Elimination of DNA sequences during macronuclear differentiation in Tetrahymena thermophila, as detected by in situ hybridization

Abstract

Previous studies have indicated that certain sequences in the micronuclear genome are absent from the somatic macronucleus of Tetrahymena (Yao and Gorovsky, 1974; Yao and Gall, 1979; Yao, submitted). The present study used in situ hybridization to follow the elimination process during the formation of the new macronucleus. Micronuclear-specific DNA cloned in recombinant plasmids was labelled with 3H and hybridized to cytological preparations of T. thermophila at various stages of conjugation. Despite a smaller size and lower DNA content, the micronucleus has more hybridization than the mature macronucleus. Hybridization initially increased in the anlage (newly developing macronucleus) to reach a maximal level right after the old macronuclei has disappeared. The hybridization in the anlage than decreased to a significant extent prior to the first cell division. The results suggest that the micronuclear-specific sequence is first replicated a few rounds before it is eliminated from the anlage, and the elimination process occurs without nuclear division.