Heterochromatin heterogeneity in Hypostomus prope unae (Steindachner, 1878) (Siluriformes, Loricariidae)from Northeastern Brazil

Isolation of a Pericentromeric Satellite DNA Family in Chnootriba argus (Henosepilachna argus) with an Unusual Short Repeat Unit (TTAAAA) for Beetles

Ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) are one of the largest groups of beetles. Among them, some species are of economic interest since they can act as a biological control for some agricultural pests whereas other species are phytophagous and can damage crops. Chnootriba argus (Coccinellidae, Epilachnini) has large heterochromatic pericentromeric blocks on all chromosomes, including both sexual chromosomes. Classical digestion of total genomic DNA using restriction endonucleases failed to find the satellite DNA located on these heterochromatic regions. Cloning of C0t-1 DNA resulted in the isolation of a repetitive DNA with a repeat unit of six base pairs, TTAAAA. The amount of TTAAAA repeat in the C. argus genome was about 20%. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis and digestion of chromosomes with the endonuclease Tru9I revealed that this repetitive DNA could be considered as the putative pericentromeric satellite DNA (satDNA) in this species. The presence of this satellite DNA was tested in other species of the tribe Epilachnini and it is also present in Epilachna paenulata. In both species, the TTAAAA repeat seems to be the main satellite DNA and it is located on the pericentromeric region on all chromosomes. The size of this satDNA, which has only six base pairs is unusual in Coleoptera satellite DNAs, where satDNAs usually have repeat units of a much larger size. Southern hybridization and FISH proved that this satDNA is conserved in some Epilachnini species but not in others. This result is in concordance with the controversial phylogenetic relationships among the genera of the tribe Epilachnini, where the limits between genera are unclear.

Constitutive heterochromatin heteromorphism in the Neotropical armored catfish Hypostomusregani (Ihering, 1905) (Loricariidae, Hypostominae) from the Paraguay River basin (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil)

A cytogenetic analysis based on the integration of a number of different chromosomal methodologies, including chromosome microdissection was carried out to characterize the chromosomally polymorphic Hypostomusregani population from the Paraguay River basin, state of Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil. All specimens had 2n=72 (FN=116) but two distinct karyotype formulas: karyomorph A (12m+14sm+18s+28a) and karyomorph B (13m+14sm+17st+28a). Karyomorph A and B differed only for pair 19 that consisted of two subtelocentrics in karyomorph A and a large metacentric and a subtelocentric in karyomorph B. This heteromorphism was due to extensive heterochromatinization of the short arm of the large metacentric, as highlighted by C-banding. The microdissection of the large metacentric of pair 19 allowed the production of a probe, named HrV (Hypostomusregani Variant), that hybridized to the whole p arm of the large metacentric and the pericentromeric region of the short arm of its (subtelocentric) homologue (karyomorph B) and of both homologs of pair 19 in karyomorph A. Additional cytogenetic techniques (FISH with 18S and 5S rDNA probes, CMA₃ and DAPI staining) allowed a finer distinction of the two karyomorphs. These results reinforced the hypothesis that the novel large metacentric of H.regani (karyomorph B) was the result of the amplification of heterochromatin segments, which contributed to karyotypic diversification in this species.

Heterochromatin polymorphism and physical mapping of 5S and 18S ribosomal DNA in four populations of Hypostomus strigaticeps (Regan, 1907) from the Paraná River basin, Brazil: evolutionary and environmental correlation

A cytogenetic analysis was performed on four populations of Hypostomus strigaticeps from the Paraná River basin, Brazil. Two populations were collected from the large channel river at the Itaipu reservoir area and the other two were from the upper stretches of tributaries of the Paraná River. All populations showed 2n=72 chromosomes (12m+12sm+18st+30a), intra- and interpopulation 18S rDNA site polymorphisms (two to three acrocentric chromosome pairs), and multiple 5S rDNA sites in three chromosome pairs (4, 21, and 28). C-banding revealed heterochromatin located in the centromere and pericentromere regions of most chromosome; however, large heterochromatic blocks (CMA3(-)/DAPI(+)) on the long arm of acrocentric chromosomes identified intra- and interpopulation polymorphism. The amount and distribution of heterochromatin seem to be correlated to biogeographical characteristics of H. strigaticeps along the Paraná River. Morphometric results also showed diversity among the populations, suggesting phenotypic plasticity of this species. Evolutionary, taxonomy, and biogeographical approaches with regard to H. strigaticeps and interrelationships in Hypostomus are discussed.