Satellite DNA in Neotropical Deer Species

Miluse Vozdova,Halina Cernohorska,Jose Mauricio Duarte,Svatava Kubickova,Jiri Rubes,Agda Maria Bernegossi,Petra Musilová,Natália Martínková,David Javier Galindo,Dita Kadlcikova

doi:10.3390/genes12010123

Abstract

The taxonomy and phylogenetics of Neotropical deer have been mostly based on morphological criteria and needs a critical revision on the basis of new molecular and cytogenetic markers. In this study, we used the variation in the sequence, copy number, and chromosome localization of satellite I-IV DNA to evaluate evolutionary relationships among eight Neotropical deer species. Using FISH with satI-IV probes derived from Mazama gouazoubira, we proved the presence of satellite DNA blocks in peri/centromeric regions of all analyzed deer. Satellite DNA was also detected in the interstitial chromosome regions of species of the genus Mazama with highly reduced chromosome numbers. In contrast to Blastocerus dichotomus, Ozotoceros bezoarticus, and Odocoileus virginianus, Mazama species showed high abundance of satIV DNA by FISH. The phylogenetic analysis of the satellite DNA showed close relationships between O. bezoarticus and B. dichotomus. Furthermore, the Neotropical and Nearctic populations of O. virginianus formed a single clade. However, the satellite DNA phylogeny did not allow resolving the relationships within the genus Mazama. The high abundance of the satellite DNA in centromeres probably contributes to the formation of chromosomal rearrangements, thus leading to a fast and ongoing speciation in this genus, which has not yet been reflected in the satellite DNA sequence diversification.

Highlights

Among large mammals, Neotropical deer (Cervidae, Pecora, Ruminantia, Artiodactyla) [1,2] represent an interesting group of species still lacking comprehensive scientific data
As with the other Neotropical deer species, a rapid karyotype evolution has been observed in Mazama americana, a taxon grouping several cryptic species currently classified as cytotypes on the basis of their karyotype differences and geographical distribution and reported as M. americana species complex [4,10,11,12]
Fibroblast tissue cultures prepared according to standard techniques from skin samples of eight Neotropical deer species and available at NUPECCE (Jaboticabal, Brazil) were used in this study for DNA isolation and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

Summary

Introduction

Neotropical deer (Cervidae, Pecora, Ruminantia, Artiodactyla) [1,2] represent an interesting group of species still lacking comprehensive scientific data. Their taxonomy has been established mostly on the basis of morphology indicating a need for its critical revision and a future systematic research [3,4]. As in other Cervidae, a variety of karyotypes has been observed in Neotropical deer, ranging from 2n = 70 in Mazama gouazoubira or Odocoileus virginianus, to 2n = 32–34+ Bs in Mazama bororo [6,7]. There is no doubt that the taxonomy and phylogenetics of the Neotropical deer would benefit from new approaches and utilization of new molecular markers

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Results

Conclusion