Satellite DNA Sequences in Canidae and Their Chromosome Distribution in Dog and Red Fox

Abstract

Satellite DNA is a characteristic component of mammalian centromeric heterochromatin, and a comparative analysis of its evolutionary dynamics can be used for phylogenetic studies. We analysed satellite and satellite-like DNA sequences available in NCBI for 4 species of the family Canidae (red fox, Vulpes vulpes, VVU; domestic dog, Canis familiaris, CFA; arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus, VLA; raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides procyonoides, NPR) by comparative sequence analysis, which revealed 86-90% intraspecies and 76-79% interspecies similarity. Comparative fluorescence in situ hybridisation in the red fox and dog showed signals of the red fox satellite probe in canine and vulpine autosomal centromeres, on VVUY, B chromosomes, and in the distal parts of VVU9q and VVU10p which were shown to contain nucleolus organiser regions. The CFA satellite probe stained autosomal centromeres only in the dog. The CFA satellite-like DNA did not show any significant sequence similarity with the satellite DNA of any species analysed and was localised to the centromeres of 9 canine chromosome pairs. No significant heterochromatin block was detected on the B chromosomes of the red fox. Our results show extensive heterogeneity of satellite sequences among Canidae and prove close evolutionary relationships between the red and arctic fox.

Decoding the Role of Satellite DNA in Genome Architecture and Plasticity—An Evolutionary and Clinical Affair

“…This number has been surpassed by a recent study where 164 satDNA families have been identified in Teleostei fish, being this the biggest satellitome characterized for a given species so far [70]. The availability of a methodology capable of assessing satDNA array abundance and diversity led to an explosion of comparative studies across a wide range of clades, including mammals, insects and plants (e.g., [44,45,69,[71][72][73]) providing insights into these sequences.…”

Satellite DNA evolution: old ideas, new approaches

“…Satellites can now be assessed from multiple lineages of nonmodel taxa at relatively low cost because (i) methods exist to identify and quantify satellite sequences de novo , (ii) short-read sequencing is relatively inexpensive, and (iii) low coverage sequencing schemes can be applied to even the largest genomes. As a result, there has been an explosion of studies assessing satellite diversity across a wide array of organisms including mammals: canids [32]; fish: Characidae [33], sterlet [34]; insects: cactophilic Drosophila [35], fireflies [36], locust [24], cricket [37]; and plants: Populus [38], bread wheat [39]. Comparison of sequences from males and females has uncovered satellites that differ in abundance between the sexes, enabling identification of sex chromosome satellites in systems with otherwise homomorphic (identical) sex chromosomes [34,40] with implications for the study of sex chromosome evolution.…”

Sequence Analysis and FISH Mapping of Four Satellite DNA Families among Cervidae

“…New satellite sequences could be formed de novo [14] or originate from pre-existing satellite DNAs [15,16], and can coexist with the progenitor satellite DNAs [17]. Closely related species share similar satellite sequences [18], and thus, the satellite DNA can be used as a phylogenetic marker in evolutionary studies [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. The differences in satellite sequences among taxa can, to some extent, be used for approximation of the species divergence times [27].…”