Isolation and characterization of 5S rDNA sequences in catfishes genome (Heptapteridae and Pseudopimelodidae): perspectives for rDNA studies in fish by C0t method

Genetic and Chromosomal Differentiation of Rhamdia quelen (Siluriformes, Heptapteridae) Revealed by Repetitive Molecular Markers and DNA Barcoding

Rhamdia quelen, a species of Heptapteridae, is considered to be a complex because of taxonomic and phylogenetic inconsistencies. Determining the physical location of repetitive DNA sequences on the chromosomes and the DNA barcode might increase our understanding of these inconsistencies within different groups of fish. To this end, we analyzed R. quelen populations from two river basins in Brazil, Paraguay and Parana, using DNA barcoding and different chromosomal markers, including U2 snDNA, which has never been analyzed for any Rhamdia species. Cytochrome c oxidase I gene sequence analysis revealed a significant differentiation among populations from the Miranda and Quexada rivers, with genetic distances compatible to those found among different species in neotropical fishes. Our results, in general, revealed a conservative chromosomal evolution in R. quelen and a differential distribution of some markers, such as 5S rDNA and U2 snDNA, in different populations. We suggest that R. quelen must undergo a major revision in its morphological, genetic, and cytogenetic molecular and taxonomic structure to elucidate possible operational taxonomic units.

Cytogenetic Trends in Two Families of the Neotropical Catfishes: Heptapteridae and Pseudopimelodidae (Siluriformes)

Several neotropical Siluriformes groups suffered important taxonomic revisions based on the evaluation of morphological and molecular characteristics that allow the construction of new phylogenetic hypothesis. In the present study were cytogenetically analyzed six species belonging to Heptapteridae (Cetopsorhamdia iheringi, Phenacorhamdia tenebrosa, Rhamdella eriarcha, Pimelodella meeki, Pimelodella australis, Heptapterus mustelinus) and two to Pseudopimelodidae families (Microglanis cottoides and Microglanis cibelae) by means of differential staining techniques to describe more precisely cytogenetic similarities and differences. The diploid number of R. eriarcha with 2n = 58 and M. cibelae with 2n = 56 were reported for the first time. Also, the lowest chromosome number (2n = 48) for P. tenebrosa was described. The chromosome-banding techniques for to put in evidence nucleolar organizers impregnated by silver nitrate ([AgNORs], chromomycin A₃ [CMA₃], and rDNA 18S) showed for all studied species conserved patterns, characteristic for each family. The rDNA 5S showed high variability among species or populations of both families, these regions could be simple or multiple, syntenic, or not with rDNA18S. The chromosome markers showed that both families are related not only from a morphologic point of view but also by their karyotypic characteristics, however, some of the present cytogenetic results evidence the importance of new morphologic, molecular, and phylogenetic studies to improve the knowledge of these fish groups.

Repetitive DNA in the Catfish Genome: rDNA, Microsatellites, and Tc1-Mariner Transposon Sequences in Imparfinis Species (Siluriformes, Heptapteridae)

Physical mapping of repetitive DNA families in the karyotypes of fish is important to understand the organization and evolution of different orders, families, genera, or species. Fish in the genus Imparfinis show diverse karyotypes with various diploid numbers and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) locations. Here we isolated and characterized Tc1-mariner nucleotide sequences from Imparfinis schubarti, and mapped their locations together with 18S rDNA, 5S rDNA, and microsatellite probes in Imparfinis borodini and I. schubarti chromosomes. The physical mapping of Tc1/Mariner on chromosomes revealed dispersed signals in heterochromatin blocks with small accumulations in the terminal and interstitial regions of I. borodini and I. schubarti. Tc1/Mariner was coincident with rDNA chromosomes sites in both species, suggesting that this transposable element may have participated in the dispersion and evolution of these sequences in the fish genome. Our analysis suggests that different transposons and microsatellites have accumulated in the I. borodini and I. schubarti genomes and that the distribution patterns of these elements may be related to karyotype evolution within Imparfinis.