Quantitative analysis of the variability of nucleolar organizer regions in Salmo trutta

High Ag-NOR-site variation associated to a secondary contact in brown trout from the Iberian Peninsula

The analysis of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) using silver (Ag-) staining and in situ hybridization (ISH) in brown trout (Salmo trutta) from various river basins in the Iberian Peninsula revealed high variation in the number and location of NORs. A total of 17 different Ag-NOR sites were revealed in 10 different chromosome pairs. Three different Ag-NOR patterns clustered by river basins and strongly associated to the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) variation were detected. The main variability in NOR-sites was found in a secondary contact between two divergent lineages of brown trouts at Duero basin. Our results confirmed the abrupt break in the spatial distribution of genetic variation of brown trout populations previously reported at Duero basin. We hypothesize that NOR-site variation might be a consequence of hybridization between divergent lineages of brown trouts and that NORs could play a major role in the maintenance of a hybrid zone in Duero basin via post-zygotic isolation mechanisms.

Relationships among growth and different NOR phenotypes in a specific stock of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Growth is one of the most important aspects in the genetic improvement of cultured fish species. Consequently, genetic parameters related to this feature and their response to selection have been the focus of most research in this area. Such research indicates that, in general, there is enough additive genetic variance related to growth, justifying the use of selection. Based on the usefulness of cytogenetic and molecular markers in the fish culture, the aim of the present work was to analyze the possible relationships among cytogenetic characteristics, specifically the NOR phenotypes, and the increase in length and weight in specimens of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), resultant from directed mating between homozygous females and heterozygous males according to their NOR phenotypic patterns. The equations of the relationship between length and weight of the analyzed specimens followed the model Wt = a Lt(b), showing b values higher than 3, determinant of a positive allometric growth. The results showed that the different NOR phenotypes were not related with the growth values for length and weight in any statistical test.

Genetic load caused by variation in the amount of rDNA in a wasp

Extensive variation in the size of the short (heterochromatic) arm of chromosome 14 was found in the wasp Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) albitarse. Ten different variants were differentiated by size and C-banding pattern. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that ribosomal DNA in this species is clustered in the darkly C-banded parts of the heterochromatic short arm of chromosome 14. On this basis, we got an indirect estimate of the amount of rDNA from the area of these dark C-bands. The significant absence in males of the three chromosome variants with lower amounts of rDNA indicates that these three variants are lethal in this sex, and suggests the existence of a threshold marking the minimum amount of rDNA which is tolerable in haploidy. This implies about 4% genetic load in the population caused by variation in rDNA amount.

Selachian cytogenetics: a review

The karyotype of Chondrichthyes is still the least investigated among vertebrates. Over the last 40 years, the karyotypes of 63 out of the 1100 known species (5.73%) have been described in literature, namely seven squalomorph, one squatinomorph, 20 galeomorph, 33 batoid and two holocephalian species. Generally, the diploid number ranges from a minimum of 28 to a maximum of 106 elements, with more frequent values observed between 50 and 100 chromosomes. None of the four superorders is characterized by a peculiar chromosome set or morphology; the number of uniarmed and biarmed elements is variable in all the karyotypes, and microchromosomes are often present. The general trend in all groups seems to be a progressive reduction of the telocentric chromosome number in the most specialized species, followed by the loss of the microchromosomes. Polyploidy, followed by diploidization events and Robertsonian rearrangements, might have played a key role in the karyological evolution of elasmobranch fish. Chondrichthyes have the largest genome sizes among vertebrates, with the exception of dipnoans and urodeles. In the whole class, the species examined vary greatly in size, from 3 to 34pg/N: the lowest values have been observed in holocephalians, while galeoids and batoids have a DNA amount ranging from 5 to 15 pg/N. Squaloids show heterogeneous DNA amounts, ranging from 8 to 34 pg/N. In more recent years, karyological studies have provided new data on the characterization of selachian karyotypes by C-banding, NOR staining, restriction enzymes in situ digestion and FISH with specific DNA probes, such as telomeric and SINE sequences.

Population analysis of an unusual NOR-site polymorphism in brown trout (Salmo trutta L.)

A population analysis of an unusual NOR-site polymorphism previously detected in brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) from North-western Spain was carried out in 225 individuals from 20 native populations from this area. The analysis performed has permitted us to reveal: (i) the ubiquity of this phenomenon in most river basins from NW Spain, 13 extra-NORs not observed in standard trout being detected; (ii) the rDNA constitution of all extra-NORs, as confirmed by CMA3-staining and rDNA-FISH, and their capability to constitute their own nucleolus; (iii) the constant location of extra-NORs within individuals and their stable transmission across generations; and (iv) the telomeric location of Ag-NORs, which were randomly distributed in the karyotype of S. trutta, mostly in the heterozygous condition. Repetitive sequences in the IGS or scattered along rDNA units, rather than chromosome rearrangements, could play an important role in the dispersion of NORs. The polymorphism described seems to have a single geographical origin, since a positive correlation was demonstrated between the degree of polymorphism and geographical distance to a central point of the river basin where the phenomenon showed a higher intensity. The distribution of NOR-site variation as compared with allozyme variation in the populations studied, showed significant statistical differences. Selection against high copy number, or mutation due to changes in NOR location, could be acting on this polymorphism to explain the observed distribution. The high dispersion of NOR-site variants within and among populations suggests the transposition phenomenon responsible for NOR jumping could be still active.

Analysis of NORs and NOR-associated heterochromatin in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk

The chromosomes of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis were analysed by means of chromomycin A3 (CMA), distamycin A/DAPI (DA/DAPI), DAPI/actinomycin D (DAPI/AMD) and chromomycin A3/distamycin A/DAPI (CDD) fluorescence banding techniques, C-banding, silver staining, N-banding and in situ hybridization with 18S+28S rDNA and telomere probes. 18S+28S rDNA clusters were located on the telomeres of two pairs of submeta/subtelocentric chromosomes. The nucleolar organizing regions (NORs) were associated with bright CMA fluorescence, dull DAPI fluorescence and C- and N-positive bands, but not all four NOR-associated heterochromatin bands showed bright CMA fluorescence in a given cell; intra- and interindividual variability was found in this character. Additional non-ribosomal C-bands did not show any differential fluorescent behaviour.

Localization of rDNA genes in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) by FISH

A probe containing most of the transcription unit of the major ribosomal genes of Xenopus laevis has been used to localize the rDNA cluster of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Only on NOR-bearing chromosome pair has been found. The results obtained with this technique confirm the size polymorphism of the NOR revealed previously by other classical cytogenetic techniques.

Localization of the repetitive telomeric sequence (TTAGGG)n in four salmonid species

We have analyzed the localization of the highly conserved telomeric sequence (TTAGGG)n in four salmonid species, two of the genus Salmo (Salmo trutta and Salmo salar) and two of the genus Oncorhynchus (Onchorhynchus mykiss and Onchorhynchus kisutch), by fluorescent in situ hybridization. As expected, the hybridization signal was mostly localized at the telomeres of all chromosomes in the four species. Two species evidenced special hybridization sites with the telomeric probe: (i) interstitial heterochromatic blocks in particular long chromosomes in S. salar; this observation supports tandem fusions as the karyotypic evolutionary mechanism leading to the formation of the long acrocentric and submetacentric chromosomes in the karyotype of S. salar; (ii) the whole NOR region in O mykiss; this observation suggests that the (TTAGGG)n sequence is scattered all along this chromosome region.

A new EcoRI family of satellite DNA in lampreys

Satellite DNA sequences have been studied in several groups of organisms. However, until now this type of sequence has not been characterized in cyclostomata, an evolutionarily important class of vertebrates. In the present work, we report the molecular characterization of a new family of satellite DNA in lampreys (Petromyzon marinus). Digestion of lamprey DNA with EcoRI identified a series of very abundant AT-rich (60% A+T) repeating units, with short stretches of AT, that are multimers of 370 bp. Southern blot analysis and comparison with the satellite DNA sequences deposited in the databases indicate that this new family of satellite DNA is exclusive to lampreys. The distribution of this EcoRI satellite DNA on lamprey chromosomes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. The evolutionary origin of this satellite is briefly discussed.

A NOR-associated repetitive element present in the genome of two Salmo species (Salmo salar and Salmo trutta)

A repetitive element was isolated from the genome of Atlantic salmon. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed the existence of variant monomers that range in length from approximately 200 to 230 bp. Repeat monomers contain regions of cryptic simplicity, internal repetition, and long direct repeats with deletions and insertions between individual units. The repetitive element was shown to have a tandem unit arrangement and was estimated to occupy between two and three percent of the Atlantic salmon genome. Southern blot analysis revealed the repetitive element to be unique to Atlantic salmon and brown trout species. In situ hybridization analysis showed this element to be localized at the main nucleolar organizer region bearing chromosomes of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), AS cell line (derived from S. salar), and brown trout (Salmo trutta).

Brdu replication bands in the anguilliform fish Echelus myrus

High-resolution replication banding patterns have been obtained in prometaphase and metaphase chromosomes of the anguilliform fish species Echelus myrus by treating kidney cell cultures with 5-bromodeoxyuridine during the mid-late synthesis phase. The results show the superiority of the in vitro technique in obtaining a higher number of bands which permit an accurate identification of all chromosome pairs. Different replication patterns were compared with C-bands and silver-stained nucleolus organizer regions, providing information on the replication order of different chromatin regions.

A population analysis of Robertsonian and Ag-NOR polymorphisms in brown trout (Salmo trutta)

An analysis of Robertsonian polymorphism and variation in the number of active NORs has been carried out in several populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from Northwestern Spain. The karyotype of this species appears to be soundly established, and essentially no variation has been found in chromosome number. Interindividual and interpopulation variation in arm number was detected, with figures ranging between 100 and 102 among individuals, and between 100.10 and 100.80 among populations. This variation in arm number is solely attributable to the polymorphism of the short arm of the main NOR-bearing pair 11, which can appear from acrocentric to metacentric in different individuals. Most populations analyzed showed the standard distribution of active NORs previously observed in this species. The Miño drainage basin, and specially the Chamoso population, showed a multi-chromosomal distribution of active NORs, with several new locations, always telomeric. In most cases no concordance was observed between previously detected rDNA sites in S. trutta and the new Ag-NOR locations. This fact suggests a transposition mechanism rather than an activation of silent rDNA sites to explain this multichromosomal NOR pattern.