Genome Biology (Mar 2024)

Multiplex DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization to analyze maternal vs. paternal C. elegans chromosomes

  • Silvia Gutnik,
  • Jia Emil You,
  • Ahilya N. Sawh,
  • Aude Andriollo,
  • Susan E. Mango

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-024-03199-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 1
pp. 1 – 26

Abstract

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Abstract Recent advances in microscopy have enabled studying chromosome organization at the single-molecule level, yet little is known about inherited chromosome organization. Here we adapt single-molecule chromosome tracing to distinguish two C. elegans strains (N2 and HI) and find that while their organization is similar, the N2 chromosome influences the folding parameters of the HI chromosome, in particular the step size, across generations. Furthermore, homologous chromosomes overlap frequently, but alignment between homologous regions is rare, suggesting that transvection is unlikely. We present a powerful tool to investigate chromosome architecture and to track the parent of origin.

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