Yun-Xin Fu , Guangying Wang , Kai Chen , Xuefeng Ma , Shu-Qun Liu , Wei Miao
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Cell division is a necessity of life which can be either mitotic or amitotic. While both are fundamental, amitosis is sometimes considered a relic of little importance in biology. Nevertheless, eukaryotes often have polyploid cells, including cancer cells, which may divide amitotically. To understand how amitosis ensures the completion of cell division, we turn to the macronuclei of ciliates. The grand scheme governing the proliferation of the macronuclei of ciliate cells, which involves chromosomal replication and amitosis, is currently unknown, which is crucial for developing population genetics model of ciliate populations. Using a novel model that encompasses a wide range of mechanisms together with experimental data of the composition of mating types at different stages derived from a single karyonide of Tetrahymena thermophila, we show that the chromosomal replication of the macronucleus has a strong head-start effect, with only about five copies of chromosomes replicated at a time and persistent reuse of the chromosomes involved in the early replication. Furthermore the fission of a fully grown macronucleus is non-random with regard to chromosome composition, with a strong tendency to push chromosomes and their replications to the same daughter cell.
期刊介绍:
An interdisciplinary journal, Theoretical Population Biology presents articles on theoretical aspects of the biology of populations, particularly in the areas of demography, ecology, epidemiology, evolution, and genetics. Emphasis is on the development of mathematical theory and models that enhance the understanding of biological phenomena.
Articles highlight the motivation and significance of the work for advancing progress in biology, relying on a substantial mathematical effort to obtain biological insight. The journal also presents empirical results and computational and statistical methods directly impinging on theoretical problems in population biology.