Unusual primitive heteromorphic ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes in Proceratophrys boiei (Anura, Cycloramphidae, Alsodinae), with description of C-Band interpopulational polymorphism

Analysis in Proceratophrys boiei genome illuminates the satellite DNA content in a frog from the Brazilian Atlantic forest

Satellite DNAs (satDNAs) are one of the most abundant elements in genomes. Characterized as tandemly organized sequences that can be amplified into multiple copies, mainly in heterochromatic regions. The frog P. boiei (2n = 22, ZZ♂/ZW♀) is found in the Brazilian Atlantic forest and has an atypical pattern of heterochromatin distribution when compared to other anuran amphibians, with large pericentromeric blocks on all chromosomes. In addition, females of Proceratophrys boiei have a metacentric sex chromosome W showing heterochromatin in all chromosomal extension. In this work, we performed high-throughput genomic, bioinformatic, and cytogenetic analyses to characterize the satellite DNA content (satellitome) in P. boiei, mainly due to high amount of C-positive heterochromatin and the highly heterochromatic W sex chromosome. After all the analyses, it is remarkable that the satellitome of P. boiei is composed of a high number of satDNA families (226), making P. boiei the frog species with the highest number of satellites described so far. Consistent with the observation of large centromeric C-positive heterochromatin blocks, the genome of P. boiei is enriched with high copy number of repetitive DNAs, with total satDNA abundance comprising 16.87% of the genome. We successfully mapped via Fluorescence in situ hybridization the two most abundant repeats in the genome, PboSat01-176 and PboSat02-192, highlighting the presence of certain satDNAs sequences in strategic chromosomal regions (e.g., centromere and pericentromeric region), which leads to their participation in crucial processes for genomic organization and maintenance. Our study reveals a great diversity of satellite repeats that are driving genomic organization in this frog species. The characterization and approaches regarding satDNAs in this species of frog allowed the confirmation of some insights from satellite biology and a possible relationship with the evolution of sex chromosomes, especially in anuran amphibians, including P. boiei, for which data were not available.

Cytogenetic approaches provide evidence of a conserved diploid number and cytological differences between Proceratophrys species (Anura: Odontophrynidae)

Taxonomic and cytogenetic aspects of Proceratophrys have not been thoroughly clarified in the literature; thus, the objective of the present study was to provide unprecedent karyotype data regarding P. schirchi, P. laticeps and P. melanopogon. Additionally, the karyotype of P. boiei (2n = 22) and its ZZ / ZW sex chromosome system was analyzed for different populations of southeastern and southern Brazil. All Proceratophrys species have a diploid number of 2n = 22 chromosomes. In P. schirchi, a strong C-band was found in the long arm in one of the homologues of the pair 8 in female metaphasic cells, denoting that this chromosome pair could represent the heteromorphic sex chromosome in a ZZ / ZW sex system. Despite the conserved number of chromosomes, there are considerable chromosomal differences in P. melanopogon and P. boiei (southern Brazil), strongly differentiating them cytogenetically from other species of the genus. Moreover, with the confirmation of chromosomal heteromorphism related to sexual differentiation in P. boiei and the possible description of this system in P. schirchi, the Proceratophrys genus can be regarded as an interesting group for evolutionary studies and sex chromosome differentiation in anurans.

Great Abundance of Satellite DNA in Proceratophrys (Anura, Odontophrynidae) Revealed by Genome Sequencing

Most eukaryotic genomes contain substantial portions of repetitive DNA sequences. These are located primarily in highly compacted heterochromatin and, in many cases, are one of the most abundant components of the sex chromosomes. In this sense, the anuran Proceratophrys boiei represents an interesting model for analyses on repetitive sequences by means of cytogenetic techniques, since it has a karyotype with large blocks of heterochromatin and a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system. The present study describes, for the first time, families of satellite DNA (satDNA) in the frog P. boiei. Its genome size was estimated at 1.6 Gb, of which 41% correspond to repetitive sequences, including satDNAs, rDNAs, transposable elements, and other elements characterized as non-repetitive. The satDNAs were mapped by FISH in the centromeric and pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes, suggesting a possible involvement of these sequences in centromere function. SatDNAs are also present in the W sex chromosome, occupying the entire heterochromatic area, indicating a probable contribution of this class of repetitive DNA to the differentiation of the sex chromosomes in this species. This study is a valuable contribution to the existing knowledge on repetitive sequences in amphibians. We show the presence of repetitive DNAs, especially satDNAs, in the genome of P. boiei that might be of relevance in genome organization and regulation, setting the stage for a deeper functional genome analysis of Proceratophrys.

Unraveling the Sex Chromosome Heteromorphism of the Paradoxical Frog Pseudis tocantins

The paradoxical frog Pseudis tocantins is the only species in the Hylidae family with known heteromorphic Z and W sex chromosomes. The Z chromosome is metacentric and presents an interstitial nucleolar organizer region (NOR) on the long arm that is adjacent to a pericentromeric heterochromatic band. In contrast, the submetacentric W chromosome carries a pericentromeric NOR on the long arm, which is adjacent to a clearly evident heterochromatic band that is larger than the band found on the Z chromosome and justify the size difference observed between these chromosomes. Here, we provide evidence that the non-centromeric heterochromatic bands in Zq and Wq differ not only in size and location but also in composition, based on comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and an analysis of the anuran PcP190 satellite DNA. The finding of PcP190 sequences in P. tocantins extends the presence of this satellite DNA, which was previously detected among Leptodactylidae and Hylodidae, suggesting that this family of repetitive DNA is even older than it was formerly considered. Seven groups of PcP190 sequences were recognized in the genome of P. tocantins. PcP190 probes mapped to the heterochromatic band in Wq, and a Southern blot analysis indicated the accumulation of PcP190 in the female genome of P. tocantins, which suggests the involvement of this satellite DNA in the evolution of the sex chromosomes of this species.