Characterization and physical mapping of 18S and 5S ribosomal genes in Indian major carps (Pisces, Cyprinidae)

Chromosomal inheritance of parental rDNAs distribution pattern detected by FISH in diploid F1 hybrid progeny of Cobitis (Teleostei, Cobitidae) species has non-Mendelian character

This study was conducted to describe the major and the minor rDNA chromosome distribution in the spined loach Cobitis taenia (2n = 48) and the Danubian loach Cobitis elongatoides (2n = 50), and their laboratory-produced diploid reciprocal F₁ hybrid progeny. It was tested by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) whether the number of 28s and 5s rDNA sites in the karyotypes of diploid hybrids corresponds to the expectations resulting from Mendelian ratio and if nucleolar organiser regions (NOR)were inherited from both parents or nucleolar dominance can be observed in the induced F₁ hybrid progeny. Ten (females) or twelve (males) 28s rDNA loci were located in nine uniarm chromosomes of C. taenia. Two of such loci terminally bounded on one acrocentric chromosome were unique and indicated as specific for this species. Large 5s rDNA clusters were located on two acrocentric chromosomes. In C. elongatoides of both sexes, six NOR sites in terminal regions on six meta-submetacentric chromosomes and two 5s rDNA sites on large submetacentrics were detected. The F₁ hybrid progeny (2n = 49) was characterised by the intermediate karyotype with the sites of ribosome synthesis on chromosomes inherited from both parents without showing nucleolar dominance. 5s rDNA sites were detected on large submetacentric and two acrocentric chromosomes. The observed number of both 28s and 5s rDNAs signals in F₁ diploid Cobitis hybrids was disproportionally inherited from the two parental species, showing inconsistency with the Mendelian ratios. The presented rDNA patterns indicate some marker chromosomes that allow the species of the parental male and female to be recognised in hybrid progeny. The 5s rDNA was found to be a particularly effective diagnostic marker of C. elongatoides to partially discern genomic composition of diploid Cobitis hybrids and presumably allopolyploids resulting from their backcrossing with one of the parental species. Thus, the current study provides insight into the extent of rDNA heredity in Cobitis chromosomes and their cytotaxonomic character.

Characterization of three different clusters of 18S-26S ribosomal DNA genes in the sea urchin P. lividus: Genetic and epigenetic regulation synchronous to 5S rDNA

We previously reported the characterization 5S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clusters in the common sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and demonstrated the presence of DNA methylation-dependent silencing of embryo specific 5S rDNA cluster in adult tissue. In this work, we show genetic and epigenetic characterization of 18S-26S rDNA clusters in this specie. The results indicate the presence of three different 18S-26S rDNA clusters with different Non-Transcribed Spacer (NTS) regions that have different chromosomal localizations. Moreover, we show that the two largest clusters are hyper-methylated in the promoter-containing NTS regions in adult tissues, as in the 5S rDNA. These findings demonstrate an analogous epigenetic regulation in small and large rDNA clusters and support the logical synchronism in building ribosomes. In fact, all the ribosomal RNA genes must be synchronously and equally transcribed to perform their unique final product.

Molecular cytogenetic analysis of the crucian carp, Carassius carassius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Teleostei, Cyprinidae), using chromosome staining and fluorescence in situ hybridisation with rDNA probes

The crucian carp Carassius carassius (Linnaeus, 1758) is a species with restricted and decreasing distribution in Europe. Six males and six females of the species from the Baltic Sea basin in Poland were examined to show sequentially CMA3/AgNO3 staining pattern, DAPI staining, and, for the first time in literature, molecular cytogenetic analysis using double-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) with 28S and 5S rDNA probes. The karyotype consisted of 20 m, 36 sm and 44 sta chromosomes, NF=156. The AgNO3 stained NORs were most frequently located terminally in the short arms of two sm and two sta elements, and CMA3-positive sites were also observed suggesting abundant GC-rich repetitive DNA in the regions. Other CMA3-positive sites in the short arms of six to ten sm and sta chromosomes were detected. The results based on 28S rDNA FISH confirmed the location of rDNA sites. DAPI-negative staining of NORs suggested the scarcity of AT-rich DNA in the regions. FISH with 5S rDNA probe revealed 8-14 loci (ten and 12 in respectively 49 and 29% of metaphases). They were located in two sm and eight to ten sta chromosomes and six of them were larger than others. Simultaneously, mapping of the two rDNA families on the chromosomes of C. carassius revealed that both 28S and 5S rDNA probes were located in different chromosomes. Molecular cytogenetic data of C. carassius presented here for the first time give an important insight into the structure of chromosomes of this polyploid and declining species and may be useful in its systematics.