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Next generation sequencing and FISH reveal uneven and nonrandom microsatellite distribution in two grasshopper genomes

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Abstract

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs), also known as microsatellites, are one of the prominent DNA sequences shaping the repeated fraction of eukaryotic genomes. In spite of their profuse use as molecular markers for a variety of genetic and evolutionary studies, their genomic location, distribution, and function are not yet well understood. Here we report the first thorough joint analysis of microsatellite motifs at both genomic and chromosomal levels in animal species, by a combination of 454 sequencing and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques performed on two grasshopper species. The in silico analysis of the 454 reads suggested that microsatellite expansion is not driving size increase of these genomes, as SSR abundance was higher in the species showing the smallest genome. However, the two species showed the same uneven and nonrandom location of SSRs, with clear predominance of dinucleotide motifs and association with several types of repetitive elements, mostly histone gene spacers, ribosomal DNA intergenic spacers (IGS), and transposable elements (TEs). The FISH analysis showed a dispersed chromosome distribution of microsatellite motifs in euchromatic regions, in coincidence with chromosome location patterns previously observed for many mobile elements in these species. However, some SSR motifs were clustered, especially those located in the histone gene cluster.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (CGL2009-11917) and Plan Andaluz de Investigacion (CVI-6649) and was partially performed by FEDER funds. E.E. Montiel was supported by a Junta de Andalucía fellowship.

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All experiments comply with the current Spanish laws.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to María Dolores López-León.

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Ruiz-Ruano, F.J., Cuadrado, Á., Montiel, E.E. et al. Next generation sequencing and FISH reveal uneven and nonrandom microsatellite distribution in two grasshopper genomes. Chromosoma 124, 221–234 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00412-014-0492-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00412-014-0492-7

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