Background: The epigenetic regulation of genome is crucial for implementation of the genetic program of ontogenesis through establishing and maintaining differential gene expression. Thus mapping of various epigenetic modifications to the genome is relevant for studying the regulation of gene expression. Giant transcriptionally active lampbrush chromosomes are an established tool for high resolution physical mapping of the genome and its epigenetic modifications. This study is aimed at characterizing the epigenetic status of compact chromatin domains (chromomeres) of chicken lampbrush macrochromosomes. Results: Distribution of three epigenetic modifications - 5-methylcytosine, histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 9 and hyperacetylated histone H4 - along the axes of chicken lampbrush chromosomes 1-4, Z and W was analyzed in details. Enrichment of chromatin domains with the investigated epigenetic modifications was indicated on the cytological chromomere-loop maps for corresponding chicken lampbrush chromosomes. Heterogeneity in the distribution of 5-methylcytosine and histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 9 along the chromosome axes was revealed. Conclusions: On examples of certain chromomeres of chicken lampbrush chromosomes 1, 3, 4 and W we demonstrated that a combination of immunofluorescent staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization allows to relate the epigenetic status and a DNA sequence context of individual chromomeres.

Original languageEnglish
Article number32
Pages (from-to)1-15
Number of pages15
JournalMolecular Cytogenetics
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 3 Aug 2020

    Research areas

  • Chicken, Chromatin domain, Chromomere, Cytological chromomere-loop map, Epigenetic modifications, Gene mapping, Histone modifications, Karyotype, Lampbrush chromosomes, Methylated cytosine, Tandem repeats

    Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Biochemistry, medical

ID: 71917024