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Transcriptionally Active Heterochromatin in Rye B Chromosomes^[W]

^a Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, 06466 Gatersleben, Germany
^b Secão de Genética, Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Technical University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
^c Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DD, Wales, United Kingdom

² To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail houben{at}ipk-gatersleben.de; fax 49-39482-5137.

B chromosomes (Bs) are dispensable components of the genomes of numerous species. Thus far, there is a lack of evidence for any transcripts of Bs in plants, with the exception of some rDNA sequences. Here, we show that the Giemsa banding-positive heterochromatic subterminal domain of rye (Secale cereale) Bs undergoes decondensation during interphase. Contrary to the heterochromatic regions of A chromosomes, this domain is simultaneously marked by trimethylated H3K4 and by trimethylated H3K27, an unusual combination of apparently conflicting histone modifications. Notably, both types of B-specific high copy repeat families (E3900 and D1100) of the subterminal domain are transcriptionally active, although with different tissue type–dependent activity. No small RNAs were detected specifically for the presence of Bs. The lack of any significant open reading frame and the highly heterogeneous size of mainly polyadenylated transcripts indicate that the noncoding RNA may function as structural or catalytic RNA.

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