PAG-II Plant Genome II Conference

Town & Country Conference Center, San Diego, CA, January, 1994.


PG-II: USE OF DIGOXIGENIN-LABELED PROBES FOR RFLP MAPPING OF POLYPLOID SACCHARUM SPECIES

USE OF DIGOXIGENIN-LABELED PROBES FOR RFLP MAPPING OF POLYPLOID SACCHARUM SPECIES.

Maureen M.M. Fitch 1, Elizabeth A. Ferrero 2, Paul H. Moore 1, and K.K. Wu 3, 1 USDA,ARS, Aiea, Hi 96701; 2 University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822; 3 Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, Aiea, HI 96701.


Genome analysis by RFLPs depends on visualizing DNA fragments hybridizing to labeled probes. The usual method of labeling probes with radioactive 32P can be difficult in localities where tropical crops such as sugarcane are grown and analyzed. Digoxigenin-labeled DNA probes are widely used for detecting single genes in simple genomes, but their applications to mapping of complex genomes have been limited. We report procedures that allow us to use chemiluminescence to RFLP map Saccharum species having a haploid genome of about 3500 Mbp/1C. Anion exchange chromatography was essential for quickly isolating plasmids and purifying probe DNAs. The nonradioactive probes were resin-purified as well in order to minimize background interference. Use of the chemiluminescent substrate Lumi-phos 530 (1,2-dioxetanephosphate + a fluorescence enhancer) allowed for quick exposure and re-probing of membranes at least three times. Probes of 300 to 3000 bp in size were used at concentrations of 10-25 ng/ml or 60 ng/80 cm^2 blot. Signals were identical to those obtained with radiolabeled probes, while detection time was significantly shorter. Probes prepared from PstI-digests of genomic sugarcane clones and from cDNA clones from bud, root, and callus libraries appear useful for mapping. A progeny population (S. officinarum x S. robustum) screened with 21 probes produced 148 bands. About 100 were polymorphic and 58 were single dose. Approximately half of the single dose bands were from S. officinarum. Two linkage groups have been detected in S. officinarum and three in S. robustum. The probes were also used to develop fingerprint identities of the 80 progeny and two parents. Four probes were sufficient to fingerprint the entire population. Initial difficulties in adapting chemiluminescence labeling for RFLP mapping in sugarcane were resolved by using anion exchange for purifying the plasmid and probe DNAS. With this modification, the nonradioactive probes are being used in the RFLP mapping of Saccharum species and to fingerprint sugarcane.


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