Establishing of 3D-FISH on frozen section and its applying in chromosome territories analysis in Populus trichocarpa

Fluorescence in situ hybridization with frozen sections of root tips showed difference of chromosome territories distribution between autosome and sex-chromosome homologous pairs in Populus trichocarpa.

The spatial organization of chromatin within the interphase nucleus and the interactions between chromosome territories (CTs) are essential for various biologic processes. Three-dimensional fluorescence in situ hybridization (3D-FISH) is a powerful tool for analyzing CTs, but its application in plants is limited. In this study, we established a 3D-FISH technique using frozen sections of Populus trichocarpa root tips, which was an improvement over the use of paraffin sections and enabled us to acquire good FISH signals. Using chromosome-specific oligo probes, we were able to analyze CTs in interphase nuclei in three dimensions. The distribution of chromosome pairs 17 and 19 in the 3D-preserved nuclei of P. trichocarpa root tip cells were analyzed and showed that the autosome pair 17 associated more often than sex chromosome 19. This research lays a foundation for further study of the spatial position of chromosomes in the nucleus and the relationship between gene expression and spatial localization of chromosomes in poplar.