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

Abstract

Centromeric and pericentromeric chromosome regions are occupied by satellite DNA. Satellite DNAs play essential roles in chromosome segregation, and, thanks to their extensive sequence variability, to some extent, they can also be used as phylogenetic markers. In this paper, we isolated and sequenced satellite DNA I-IV in 11 species of Cervidae. The obtained satellite DNA sequences and their chromosomal distribution were compared among the analysed representatives of cervid subfamilies Cervinae and Capreolinae. Only satI and satII sequences are probably present in all analysed species with high abundance. On the other hand, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) with satIII and satIV probes showed signals only in a part of the analysed species, indicating interspecies copy number variations. Several indices, including FISH patterns, the high guanine and cytosine (GC) content, and the presence of centromere protein B (CENP-B) binding motif, suggest that the satII DNA may represent the most important satellite DNA family that might be involved in the centromeric function in Cervidae. The absence or low intensity of satellite DNA FISH signals on biarmed chromosomes probably reflects the evolutionary reduction of heterochromatin following the formation of chromosome fusions. The phylogenetic trees constructed on the basis of the satellite I-IV DNA relationships generally support the present cervid taxonomy.

Satellite DNA in Neotropical Deer Species

“…To expand our knowledge on satellite DNAs in Cervidae, we also performed an analysis of partial satIII DNA sequence in eight Old world deer species (see Table 1 ) still missing data on satIII DNA sequence variability. Genomic DNA obtained previously [ 24 ] from peripheral lymphocytes was used for the analysis. Taxonomic nomenclature published by Groves and Grubb (2011) was used [ 5 ].…”

“…Genomic DNA was obtained from fixed suspensions of cultured fibroblasts of the available Neotropical deer using the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) after washing in PBS. Satellite DNA was isolated from the genomic DNA by PCR amplification using previously published primer sets [ 24 ] ( Table S1 ). SatI, satII, and satIV DNA sequences were isolated from all Neotropical deer species.…”

“…However, the functional roles of satellite DNA have not been fully elucidated yet. It is known that despite the relative uniformity of monomer lengths within satellite DNA families, they often show variations in sequence, copy numbers, and chromosome distribution even among related species [ 13 , 17 ], which can be used in phylogenetic studies [ 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…Six satellite DNA families were described in Cervidae so far, of which satI-satIV were characterized in terms of sequence and chromosomal distribution in a number of Eurasian and North American cervid species [ 24 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. However, there is a complete lack of data on satellite DNA sequences and their chromosome distribution in deer inhabiting South America.…”

“…However, there is a complete lack of data on satellite DNA sequences and their chromosome distribution in deer inhabiting South America. The sole exception is O. virginianus , a species spread throughout the American continent, in which a representative of its northern population has been under study recently [ 24 ].…”