[Correlation of linkage-groups with chromosomes in the mosquito, Culex pipiens L]

Chromosomal localization and copy number of 18S + 28S ribosomal RNA genes in evolutionarily diverse mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae)

In situ hybridization using 3H-labeled 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) probes from Aedes albopictus was performed on the mitotic chromosomes of 20 species of mosquitoes belonging to 8 genera of subfamilies Culicinae and Anophelinae. In all but one species examined, the rDNA family was localized to a single chromosome per haploid genome. Aedes triseriatus was the only exception, with the rDNA cistrons present on chromosome 1 and on chromosome 3. The ribosomal RNA genes were located on chromosome 1 in Ae. albopictus, Ae. aegypti, Ae. flavopictus, Ae. seatoi, A. polynesiensis, Ae. alcasidi, Ae. annandalei, Ae. mascarensis, Ae. hendersoni, Ae. atropalpus, Ae. epactius, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, Wyeomyia smithii, and Sabethes cyaneus; chromosome 2 in Ae. mediovittatus and Haemagogus equinus; chromosome 3 in Armigeres subalbatus and Tripteroides bambusa; and the heteromorphic X and Y chromosomes in Anopheles quadrimaculatus. The variation in the location of ribosomal RNA genes on the different chromosomes and at different positions on the chromosome arm among the mosquito species examined is suggestive of considerable chromosome repatterning through translocations and inversions in the karyotypic evolution of mosquitoes. Dot-blot hybridization was used to estimate copy number of rRNA genes; the copy number per haploid genome ranged from 39 +/- 3.27 in Sa. cyaneus to 1023 +/- 68.14 in Ae. flavopictus.

Mosquito genomes: structure, organization, and evolution

A great deal of information has been accumulated on chromosome numbers and heterochromatin distribution as well as on genome size and organization in the mosquito family Culicidae. A number of trends in genome evolution emerge when these data are reviewed in light of recent cladistic phylogenies of Culicidae and its sister families. Anophelinae have heteromorphic sex chromosomes and a small genome size, and repetitive elements are distributed in a long-period interspersion pattern. In contrast, Culicinae have homomorphic sex chromosomes, and repetitive DNA is organized in a short-period interspersion pattern. There has been a general increase in genome size during the evolution of culicine tribes. The organization of the ancestral culicid genome remains uncertain awaiting studies on genome organization in Chaoboridae-Corethrellidae taxa. The most parsimonious hypothesis for the evolution of sex chromosomes and genome organization in Culicidae would be that homomorphic sex chromosomes and a long-period interspersion pattern was ancestral in lineages leading to Toxorhynchitinae and Culcinae. Larger genomes developed in subsequent culicine lineages through accumulation of short-period interspersed repetitive elements. Heteromorphic sex chromosomes evolved early in the evolution of Anophelinae, and a long-period interspersion pattern was retained. The alternative scenario proposed by Rao and Rai (1987a) is that Culicidae arose from a chaoborid Mochlonyx-like ancestor with heteromorphic sex chromosomes and possibly short-period interspersion. This scenario would require the loss of heteromorphic sex chromosomes in the lineage leading to Toxorhynchitinae and Culicinae and the "shedding" of repetitive elements in the lineage leading to Anophelinae. Several interesting patterns have emerged from studies of C-banding, and the distribution of heterochromatin in Culicidae and phylogenies derived from these studies are supported by the modern cladistic analyses. Recent intensive multipoint linkage map studies suggest that recombination frequencies per genome have remained relatively constant over the course of culicid evolution such that Anophelinae, with a relatively small genome size, has a linkage map of similar size to Aedini. As a consequence, taxa in Anophelinae have higher amounts of recombination per haploid genome size than Culicinae. Although several key questions have yet to be addressed, the Culicidae remain one of the best-studied systems of genome evolution in animals.

Ribosomal RNA genes in mosquitoes: localization by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to localize the 18S-28S ribosomal RNA gene clusters on the chromosomes of 15 mosquito species belonging to the Anophelinae and Culicinae subfamilies. In the genus Anopheles the rRNA genes are localized on the heterochromatic arm of both sex chromosomes. The association between rRNA genes and sex determining chromosomes also applies to the homomorphic karyotype of Culicinae mosquitoes, at least in those cases in which localization of the sex locus/loci has been determined. In these species ribosomal genes are often found within or adjacent to heterochromatic regions (C bands). Differences in the location of rRNA genes among and within genera suggest the occurrence of several chromosomal rearrangements during the evolution of mosquitoes.

Conservation of a highly repeated DNA family of Aedes albopictus among mosquito genomes (Diptera: Culicidae)

The genomic organization and chromosomal localization of a cloned 0.79-kb highly repeated DNA fragment, H-115, isolated from Aedes albopictus has been examined. The cloned fragment is a part of a larger unit of 1.86 kb that is tandemly repeated in the Ae. albopictus genome. The H-115 family of sequences are located at the intercalary position on chromosome 1 in Ae. albopictus. Similar patterns of in situ and Southern blot hybridization results are obtained in Ae. aegypti, Ae. seatoi, Ae. flavopictus, Ae. polynesiensis, Ae. Alcasidi, and Ae. katherinensis. The H-115 sequences are widely conserved in Culicidae and are found in Haemagogus equinus, Tripteroides bambusa, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus by hybridization under high stringency conditions. The H-115 sequences are also tandemly repeated in Hg. equinus with a monomer unit of 1.86 kb and in Tp. bambusa with a slightly diverged monomer unit of 1.90kb. In Anopheles quadrimaculatus, the H-115 sequences are dispersed throughout the genome. Partial sequence analysis shows that the H-115 insert is 62% AT and contains two perfect inverted repeats and numerous perfect direct repeats. The occurrence of inverted repeats with potential to form intrastrand palindromic structure suggests that the H-115 family of sequences may be involved in chromatin condensation.

[Gene mapping on the salivary gland chromosomes of the mosquito Culex pipiens L]

Crossing experiments were done with several mutations and aberrant lines of the mosquito Culex pipiens L. Gene loci and chromosomal structure could be correlated by comparing crossover rates of mutations with breakage points of chromosomal aberrations in the larval salivary gland chromosomes. This confirms linkage groups and their correlated chromosomes.Before comparing crossover rates in one chromosome in different experiments, the problem of different crossover rates between two distinct factors should be solved. The reason for these different rates is not sex, age or small chromosomal aberrations in the heterozygous individuals. It could be interstrain behaviour, characteristic for each strain. This was shown by comparing crossover rates of an allelomorph mutation in two different laboratory strains. Therefore, only results within one pure strain or between two strains with known correlation can be compared. In the small chromosome I, the correlation of the sex-determining allelomorphs M and m with the heteromorphic band 10 C 3 in arm I L was confirmed. This was done by crossover analysis of breakpoints in sex-linked aberrations. The locus of the eye colour mutation w is situated near this band. The eye colour mutation r is located in the segment 3 B/C in arm I R.In chromosome II, two gene loci are narrowed down: the larval colour mutation d is situated on the distal end of arm II L, the eye colour mutation ru in the central part of arm II R. In chromosome III, the male-limited mutation kps is located in arm III L.Hitherto only the sex-factor could be correlated which a distinct structure, i.e. the heteromorphic band 10 C 3 in arm I L. The results of the described experiments made it possible for the first time to establish a cytological gene map of Culex pipiens.

Translocations, inversions and correlation of linkage groups to chromosomes in the mosquito Culex pipiens fatigans

Eight sex-linked translocations and two pericentric inversions were artificially induced and isolated in the mosquito Culex pipiens fatigans. Following extensive studies on the genetics and cytology of these aberrations, correlations between the three pairs of chromosomes and the three linkage groups were established. Chromosomes 1 (shortest), 2 (longest) and 3 (intermediate) are correlated to linkage groups I, II and III respectively. These conclusions are in conflict with an earlier publication. A secondary constriction was observed on the m (but not on the M) chromosome near the centromere. Its significance is not yet clear. The genetic and cytological data indicate that the gene y may be located on the long arm and the gene ru on the short arm of chromosome 2.