Repetitive DNAs and chromosome evolution in Megaleporinus obtusidens and M. reinhardti (Characiformes: Anostomidae).

The high dynamism of repetitive DNAs is a major driver of chromosome evolution. In particular, the accumulation of repetitive DNA sequences has been reported as part of the differentiation of sex-specific chromosomes. In turn, the fish species of the genus Megaleporinus are a monophyletic clade in which the presence of differentiated ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes represents a synapomorphic condition, thus serving as a suitable model to evaluate the dynamic evolution of repetitive DNA classes. Therefore, transposable elements (TEs) and in tandem repeats were isolated and located on chromosomes of Megaleporinus obtusidens and M. reinhardti to infer their role in chromosome differentiation with emphasis on sex chromosome systems. Despite the conserved karyotype features of both species, the location of repetitive sequences - Rex 1, Rex 3, (TTAGGG)n, (GATA)n, (GA)n, (CA)n, and (A)n - varied both intra and interspecifically, being mainly accumulated in Z and W chromosomes. The physical mapping of repetitive sequences confirmed the remarkable dynamics of repetitive DNA classes on sex chromosomes that might have promoted chromosome diversification and reproductive isolation in Megaleporinus species.

Karyotypic Diversification in Two Megaleporinus Species (Characiformes, Anostomidae) Inferred from In Situ Localization of Repetitive DNA Sequences.

Anostomidae species have conserved diploid numbers (2n = 54), although comparative cytogenetic studies have demonstrated chromosomal rearrangements occurrence among them, especially in repetitive DNA rich regions. The location and distribution of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) multigene families are highly dynamic in the genomes of several organisms. In this study, we in situ located the rDNA and snRNA sites in two populations of Megaleporinus obtusidens and a sample of Megaleporinus reinhardti to infer their chromosomal changes in the evolutionary lineages. Both species of Megaleporinus shared 2n = 54 chromosomes with the presence of ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system, but they diverged in relationship to the location of 5S and 45S rDNAs as well as the distribution of snRNAs sites. The characterization of the analyzed sequences revealed the presence of complete rDNA and snRNAs sequences as well as snRNAs containing transposable elements (TEs) and microsatellite repeats. After chromosomal mapping, the sequences encompassing TEs proved to be dispersed through autosomes and accumulated on sex chromosomes. The data demonstrate that intra- and interspecific chromosomal changes occurred involving the multigene family's sites in Megaleporinus karyotypes. Furthermore, we detected TE-like sequences in the differentiation of sex chromosome systems in M. obtusidens and M. reinhardti.

Comparative Cytogenetics Among Three Sympatric Hypostomus Species (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): An Evolutionary Analysis in a High Endemic Region

ABSTRACT The karyotypes of three armored catfish species (Loricariidae) from the Iguaçu river, southern of the Brazil, were compared using different techniques: C-banding, Ag-NOR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which used 5S and 18S rDNAs and total Cot-1 fraction as probes. Hypostomus commersoni and Hypostomus derbyi presented 2n = 68 chromosomes, with karyotype formulae 12m+12sm+14st+30a and 12m+12sm+10st+34a, respectively; whereas Hypostomus myersi presented 2n = 74 chromosomes and 12m+16sm+12st+34a. The chromosomal localization of the Ag-NORs, 5S and 18S rDNAs differed in number of sites and chromosomal localization among the studied species. The total Cot-1 probe permitted the visualization of the repetitive DNA fraction in karyotypes of each species. Cross-hybridizations using total Cot-1 probe revealed that these species have repetitive DNAs in common. However, this does not occur in H. commersoni in relation to the other species. The apparent karyotype similarity suggests a close relationship between the sympatric H. commersoni and H. derbyi species, but the small differences detected in the examined chromosomal markers indicate evolutionary divergence due to gene flow restriction among them. Hence, the present findings indicate different composition of repetitive sequences among studied species, which permit to infer its role in chromosomal differentiation of Hypostomus.