Male meiosis, heterochromatin characterization and chromosomal location of rDNA in Microtomus lunifer (Berg, 1900) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Hammacerinae)

Histone H3 Methylation and Autosomal vs. Sex Chromosome Segregation During Male Meiosis in Heteroptera

Heteropteran insects exhibit a remarkable diversity of meiotic processes, including coexistence of different chromosomes types with different behavior during the first meiotic division, non-chiasmatic segregation, and inverted meiosis. Because of this diversity they represent suitable models to study fundamental questions about the mechanisms of chromosome behavior during cell division. All heteropteran species possess holokinetic chromosomes and in most of them the autosomal chromosomes synapse, recombine, and undergoe pre-reductional meiosis. In contrast, the sex chromosomes are achiasmatic, behave as univalents at metaphase I and present an inverted or post-reductional meiosis. An exception to this typical behavior is found in Pachylis argentinus, where both the autosomes and the X-chromosome divide reductionally at anaphase I and then divide equationally at anaphase II. In the present report, we analyzed the distribution of histones H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 in P. argentinus and in five species that have simple and multiple sex chromosome systems with typical chromosome segregation, Belostoma elegans, B. oxyurum, Holhymenia rubiginosa, Phthia picta, and Oncopeltus unifasciatellus. We found that H3K9me3 is a marker for sex-chromosomes from early prophase I to the end of the first division in all the species. H3K9me2 also marks the sex chromosomes since early prophase but shows different dynamics at metaphase I depending on the sex-chromosome segregation: it is lost in species with equationally dividing sex chromosomes but remains on one end of the X chromosome of P. argentinus, where chromatids migrate together at anaphase I. It is proposed that the loss of H3K9me2 from the sex chromosomes observed at metaphase I may be part of a set of epigenetic signals that lead to the reductional or equational division of autosomes and sex chromosomes observed in most Heteroptera. The present observations suggest that the histone modifications analyzed here evolved in Heteroptera as markers for asynaptic and achiasmatic sex chromosomes during meiosis to allow the distinction from the chiasmatic autosomal chromosomes.

New cytogenetic data for three species of Pentatomidae (Heteroptera): Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas, 1851), Loxa viridis (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805), and Edessa collaris (Dallas, 1851)

In this paper, we present new cytogenetic data for three species of the family Pentatomidae: Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas, 1851), Loxa viridis (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805), and Edessa collaris (Dallas, 1851). All studied species presented holocentric chromosomes and inverted meiosis for the sex chromosomes. D. melacanthus has 2n = 12 (10A + XY); L. viridis showed 2n = 14 (12A + XY); and E. collaris showed 2n = 14 (12A + XY). C-banding was performed for the first time in these species and revealed terminal and interstitial heterochromatic regions on the autosomes; DAPI/CMA₃ staining showed different fluorescent patterns. In all species, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA probe identified signals on one autosomal bivalent, this being the first report of FISH application in the species D. melacanthus and L. viridis. The results obtained add to those already existing in the literature, enabling a better understanding of the meiotic behavior of these insects.

New evidence for the presence of the telomere motif (TTAGG) n in the family Reduviidae and its absence in the families Nabidae and Miridae (Hemiptera, Cimicomorpha)

Male karyotype and meiosis in four true bug species belonging to the families Reduviidae, Nabidae, and Miridae (Cimicomorpha) were studied for the first time using Giemsa staining and FISH with 18S ribosomal DNA and telomeric (TTAGG)_n probes. We found that Rhynocoris punctiventris (Herrich-Schäffer, 1846) and R. iracundus (Poda, 1761) (Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) had 2n = 28 (24 + X₁X₂X₃Y), whereas Nabis sareptanus Dohrn, 1862 (Nabidae) and Horistus orientalis (Gmelin, 1790) (Miridae) had 2n = 34 (32 + XY) and 2n = 32 (30 + XY), respectively. FISH for 18S rDNA revealed hybridization signals on a sex chromosome, the X or the Y, in H. orientalis, on both X and Y chromosomes in N. sareptanus, and on two of the four sex chromosomes, Y and one of the Xs, in both species of Rhynocoris Hahn, 1834. The results of FISH with telomeric probes support with confidence the absence of the "insect" telomere motif (TTAGG)_n in the families Nabidae and Miridae and its presence in both species of genus Rhynocoris of the Reduviidae, considered as a basal family of Cimicomorpha. Increasing evidence reinforces the hypothesis of the loss of the canonical "insect" telomere motif (TTAGG)_n by at least four cimicomorphan families, Nabidae, Miridae, Tingidae, and Cimicidae, for which data are currently available.

New data on karyotypes of lace bugs (Tingidae, Cimicomorpha, Hemiptera) with analysis of the 18S rDNA clusters distribution

The karyotypes of 10 species from 9 genera of the family Tingidae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Cimicomorpha) are described and illustrated for the first time. These species are: Agrammaatricapillum (Spinola, 1837), Catoplatuscarthusianus (Goeze, 1778), Dictylaplatyoma (Fieber, 1861), Lasiacanthahermani Vásárhelyi, 1977, Oncochilasimplex (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1830), Tingis (Neolasiotropis) pilosa Hummel, 1825, and T. (Tropidocheila) reticulata Herrich-Schaeffer, 1835, all with 2n = 12A + XY, as well as Acalyptamarginata (Wolff, 1804), Derephysia (Paraderephysia) longispina Golub, 1974, and Dictyonotastrichnocera Fieber, 1844, all with 2n = 12A + X(0). Moreover, genera Catoplatus Spinola, 1837, Derephysia Spinola, 1837, and Oncochila (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1830) were explored cytogenetically for the first time. Much as all other hitherto studied lace bugs, the species studied here have 12 autosomes but differ in their sex chromosome systems. The ribosomal clusters were localized on male meiotic cells of all ten species already mentioned and, additionally, in Acalyptacarinata Panzer, 1806 known to have 2n = 12A + X (Grozeva and Nokkala 2001) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a PCR amplified 18S rDNA fragment as a probe. In all cases, rDNA loci were located interstitially on a pair of autosomes. Furthermore, two species possessed some additional rDNA clusters. Thus, Acalyptamarginata showed clearly defined interstitial clusters on one more pair of autosomes, whereas Derephysialongispina had a terminal cluster on the X-chromosome. FISH performed with the telomeric (TTAGG) _n probe did not reveal labelling in chromosomes of any species studied. Hence, the results obtained provide additional evidence for the karyotype conservatism, at least regarding the number of autosomes, for variation in chromosomal distribution of rDNA loci between species and for the lack of the ancestral insect telomeric sequence TTAGG in lace bugs. Preliminary taxonomic comments are made basing on some cytogenetic evidence.

A chromosomal analysis of Nepa cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 and Ranatra linearis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Heteroptera, Nepidae)

An account is given of the karyotypes and male meiosis of the Water Scorpion Nepa cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 and the Water Stick Insect Ranatra linearis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Heteroptera, Nepomorpha, Nepidae). A number of different approaches and techniques were tried: the employment of both male and female gonads and mid-guts as the sources of chromosomes, squash and air-drying methods for chromosome preparations, C-banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosome study. We found that N. cinerea had a karyotype comprising 14 pairs of autosomes and a multiple sex chromosome system, which is X₁X₂X₃X₄Y (♂) / X₁X₁X₂X₂X₃X₃X₄X₄ (♀), whereas R. linearis had a karyotype comprising 19 pairs of autosomes and a multiple sex chromosome system X₁X₂X₃X₄Y (♂) / X₁X₁X₂X₂X₃X₃X₄X₄ (♀). In both N. cinerea and R. linearis, the autosomes formed chiasmate bivalents in spermatogenesis, and the sex chromosome univalents divided during the first meiotic division and segregated during the second one suggesting thus a post-reductional type of behaviour. These results confirm and amplify those of Steopoe (1925, 1927, 1931, 1932) but are inconsistent with those of other researchers. C-banding appeared helpful in pairing up the autosomes for karyotype assembly; however in R. linearis the chromosomes were much more uniform in size and general appearance than in N. cinerea. FISH for 18S ribosomal DNA (major rDNA) revealed hybridization signals on two of the five sex chromosomes in N. cinerea. In R. linearis, rDNA location was less obvious than in N. cinerea; however it is suggested to be similar. We have detected the presence of the canonical "insect" (TTAGG) _n telomeric repeat in chromosomes of these species. This is the first application of C-banding and FISH in the family Nepidae.

A karyotype comparison between two species of bordered plant bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Largidae) by conventional chromosome staining, C-banding and rDNA-FISH

A cytogenetic characterization, including heterochromatin content, and the analysis of the location of rDNA genes, was performed in Largus fasciatus Blanchard, 1843 and L. rufipennis Laporte, 1832. Mitotic and meiotic analyses revealed the same diploid chromosome number 2n = 12 + X0/XX (male/female). Heterochromatin content, very scarce in both species, revealed C-blocks at both ends of autosomes and X chromosome. The most remarkable cytological feature observed between both species was the different chromosome position of the NORs. This analysis allowed us to use the NORs as a cytological marker because two clusters of rDNA genes are located at one end of one pair of autosomes in L. fasciatus, whereas a single rDNA cluster is located at one terminal region of the X chromosome in L. rufipennis. Taking into account our results and previous data obtained in other heteropteran species, the conventional staining, chromosome bandings, and rDNA-FISH provide important chromosome markers for cytotaxonomy, karyotype evolution, and chromosome structure and organization studies.

Comparison of different cytogenetic methods and tissue suitability for the study of chromosomes in Cimex lectularius (Heteroptera, Cimicidae)

In the article we summarize the most common recent cytogenetic methods used in analysis of karyotypes in Heteroptera. We seek to show the pros and cons of the spreading method compared with the traditional squashing method. We discuss the suitability of gonad, midgut and embryo tissue in Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, 1758 chromosome research and production of figures of whole mitosis and meiosis, using the spreading method. The hotplate spreading technique has many advantages in comparison with the squashing technique. Chromosomal slides prepared from the testes tissue gave the best results, tissues of eggs and midgut epithelium are not suitable. Metaphase II is the only division phase in which sex chromosomes can be clearly distinguished. Chromosome number determination is easy during metaphase I and metaphase II. Spreading of gonad tissue is a suitable method for the cytogenetic analysis of holokinetic chromosomes of Cimex lectularius.

Cytogenetic Features of Human Head and Body Lice (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae)

The genus Pediculus L. that parasitize humans comprise two subspecies: the head lice Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer and the body lice Pediculus humanus humanus De Geer. Despite the 200 yr of the first description of these two species, there is still a long debate about their taxonomic status. Some authors proposed that these organisms are separate species, conspecifics, or grouped in clades. The sequencing of both forms indicated that the difference between them is one gene absent in the head louse. However, their chromosomal number remains to be determined. In this study, we described the male and female karyotypes, and male meiosis of head and body lice, and examined the chromatin structure by means of C-banding. In P. h. humanus and P. h. capitis, the diploid chromosome complement was 2 n = 12 in both sexes. In oogonial prometaphase and metaphase and spermatogonial metaphase, it is evident that chromosomes lack of a primary constriction. No identifiable sex chromosomes or B chromosomes were observed in head and body lice. Neither chiasmata nor chromatin connections between homologous chromosomes were detected in male meiosis. The meiotic behaviour of the chromosomes showed that they are holokinetic. C-banding revealed the absence of constitutive heterochromatin. Our results provide relevant information to be used in mapping studies of genes associated with sex determination and environmental sensing and response.

Karyotype diversity among predatory Reduviidae (Heteroptera)

Species of infraorder Cimicomorpha of Heteroptera exhibit holokinetic chromosomes with inverted meiosis for sex chromosomes and high variation in chromosome number. The family Reduviidae, which belongs to this infraorder, is also recognized by high variability of heterochromatic bands and chromosome location of 18S rDNA loci. We studied here five species of Reduviidae (Harpactorinae) with predator habit, which are especially interesting because individuals are found solitary and dispersed in nature. These species showed striking variation in chromosome number (including sex chromosome systems), inter-chromosomal asymmetry, different number and chromosome location of 18S rDNA loci, dissimilar location and quantity of autosomal C-heterochromatin, and different types of repetitive DNA by fluorochrome banding, probably associated with occurrence of different chromosome rearrangements. Terminal chromosome location of C-heterochromatin seems to reinforce the model of equilocal dispersion of repetitive DNA families based in the "bouquet configuration".

Heterochromatin characterization and ribosomal gene location in two monotypic genera of bloodsucker bugs (Cimicidae, Heteroptera) with holokinetic chromosomes and achiasmatic male meiosis

Members of the family Cimicidae (Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha) are temporary bloodsuckers on birds and bats as primary hosts and humans as secondary hosts. Acanthocrios furnarii (2n=12=10+XY, male) and Psitticimex uritui (2n=31=28+X1X2Y, male) are two monotypic genera of the subfamily Haematosiphoninae, which have achiasmatic male meiosis of collochore type. Here, we examined chromatin organization and constitution of cimicid holokinetic chromosomes by determining the amount, composition and distribution of constitutive heterochromatin, and number and location of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in both species. Results showed that these two bloodsucker bugs possess high heterochromatin content and have an achiasmatic male meiosis, in which three regions can be differentiated in each autosomal bivalent: (i) terminal heterochromatic regions in repulsion; (ii) a central region, where the homologous chromosomes are located parallel but without contact between them; and (iii) small areas within the central region, where collochores are detected. Acanthocrios furnarii presented a single NOR on an autosomal pair, whereas P. uritui presented two NORs, one on an autosomal pair and the other on a sex chromosome. All NORs were found to be associated with CMA3 bright bands, indicating that the whole rDNA repeating unit is rich in G+C base pairs. Based on the variations in the diploid autosomal number, the presence of simple and multiple sex chromosome systems, and the number and location of 18S rDNA loci in the two Cimicidae species studied, we might infer that rDNA clusters and genome are highly dynamic among the representatives of this family.

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.

Unlocking holocentric chromosomes: new perspectives from comparative and functional genomics?

The presence of chromosomes with diffuse centromeres (holocentric chromosomes) has been reported in several taxa since more than fifty years, but a full understanding of their origin is still lacking. Comparative and functional genomics are nowadays furnishing new data to better understand holocentric chromosome evolution thus opening new perspectives to analyse karyotype rearrangements in species with holocentric chromosomes in particular evidencing unusual common features, such as the uniform GC content and gene distribution along chromosomes.

The significance of cytogenetics for the study of karyotype evolution and taxonomy of water bugs (Heteroptera, Belostomatidae) native to Argentina

Male meiosis behaviour and heterochromatin characterization of three big water bug species were studied. Belostoma dentatum (Mayr, 1863), Belostoma elongatum Montandon, 1908 and Belostoma gestroi Montandon, 1903 possess 2n = 26 + X1X2Y (male). In these species, male meiosis is similar to that previously observed in Belostoma Latreille, 1807. In general, autosomal bivalents show a single chiasma terminally located and divide reductionally at anaphase I. On the other hand, sex chromosomes are achiasmatic, behave as univalents and segregate their chromatids equationally at anaphase I. The analysis of heterochromatin distribution and composition revealed a C-positive block at the terminal region of all autosomes in Belostoma dentatum, a C-positive block at the terminal region and C-positive interstitial dots on all autosomes in Belostoma elongatum, and a little C-positive band at the terminal region of autosomes in Belostoma gestroi. A C-positive band on one bivalent was DAPI negative/CMA3 positive in the three species. The CMA3-bright band, enriched in GC base pairs, was coincident with a NOR detected by FISH. The results obtained support the hypothesis that all species of Belostoma with multiple sex chromosome systems preserve NORs in autosomal bivalents. The karyotype analyses allow the cytogenetic characterization and identification of these species belonging to a difficult taxonomic group. Besides, the cytogenetic characterization will be useful in discussions about evolutionary trends of the genome organization and karyotype evolution in this genus.

Cytogenetics of the true bug infraorder Cimicomorpha (Hemiptera, Heteroptera): a review

The Cimicomorpha is one of the largest and highly diversified infraorders of the Heteroptera. This group is also highly diversified cytogenetically and demonstrates a number of unusual cytogenetic characters such as holokinetic chromosomes; m-chromosomes; multiple sex chromosome systems; post-reduction of sex chromosomes in meiosis; variation in the presence/absence of chiasmata in spermatogenesis; different types of achiasmate meiosis. We present here a review of essential cytogenetic characters of the Cimicomorpha and outline the chief objectives and goals of future investigations in the field.

Karyotypes, male meiosis and comparative FISH mapping of 18S ribosomal DNA and telomeric (TTAGG) n repeat in eight species of true bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

Eight species belonging to five true bug families were analyzed using DAPI/CMA3-staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with telomeric (TTAGG)n and 18S rDNA probes. Standard chromosomal complements are reported for the first time for Deraeocoris rutilus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838) (2n=30+2m+XY) and Deraeocoris ruber(Linnaeus, 1758) (2n=30+2m+XY) from the family Miridae. Using FISH, the location of a 18S rDNA cluster was detected in these species and in five more species: Megaloceroea recticornis (Geoffroy, 1785) (2n=30+XY) from the Miridae; Oxycarenus lavaterae (Fabricius, 1787) (2n=14+2m+XY) from the Lygaeidae s.l.; Pyrrhocoris apterus (Linnaeus, 1758) (2n=22+X) from the Pyrrhocoridae; Eurydema oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758) (2n=12+XY) and Graphosoma lineatum (Linnaeus, 1758) (2n=12+XY) from the Pentatomidae. The species were found to differ with respect to location of a 18S rRNA gene cluster which resides on autosomes in Oxycarenus lavaterae and Pyrrhocoris apterus, whereas it locates on sex chromosomes in other five species. The 18S rDNA location provides the first physical landmark of the genomes of the species studied. The insect consensus telomeric pentanucleotide (TTAGG)n was demonstrated to be absent in all the species studied in this respect, Deraeocoris rutilus, Megaloceroea recticornis, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, 1758 (Cimicidae), Eurydema oleracea, and Graphosoma lineatum, supporting the hypothesis that this motif was lost in early evolution of the Heteroptera and secondarily replaced with another motif (yet unknown) or the alternative telomerase-independent mechanisms of telomere maintenance. Dot-blot hybridization analysis of the genomic DNA from Cimex lectularius, Nabis sp. and Oxycarenus lavaterae with (TTAGG)n and six other telomeric probes likewise provided a negative result.