Cytogenetic characterization of the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger 1902) through analysis of mitotic chromosomes from early larvae

Laura Ghigliotti, Chi Hing C. Cheng, Catherine Ozouf-Costaz, Chantal Guidi-Rontani, Marino Vacchi, Sara Federici, Eva Pisano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper describes the cytogenetic features of the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarctica (Boulenger 1902), a keystone species of the Antarctic coastal marine ecosystem. Conventional cytogenetic analyses and physical mapping of repetitive DNA sequences were performed on metaphase plates obtained through direct chromosome preparation from P. antarctica early larvae. The Antarctic silverfish have a diploid number (2n) = 48, and a karyotype made up of a majority of two-armed chromosomes (karyotype formula36m/sm + 10st + 2a, fundamental number = 94). Major ribosomal gene repeats were detected on three chromosome pairs (20, 21, and 23), in correspondence of dim DAPI stained regions. Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements (LINEs) were abundant and wide spread over all chromosomes. Overall, the cytogenetic data presented herein are consistent with a long independent cytogenetic and evolutionary history for the species. The large number of two-armed chromosomes, indicative of highly-rearranged karyotype, coupled with a diploid number of 48, a presumed primitive character for this fish group, and the spread of the major ribosomal genes on three chromosome pairs, make the Antarctic silverfish distinct from all other notothenioid species.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number100737
JournalMarine Genomics
Volume52
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2020

Keywords

  • Fluorescence in situ hybridization
  • Karyotype
  • LINEs
  • Notothenioidei
  • Ribosomal genes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aquatic Science
  • Genetics

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