Middle-sized Chromosomes Research Articles

Cytogenetic analysis on geographically distant parthenogenetic populations of Tityus trivittatus Kraepelin, 1898 (Scorpiones, Buthidae): karyotype, constitutive heterochromatin and rDNA localization.

Tityus trivittatus Kraepelin, 1898 is the most medically important scorpion species of Argentina, and parthenogenetic populations are present in the major cities of this country. We performed a detailed cytogenetic analysis of specimens of three synanthropic parthenogenetic populations, all distant about 900 km from each other, using Ag-NOR, C-banding, DAPI/CMA3 staining and FISH with autologous 28S rDNA probes. The karyotype of females and embryos from the three populations showed 2n=6, with two large and four middle-sized holokinetic chromosomes. Constitutive heterochromatin was found in terminal and interstitial location and its pattern allowed the identification of three chromosome pairs. NORs were found on the terminal heterochromatic region of one pair of middle-sized chromosomes. The use of fluorochromes to characterize heterochromatin showed the absence of GC-rich heterochromatin and a low and variable number of AT-rich heterochromatic regions. We propose that a possible explanation for the lack of karyotypic variation between these geographically distant populations could be a recent colonization of urban areas by human means of synanthropic specimens from a single lineage of northeastern Argentina.

Pronounced karyological divergence of the North American congeners Sphaerium rhomboideum and S. occidentale (Bivalvia: Veneroida: Sphaeriidae)

Chromosome sets of two North American sphaeriid species, Sphaerium rhomboideum Say, 1822 and S. occidentale Lewis, 1856, were studied using conventional Giemsa staining and karyometric analysis. Pronounced karyological divergence of congeners was revealed. The diploid number of 2n ¼ 44 was reported for S. rhomboideum and this is the first record of a diploid species in the highly polychromosomic Nearctic sphaeriid fauna. The karyotype was characterized by medium-sized and small chromosomes, which decreased in size gradually from 5.77 to 1.9 mm. Biarmed chromosomes with medially and submedially located centromeres predominated, but six pairs of subtelo-telocentric elements were also observed in the karyotype. The estimated mitotic chromosome number for S. occidentale ranges from 189 to 213, but most of the cells examined contained about 204– 209 chromosomes. A first attempt to karyotype a polyploid sphaeriid was made. It was revealed that the comparatively large and middle-sized chromosomes could be grouped in four, so the karyotype presumably evolved through tetraploidization. The small chromosomes formed the large fraction, about 137. Due to their similar and indistinct morphologies, it was impossible to arrange them into subgroups with confidence. Revealed karyological characteristics are discussed with reference to the existing phylogenetic interpretations of the evolutionary history of the Sphaeriinae.

Avian genomes: different karyotypes but a similar distribution of the GC-richest chromosome regions at interphase

The chicken karyotype, like that of the vast majority of avian species, shows a large number of dot-shaped microchromosomes that are characterized, like most telomeric regions of the macrochromosomes, by the highest GC levels and the highest gene densities. In interphase nuclei, these gene-dense regions are centrally located, and are characterized by an open chromatin structure (a similar situation also exists in mammals). Avian species belonging to the Accipitridae family (diurnal raptors) show a karyotype with no very large chromosomes, and with only a very small number of microchromosomes. To identify the GC-rich (and gene-rich) regions of the chromosomes and nuclei from Accipitridae, we performed heterologous in-situ hybridizations using chicken GC-richest isochores as probes. Our results clearly show that the gene-rich regions are prevalently located in the few microchromosome pairs and in the telomeric regions of the middle-sized chromosomes, as well as in the interior of the interphase nuclei. This result is consistent with a common organization of the genome in the nuclei of warm-blooded vertebrates. Indeed, in spite of the different size and morphology of the chromosomes, the gene-dense regions are always located in the interior of the nuclei.

Chromosome banding and molecular cytogenetic study of two Mediterranean trachinoid fish species (Teleostei: Trachinidae, Uranoscopidae)

The chromosomes of Echiichthys vipera (Trachinidae) and Uranoscopus scaber (Uranoscopidae) were analyzed by means of various banding methods and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with telomeric and major rDNA probes, respectively. The karyotype of E. vipera was composed of 48 acrocentric chromosomes and NOR sites, as revealed by all detection methods, were situated pericentromerically on a single pair of middle-sized chromosomes. Blocks of constitutive heterochromatin were present in the pericentromeric regions of all pairs of chromosomes. The karyotype of U. scaber showed three karyomorphs: 2n = 30 (18 m + 12 a/st [m = metacentric, a = acrocentric and st = subtelocentric]), 2n = 28 (20 m + 8 a/st), 2n = 27 (21 m + 6 a/st). NORs, as revealed by FISH, were situated pericentromerically on a single pair of middle-sized chromosomes in spite of Ag-positive signals in the centromeres of all pairs of chromosomes. Robertsonian fusions were hypothesized for observed variation due to invariable number of chromosome arms FN = 48.

A Chromosome Phylogeny of the Droseraceae by Using CMA-DAPI Fluorescent Banding.

Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., Dionaea muscipula Ellis, 20 species of Drosera L. and Drosophyllum lusitanicum Link. were investigated for a metaphase chromosome analysis by using the sequentially fluorescent CMA and DAPI staining methods. Aldrovanda vesiculosa and the Drosera species showed numerous small-sized chromosomes and some middle-sized chromosomes with no primary constriction. Dionaea muscipula had the middle-sized chromosomes with the localized centromeres and CMA-negative and DAPI-positive pericentric bands. Drosophyllum lusitanicum displayed quite large-sized chromosomes with well-defined localized-centromeres. Computer-aided measurements of metaphase chromosomes stained with CMA and DAPI showed that Aldrovanda vesiculosa and the Drosera species displayed the common features such as localization of CMA-positive and DAPI-negative satellites and non-staining region.