Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

X-Chromosome replication in parthenogenic benign ovarian teratomas

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Human Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Somatic cells from human females undergo X-differentiation, which curtails expression of most, if not all, of the genes on one X chromosome. According to the Lyon hypothesis, the designation of which X will be inactive in eutherian females is random. However, in spite of the obvious biologic importance of X chromosome differentiation, little is known about either the mechanism of this process or the role played by fertilization.

Benign ovarian teratomas provide a system for assessing the importance of fertilization in X chromosome differentiation. Biochemical and cytologic data indicate that these teratomas are of germ-cell origin. They are comprised entirely of one of the products of the first meiotic division and are thus parthenogens. In the absence of appropriate recombinational events, ovarian teratomas are consistently homozygous at autosomal loci, even when the host is heterozygous.

Analysis of X chromosome replication kinetics provides one additional approach for investigating X-differentiation in individual teratoma cells. We utilized BrdU-dye techniques to study terminal replication patterns in ovarian teratomas and in normal fibroblasts and peripheral lymphocytes from the same individuals. The results confirm that human ovarian teratomas possess a single late-replicating X chromosome. Moreover, the pattern of replication in this X is identical to that in normal fibroblasts, but different from that usually observed in peripheral lymphocytes. Thus, if late replication is an accurate gauge of X-inactivation, the data confirm that X-inactivation can occur without fertilization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abell, M. R., Johnson, V. J., Holtz, F.: Ovarian neoplasms in childhood and adolescence. 1. Tumors of germ cell origin. Amer. J. Obstet. Gynec. 92, 1059–1081 (1965)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craig-Holmes, A. P., Shaw, M. W.: Cell cycle analysis in asynchronous cultures using the BrdU-Hoechst technique. Exp. Cell Res. 99, 79–87 (1976)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dutrillaux, B.: Traitements discontinus par le BrdU et coloration parl'acridine orange: obtention de marquages R, Q et intermédiaires. Chromosoma (Berl.) 52, 261–273 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eicher, E.: X-Autosome translocations in the mouse: Total inactivation versus partial inactivation of the X chromosome. Advanc. Genet. 15, 175–259 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Epplen, J. T., Siebers, J. W., Vogel, W.: DNA replication patterns of human chromosomes from fibroblasts and amniotic fluid cells revealed by a Giemsa staining technique. Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 15, 177–185 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, C. J.: Mammalian oocytes: X chromosome activity. Science 163, 1078–1079 (1969)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, C. J.: Expression of the mammalian X chromosome before and after fertilization. Science 175, 1467–1468 (1972)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gartler, S. M., Liskay, R. M., Campell, B. K., Sparkes, R., Gant, N.: Evidence for two functional X chromosomes in human oocytes. Cell Differ. 1, 215–218 (1972)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gartler, S. M., Liskay, R. M., Gant, N.: Two functional X chromosomes in human fetal oocytes. Exp. Cell Res. 82, 464–466 (1973)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gartler, S. M., Adina, R., Gant, N.: Ontogeny of X-chromosome inactivation in the female germ line. Exp. Cell Res. 91, 454–457 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • German, J., Aronian, D.: Autoradiographic studies of human chromosomes. VI. Comparison of the end-of-S patterns in lymphocytes and amniotic epithelial cells. Chromosoma (Berl.) 35, 99–110 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grzeschik, K. H., Kim, M. A., Johannsman, R.: Late replicating bands of human chromosome demonstrated by fluorochrome and Giemsa staining. Humangenetik 29, 41–59 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Latt, S. A.: Microfluorometric detection of deoxyribonucleic acid replication in human metaphase chromosomes. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 70, 3395–3399 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Latt, S. A.: Microfluorometric analysis of DNA replication in human X chromosomes. Exp. Cell Res. 86, 412–415 (1974)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Latt, S. A.: Fluorescence analysis of late DNA replication of late DNA replication in human metaphase chromosomes. Somat. Cell Genet. 1, 293–321 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Latt, S. A., Stetten, G., Juergens, L. A., Willard, H. F., Scher, C. D.: Recent developments in the detection of DNA synthesis by fluorescence microscopy. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 23, 493–505 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Latt, S. A., Willard, H. F., Gerald, P. S.: BrdU-33258 Hoechst analysis of DNA replication in human lymphocytes with supernumerary and structurally abnormal X chromosomes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 57, 135–153 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linder, D.: Gene loss in human teratomas. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 63, 699–704 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Linder, D., Power, J.: Further evidence for post-meiotic origin of teratomas in the human female. Ann. hum. Genet. 34, 21–30 (1970)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linder, D., McCaw, B. K., Hecht, F.: Parthenogenic origin of benign ovarian teratomas. New Engl. J. Med. 292, 63–66 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lyon, M. F.: Gene action in the X-chromosome of the mouse. Nature 190, 372–373 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyon, M. F.: X-chromosome inactivation and developmental patterns in mammals. Biol. Rev. 47, 1–35 (1972)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCaw, B. K., Latt, S. A.: Is fertilization necessary for X-inactivation? V. Intl. Cong. Human Genetics. Excerpta med. (Amst.) 397, 139 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • McCaw, B. K., Hecht, F., Linder, D., Lovrien, E. W., Wyandt, H., Bacon, D., Clark, B., Lea, N.: Ovarian teratomas: Cytological data. In: Human gene mapping 3, D. Bergsma (ed.), pp. 391–395. Basel: Karger 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Meuth, M., Green, H.: Induction of a deoxycytidineless state in cultured mammalian cells by bromodeoxyuridine. Cell 2, 109–112 (1974)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prokofieva-Belgovskaya, A. A., Slesinger, S. I., Lozovskaya, E. R., Atayeva, J. M.: Comparative study of human chromosome replication in primary cultures of embryonic fibroblasts and in cultures of peripheral blood leucocytes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 57, 261–270 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slesinger, S. I., Prokofieva-Belgovskaya, A. A.: Replication of human chromosomes in primary cultures of embryonic fibroblasts. I. Interchromosomal asynchrony of DNA replication. Cytogenetics 7, 337–340 (1968)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slessinger, S. J., Lozovskaya, E. R., Atayeva, D. M., Prokofieva-Belgovskaya, A. A.: Comparative study of human chromosome replication in primary cultures of embryonic fibroblasts and in cultures of peripheral blood leucocytes. I. Chromosome replication at the beginning and termination of the S period. Chromosoma (Berl.) 49, 173–194 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Teilum, G.: Special tumors of ovary and testis and related gonadal lesions: Comparative pathology and histological identification. Copenhagen: Munksgaard 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Willard, H. F., Latt, S. A.: Analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid replication in human X chromosome by fluorescence microscopy. Amer. J. hum. Genet. 28, 213–227 (1976)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Willard, H. F., Mahoney, M. J.: Human X chromosomes: DNA replication sequence heterogeneity in different tissues. V. International Congress of Human Genetics. Excerpta med. (Amst.) 397, 168–169 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Willard, H. F.: Tissue specific heterogeneity in DNA replication patterns of human Y chromosomes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 61, 61–73 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Crippled Children's Division, Child Development and Rehabilitation Center, University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, 97201, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Barbara Kaiser McCaw

  2. Clinical Genetics Division, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 300 Longwood Avenue, 02115, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Samual A. Latt

Authors
  1. Barbara Kaiser McCaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Samual A. Latt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Data in this paper were reported in part at the meeting of the V International Congress of Human Genetics on October 10–15, 1976 in Mexico City (McCaw and Latt, 1976)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McCaw, B.K., Latt, S.A. X-Chromosome replication in parthenogenic benign ovarian teratomas. Hum. Genet. 38, 253–264 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402150

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402150

Keywords

Search

Navigation