Experimental model for studying Premature Centromere Division (PCD) in all phases of the cell cycle

Abstract

Premature Centromere Division (PCD) is an uncommon cytogenetic abnormality, which is characterized with chromosome chromatides distinctively separated before usual time. This rare disorder is correlated with various syndromes and diseases. We have found that an inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide, induces PCD when added into a culture of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. This characteristic of cycloheximide was used to create an experimental model to study the PCD phenomena in vitro. By G-band technique and by determine Centromere Separation Index (CSI) we have shown that chromosomes 18 and 2 are preferentially express PCD syndrome, regardless of sex. Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) we have determined the time of centromere segregation of the chromosome 18. Our data have shown that the time between replication and segregation of chromosomes with PCD is shorter, and that the segregation occurs exactly after its replication, in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. The FISH method can be used as a complement diagnostic parameter to identify chromosomes with PCD in all phases of the cell cycle.