A Comprehensive Integrated Genetic Map of the Complete Karyotype of Solea senegalensis (Kaup 1858)

Solea senegalensis aquaculture production has experienced a great increase in the last decade and, consequently, the genome knowledge of the species is gaining attention. In this sense, obtaining a high-density genome mapping of the species could offer clues to the aquaculture improvement in those aspects not resolved so far. In the present article, a review and new processed data have allowed to obtain a high-density BAC-based cytogenetic map of S. senegalensis beside the analysis of the sequences of such BAC clones to achieve integrative data. A total of 93 BAC clones were used to localize the chromosome complement of the species and 588 genes were annotated, thus almost reaching the 2.5% of the S. senegalensis genome sequences. As a result, important data about its genome organization and evolution were obtained, such as the lesser gene density of the large metacentric pair compared with the other metacentric chromosomes, which supports the theory of a sex proto-chromosome pair. In addition, chromosomes with a high number of linked genes that are conserved, even in distant species, were detected. This kind of result widens the knowledge of this species’ chromosome dynamics and evolution.

Cytogenetics of two Farlowella species (Loricariidae: Loricariinae): implications on the taxonomic status of the species

ABSTRACT Farlowella is one of the most diverse genera of the Loricariinae, restricted to South America rivers. The taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships among its species are contentious and, while genetic studies would contribute to the understanding of their relationships, the only available datum refer to the karyotype description of only one species. In the present study two Amazonian species, Farlowella cf. amazonum and F. schreitmuelleri, were analyzed using conventional and molecular cytogenetic procedures. Both species had diploid chromosome number 58, but different fundamental numbers (NF) 116 and 112, respectively, indicative of chromosomal rearrangements. C-banding is almost poor, especially in F. cf. amazonum, and occurs predominantly in the centromeric and in some telomeric regions, although genome of F. schreitmuelleri possessed a much larger heterochromatin amount then those of F. cf. amazonum. The chromosomes bearing the NOR sites were likely the same for both species, corresponding to the 1st metacentric pair in F. cf. amazonum and to the 28th acrocentric in F. schreitmuelleri. The location of the 5S rDNA was species-specific marker. This study expanded the available cytogenetic data for Farlowella species and pointed the remarkable karyotype diversity among species/populations, indicating a possible species complex within genus.

Physical Mapping of the 5S and 18S rDNA in Ten Species ofHypostomusLacépède 1803 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): Evolutionary Tendencies in the Genus

Hypostomusis a diverse group with unclear aspects regarding its biology, including the mechanisms that led to chromosome diversification within the group. Fluorescencein situhybridization (FISH) with 5S and 18S rDNA probes was performed on ten Hypostomini species.Hypostomus faveolus,H. cochliodon,H. albopunctatus,H.aff.paulinus,andH. topavaehad only one chromosome pair with 18S rDNA sites, whileH. ancistroides,H. commersoni,H. hermanni,H. regani,andH. strigaticepshad multiple 18S rDNA sites. Regarding the 5S rDNA genes,H. ancistroides,H. regani,H. albopunctatus,H.aff.paulinus,andH. topavaehad 5S rDNA sites on only one chromosome pair andH. faveolus,H. cochliodon,H. commersoni,H. hermanni,andH. strigaticepshad multiple 5S rDNA sites. Most species had 18S rDNA sites in the telomeric region of the chromosomes. All species butH. cochliodonhad 5S rDNA in the centromeric/pericentromeric region of one metacentric pair. Obtained results are discussed based on existent phylogenies for the genus, with comments on possible dispersion mechanisms to justify the variability of the rDNA sites inHypostomus.

Phylogenetic relationships between annual and perennial species of Helianthus: evolution of a tandem repeated DNA sequence and cytological hybridization experiments

The amplification and chromosomal localization of tandem repeated DNA sequences from Helianthus annuus (clone HAG004N15) and the physical organization of ribosomal DNA were studied in annual and perennial species of Helianthus . HAG004N15-related sequences, which did not show amplification in other Asteraceae except for Viguiera multiflora , were redundant in all the Helianthus species tested, but their frequency was significantly higher in perennials than in annuals. These sequences were located at the ends and intercalary regions of all chromosome pairs of annual species. A similar pattern was found in the perennials, but a metacentric pair in their complement was not labelled. Ribosomal cistrons were carried on two chromosome pairs in perennials and on three pairs in annuals except for H. annuus, where rDNA loci were on four pairs. No difference was observed between cultivated H. annuus and its wild accessions in the hybridization pattern of the HAG004N15 and ribosomal probes. These findings support the hypothesis that the separation between annual and perennial Helianthus species occurred through interspecific hybridization involving at least one different parent. However, GISH in H. annuus using genomic DNA from the perennial Helianthus giganteus as blocking DNA failed to reveal different genomic assets in annual and perennial species.

Cytogenetic study of two species of the family Pimelodidae (Siluriformes) collected in lago Guaíba, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

A cytogenetic study was conducted on specimens of Parapimelodus nigribarbis and Pimelodus maculatus collected in the lago Guaíba drainage, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The two species had a diploid number of 56 chromosomes, with P. nigribarbis showing a karyotype of 20m + 20sm + 4st + 12a with FN of 100, and P. maculatus showing a karyotype of 24m + 20sm + 6st + 6a with FN of 106. NORs were demonstrated in both species in only one pair of subtelocentric chromosomes, in the terminal region of the long arm, which was coincident with C- banding and CMA3 staining, while DAPI staining was negative in these regions. Parapimelodus nigribarbis had a greater number of heterochromatic bands than did P. maculatus, which were distributed mainly in the terminal regions, where the latter species showed an interstitial band on the short arm of the first metacentric pair. C-banding plus CMA3 demonstrated heterochromatin that was associated with GC-rich NORs in both P. nigribarbis and P. maculatus, although other fluorescent regions were also observed in the former species. With C-banding plus DAPI, various chromosomal regions were stained in the two species, along with interstitial staining in P. maculatus, indicating that heterochromatin contained a greater quantity of AT-rich regions.

Cytotaxonomic diagnosis of Trichomycterus diabolus (Teleostei: Trichomycteridae) with comments about its evolutionary relationships with co-generic species

The karyotype and the Ag-NOR location of a sample of Trichomycterus diabolus collected in the córrego Hortelã (Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil) are described. The species exhibited 2n=56 chromosomes (42 metacentrics, 12 submetacentrics and 2 subtelocentrics) and the nucleolus organizing region located near to the centromere on the long arm of the largest metacentric pair. The presence of 2n=56 chromosomes in T. diabolus is an interesting characteristic since until now all cis-Andean species karyotyped presented 2n=54 chromosomes while almost all trans-Andean species presented different diploid numbers. The possible origin of this unexpected karyotypic form is discussed.

Chromosome polymorphism of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from the River Dzwina, Baltic Sea Basin: arm length and NOR location variation of the eighth chromosome

A population of Atlantic salmon from the River Dzwina was karyotyped using conventional staining and banding techniques. The chromosome number was 2n = 58, and the chromosome arm number (NF) was 74. Variation in the size of the long arm of the eighth chromosome pair was observed. The presence of constitutive heterochromatin on this arm was confirmed by C-banding. Silver banding revealed variability in the location of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) on this arm. Four cytotypes and three phenotypes of the NOR-bearing chromosome were found. The polymorphism of the eighth metacentric pair of chromosomes observed in Atlantic salmon was probably due to deletion and paracentric inversion of the arm involved.

Karyotype, C-banding, and Ag-NOR analysis in Diplodus bellottii (Sparidae, Perciforms). Intra-individual polymorphism involving heterochromatic regions

A karyotype analysis was carried out in nine specimens of the Sparid species Diplodus bellottii using conventional staining, as well as C-banding and Ag-NOR banding techniques, showing, respectively, 2n = 46 and fundamental number (FN) = 54, and scarce heterochromatic areas irregularly distributed and up to four NOR active regions that were C positive. When compared with the karyotypes of other related species, one centric fusion giving rise to a large metacentric pair and several pericentric inversions seem to have been involved in the karyotype evolution. An intra-individual polymorphism was detected in one specimen, resulting in two karyotypic forms in roughly identical proportion, owing to a larger C-band by the NOR regions, appearing either in a terminal position of the short arms of pair 2 or in telomeric position of pair 3. These findings suggest that the extra heterochromatic segment responsible for the heteromorphism apparently only involves associated heterochromatin and not the NORs themselves. This C-positive block seems to have eventually been transferred between heterologous NOR chromosomes by a somatic event, facilitated by the physical proximity of NOR pairs in the nucleolus.Key words: Sparidae, karyotype, heterochromatin, nucleolus organizers, chromosome polymorphism.

Karyotype divergence in Symphodus melops and Symphodus roissali (Labridae, Perciforms): C-banded and Ag-NOR karyotypes

A comparative analysis of conventional C-banded and Ag-NOR karyotypes involving the closely related labrid species Symphodus melops and Symphodus roissali showed conspicuous differences between them, reflected mainly in their 2n and fundamental number values. The chromosome rearrangements apparently involved consisted of three centric fusions, pericentric inversions, and (or) translocations, as well as small heterochromatic additions. In spite of this clear divergence, the two species seem to have one larger metacentric pair, the nucleolar organizer region (NOR) carrier chromosomes, and some smaller unidentified pairs in common. Both karyotypes are fully representative of the described tendency in the labrids towards symmetric morphology. The NOR regions were shown to have C-banding and a heteromorphism between homologous regions was detected by conventional and silver staining, but not by the C-banding technique, which leads us to suggest that the NOR regions' heteromorphism is functional rather than structural in nature.Key words: Labridae, heterochromatin, nucleolus organizers.