BAC-probes applied for characterization of fragile sites (FS)

Methods Mol Biol. 2015:1227:289-98. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1652-8_15.

Abstract

Genomic instability tends to occur at specific genomic regions known as common fragile sites (FS). FS are evolutionarily conserved and generally involve late replicating regions with AT-rich sequences. The possible correlation between some FS and cancer-related breakpoints emphasizes on the importance of understanding the mechanisms of chromosomal instability at these sites. Although about 230 FS have already been mapped cytogenetically, only a few of them have been characterized on a molecular level. In this chapter, we provide a protocol for mapping of common FS using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) probes in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and suggest the usage of lymphocytes from Fanconi anemia patients as a model system. In the latter, rare FS are expressed much more frequently than in, for example, aphidicolin-induced blood lymphocyte preparations. Knowing the exact location of FS enables the molecular comparison of their location and breakpoints that appear during evolution, cancer development and inherited disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aphidicolin / toxicity
  • Cell Line
  • Chromosome Fragile Sites*
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial / genetics
  • Fanconi Anemia / genetics*
  • Fanconi Anemia / metabolism
  • Fanconi Anemia / pathology
  • Genome, Human*
  • Genomic Instability
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Lymphocytes / chemistry
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Molecular Probes / chemistry*
  • Molecular Probes / genetics
  • Mutagens / toxicity

Substances

  • Molecular Probes
  • Mutagens
  • Aphidicolin