Abstract
The ∼42 Mbp assembled genome sequence for the choanoflagellate Monosiga brevicollis reveals that most of the large scaffolds of 300-2,600 kb represent entire chromosomes or chromosome arms. Telomeres are partially assembled at the termini of 37 scaffolds, while another 43 scaffolds end in telomere-associated regions containing distinctive gene sets. Potential centromeric regions were identified on 39 scaffolds. Together, these observations suggest a karyotype of ∼40 metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes averaging 1 Mbp in size. Genes encoding RecQ family DNA helicases, along with ankyrin-domain proteins and serine/threonine kinases, are associated with most telomeres, a feature shared with some fungi. This telomere-linked helicase gene arrangement might be ancestral to both fungi and choanoflagellates in the super-kingdom Opisthokonta; however, the great lability of telomere architecture suggests that it could also be a convergent feature.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 873-882 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Chromosome Research |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2009 |
Keywords
- Helicase
- Karyotype
- Monosiga brevicollis
- Telomere
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics