Plant genome analysis using flow cytometry

The goal of this research was (1) to describe the conditions and parameters required for the cell cycle synchronization and the accumulation of large number of metaphase cells in maize and other cereal root tips, (2) to isolate intact metaphase chromosomes from root tips suitable for characterization by flow cytometry, and (3) to construct chromosome-specific libraries from maize. Plant metaphase chromosomes have been successfully synchronized and isolated from many cereal root-tips. DNA synthesis inhibitor (hydroxyurea) was used to synchronize cell cycle, follwed by treatement with trifluralin to accumulate metaphase chromosomes. Maize flow karyotypes show substantial variation among inbred lines. thish variation should be sueful in isolating individual chromosome types. In addition, flow cytometry is a useful method to measure DNA content of individual chromosomes in a genotyps, and to detect chromosomal variations. Individual chromosome peaks have been sorted from the maize hybrid B73/Mol7. Libraries were generated form the DOP-PCR amplification product from each peak. To date, we have analyzed clones from a library constructed from the maize chromosome 1 peak. Hybridization of labeled genomic DNA to clone inserts indicated that $24\%,\;18\%,\;and\;58\%$ of the clones were highly repetitive, medium repetitive, and low copy, respectively. Fifty percent of putative low cpoy clones showed single bands on inbred screening, blots, and the remaining $50\%$ were low copy repeats. Single copy clones showing polymorphism will be mapped using recombinant inbred mapping populations. Repetitive clones are being characterized by Southern blot analysis, and will be screened by in situ hybridization for their potential utility as chromosome specific markers.