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Cross-species chromosome painting

Nature Protocols volume 1, pages 783–790 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Comparative genomics is an important and expanding field of research, and the genome-wide comparison of the chromosome constitution of different species makes a major contribution to this field. Cross-species chromosome painting is a powerful technique for establishing chromosome homology maps, defining the sites of chromosome fusions and fissions, investigating chromosome rearrangements during evolution and constructing ancestral karyotypes. Here the protocol for cross-species chromosome painting is presented. It includes sections on cell culture and metaphase preparation, labeling of chromosome-specific DNA, fluorescent in situ hybridization (chromosome painting) and image analysis. Cell culture and metaphase preparation can take between 1 and 2 wk depending on the cell culture. Labeling of chromosome-specific DNA is completed in 1 d. Fluorescent in situ hybridization can be completed in a maximum of 4 d.

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Figure 1: Scheme of the procedure.
Figure 2: Example of cross-species chromosome painting.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to F. Yang, who contributed greatly to the development of the cross-species painting protocol. The protocol is being developed and used at the Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics at the University of Cambridge, which is supported by a generous grant from the Wellcome Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Veterinary Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 OES, UK

    Willem Rens, Beiyuan Fu, Patricia C M O'Brien & Malcolm Ferguson-Smith

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  1. Willem Rens
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  2. Beiyuan Fu
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  3. Patricia C M O'Brien
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  4. Malcolm Ferguson-Smith
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Correspondence to Willem Rens.

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Rens, W., Fu, B., O'Brien, P. et al. Cross-species chromosome painting. Nat Protoc 1, 783–790 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2006.91

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