarily diverged mammalian species have expanded rapidly during the past few years, until recently it has been difficult to precisely define chromosomal segments that are homologous between species. A solution to this problem has come from the development of Zoo-FISH, also known as cross-species chromosome painting. The use of Zoo-FISH to identify regions of chromosomal homology has allowed the transfer of information from map-rich species such as human and mouse to a wide variety of other species. From a Zoo-FISH analysis spanning four mammalian orders (Primates, Artiodactyla, Carnivora, and Perissodactyla), and involving eight species (human, pig, cattle, Indian muntjac, cat, American mink, harbor seal, and horse), three distinct classes of synteny conservation have been designated: (1) conservation of whole chromosome synteny, (2) conservation of large chromosomal blocks, and (3) conservation of neighboring segment combinations. This analysis has also made it possible to identify a set of chromosome segments (based on human chromosome equivalents) that probably made up the karyotype of the common ancestor of the four orders. This approach provides a basis for developing a picture of the ancestral mammalian karyotype, but a full understanding will depend on studies encompassing more diverse combinations of mammalian orders.

Chromosomal homeologies between human, harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and the putative ancestral carnivore karyotype revealed by Zoo-FISH.

We report on the construction of the first comparative Zoo-FISH map of a marine mammal. Zoo-FISH with DNA probes from a human chromosome-specific library to metaphase spreads of the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) disclosed 31 conserved syntenic segments covering the complete autosomal complement and the X chromosome. Comparison with Zoo-FISH maps of other species reveals that the harbor seal shares a high degree of karyotypic homeology with the human complement and an even higher degree with the conordinal cat complement. These findings suggest that pinniped, felid and human karyotypes have maintained conserved complements. Based on data of Zoo-FISH and comparative cytogenetics, a Zoo-FISH map of the ancestral carnivore karyotype (Z-CAR) is proposed. Flow cytometry revealed that the DNA value of the harbor seal genome is 79% that of the human genome.

Zoo-fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of human and Indian muntjac karyotypes (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis) reveals satellite DNA clusters at the margins of conserved syntenic segments.

Zoo-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with human whole chromosome-specific paint probes revealed extensive homoeologies between Indian muntjac (2n=6, 7 female, male) and human karyotypes (2n=46). Forty-two conserved syntenic segments, corresponding to all human chromosomes except the Y chromosome, produced a near-complete coverage of the muntjac complement and revealed margins of interspecific segmental homoeology. To test the hypothesis that interstitial satellite DNA loci, illuminated by a Chinese muntjac C5-satellite probe in Indian muntjac chromosome arms, mark ancestral fusion points (Lin CC, Sasi R, Fan YS, Chen Z-Q (1991) New evidence for tandem chromosome fusions in the karyotypic evolution of the Asian muntjacs. Chromosoma 101: 19-24), we combined Zoo-FISH with C5 satellite mapping. Twenty-six interstitial satellite DNA loci were detected in the haploid Indian muntjac genome and were found to co-localize with the margins of conserved human/Indian muntjac syntenic segments. These results were confirmed by two-colour FISH and are in accordance with the tandem fusion hypothesis for Indian muntjac chromosomes. Furthermore, conserved syntenic segment combinations detected in pig, cattle and Indian muntjac Zoo-FISH maps reveal ancestral artiodactyl chromosomes.

Segmental homology among cattle (Bos taurus), Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis), and Chinese muntjac (M. reevesi) karyotypes.

In an attempt to examine homologies between Indian and Chinese muntjac karyotypes at a subchromosomal level, five bovine cosmids were comparatively mapped by heterologous fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In the Indian muntjac (2n = 6) all cosmids mapped to chromosome 1, whereas in the Chinese muntjac (2n = 46) two cosmids mapped to chromosome 3 and one cosmid each mapped to chromosomes 1, 7, and 17. These markers have maintained their intrachromosomal position relative to a centromere/telomere axis in cattle and in Chinese and Indian muntjac chromosomal arms. Our results corroborate the tandem-fusion hypothesis for muntjac karyotypic evolution and establish orientational homology between the involved Chinese muntjac chromosomes and the discrete segments on Indian muntjac chromosome 1. Furthermore, our data disclose regional homologies between cattle and muntjac genomes and demonstrate the validity of intergeneric cosmid-FISH for investigations on karyotype evolution.

Zoo-FISH delineates conserved chromosomal segments in horse and man.

Human chromosome specific libraries (CSLs) were individually applied to equine metaphase chromosomes using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. All CSLs, except Y, showed painting signals on one or several horse chromosomes. In total 43 conserved chromosomal segments were painted. Homoeology could not, however, be detected for some segments of the equine genome. This is most likely related to the very weak signals displayed by some libraries, rather than to the absence of similarity with the human genome. In spite of divergence from the human genome, dated 70-80 million years ago, a fairly high degree of synteny conservation was observed. In seven cases, whole chromosome synteny was detected between the two species. The comparative painting results agreed completely with the limited gene mapping data available in horses, and also enabled us provisionally to assign one linkage group (U2) and one syntenic group (NP, MPI, IDH2) to specific equine chromosomes. Chromosomal assignments of three other syntenic groups are also proposed. The findings of this study will be of significant use in the expansion of the hitherto poorly developed equine gene map.

A comparative map of the porcine and human genomes demonstrates ZOO-FISH and gene mapping-based chromosomal homologies.

ZOO-FISH with chromosome-specific DNA libraries (CSLs) from individual flow-sorted human chromosomes was applied on porcine metaphase chromosomes to establish segment homology between the pig and human karyotypes. Forty-seven porcine chromosomal segments corresponding to all human chromosomes except the Y were delineated, resulting in a nearly complete coverage of the porcine karyotype. The syntenic segments detected were further confirmed by the gene mapping information available in the two species. A map demarcating physical boundaries of human homologies on individual pig chromosomes is complemented with a detail survey of the physical and genetic linkage mapping data in the two species. The resultant map, thus, provides a comprehensive and updated comparative status of the human and porcine genomes.

Comparative analysis of the cattle and human genomes: detection of ZOO-FISH and gene mapping-based chromosomal homologies.

Comparative chromosome painting with individual human chromosome-specific libraries (CSLs) on cattle metaphase chromosomes delineated 46 homologous chromosomal segments between the two species. Continuous arrangement of these segments on individual cattle chromosomes demonstrates a nearly complete coverage of the bovine karyotype and shows physical boundaries of bovine chromosomal segments homologous to individual human chromosomes. Alignment of the available comparative gene mapping data with the homologous segments strongly supports the detected gross homologies between the karyotypes of the two species. In addition to cattle, four human CSLs were hybridized to sheep metaphase chromosomes also, to further verify the known karyotype homology within the Bovidae. Besides its application to karyotype evolution research, the comparative knowledge provides for rapid expansion of the much needed Type I locus-based bovine gene map.

Comparative chromosome painting discloses homologous segments in distantly related mammals.

Comparative chromosome painting, termed ZOO-FISH, using DNA libraries from flow sorted human chromosomes 1, 16, 17 and X, and mouse chromosome 11 discloses the presence of syntenic groups in distantly related mammalian orders ranging from primates (Homo sapiens), rodents (Mus musculus), even-toed ungulates (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis and Muntiacus reevesi) and whales (Balaenoptera physalus). These mammalian orders have evolved separately for 55-80 million years (Myr). We conclude that ZOO-FISH can be used to generate comparative chromosome maps of a large number of mammalian species.