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Molecular cytogenetic map of the central bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps (Squamata: Agamidae)

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Abstract

Reptiles, as the sister group to birds and mammals, are particularly valuable for comparative genomic studies among amniotes. The Australian central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is being developed as a reptilian model for such comparisons, with whole-genome sequencing near completion. The karyotype consists of 6 pairs of macrochromosomes and 10 pairs microchromosomes (2n = 32), including a female heterogametic ZW sex microchromosome pair. Here, we present a molecular cytogenetic map for P. vitticeps comprising 87 anchor bacterial artificial chromosome clones that together span each macro- and microchromosome. It is the first comprehensive cytogenetic map for any non-avian reptile. We identified an active nucleolus organizer region (NOR) on the sub-telomeric region of 2q by mapping 18S rDNA and Ag-NOR staining. We identified interstitial telomeric sequences in two microchromosome pairs and the W chromosome, indicating that microchromosome fusion has been a mechanism of karyotypic evolution in Australian agamids within the last 21 to 19 million years. Orthology searches against the chicken genome revealed an intrachromosomal rearrangement of P. vitticeps 1q, identified regions orthologous to chicken Z on P. vitticeps 2q, snake Z on P. vitticeps 6q and the autosomal microchromosome pair in P. vitticeps orthologous to turtle Pelodiscus sinensis ZW and lizard Anolis carolinensis XY. This cytogenetic map will be a valuable reference tool for future gene mapping studies and will provide the framework for the work currently underway to physically anchor genome sequences to chromosomes for this model Australian squamate.

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Abbreviations

APTX :

Aprataxin

ATP5A1 :

ATP synthase, H+ transporting, mitochondrial F1 complex, alpha subunit 1, cardiac muscle

BAC:

Bacterial artificial chromosome

BCL6 :

B cell CLL/lymphoma 6

BLAST:

Basic Local Alignment Search Tool

BLAT:

BLAST-like alignment tool

CA10 :

Carbonic anhydrase X

CHD1 :

Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 1

CTBP2 :

C-terminal binding protein 2

CTNNB1 :

Catenin (cadherin-associated protein), beta 1, 88 kDa

DAPI:

4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole

DDX58 :

DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 58

DMRT1 :

Doublesex and mab-3-related transcription factor 1

dUTP:

2′-Deoxyuridine 5′-triphosphate

EIF3H :

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3, subunit H

FAM83B :

Family with sequence similarity 83, member B

FBRSL1 :

Fibrosin-like 1

FISH:

Fluorescence in situ hybridization

GHR :

Growth hormone receptor

GMPPA :

GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase A

HCRTR2 :

Hypocretin (orexin) receptor 2

HMGCLL1 :

3-Hydroxymethyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase-like 1

IBSP :

Integrin-binding sialoprotein

IPO7 :

Importin 7

IQSEC3 :

IQ motif and Sec7 domain 3

KAT2B :

K(lysine) acetyltransferase 2B

KAT7 :

K(lysine) acetyltransferase 7

KLF6 :

Kruppel-like factor 6

NAV2 :

Neuron navigator 2

NOR:

Nucleolus organizer region

NPRL3 :

Nitrogen permease regulator-like 3

PSMA2 :

Proteasome (prosome, macropain) subunit, alpha type, 2

RAB5A :

RAB5A, member RAS oncogene family

rDNA:

Ribosomal DNA

RRM1 :

Ribonucleotide reductase M1

SRY :

Sex-determining region Y

TAX1BP1 :

Tax1 (human T-cell leukemia virus type I) binding protein 1

TMEM41B :

Transmembrane protein 41B

TNFRSF11B :

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 11b

TTN :

Titin

WAC :

WW domain-containing adaptor with coiled coil

ZNF143 :

Zinc finger protein 143

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by an ARC DP awarded to SD, AG and Scott Edwards, as was the purchase of the P. vitticeps BAC Library. This work was undertaken by MY as a Bachelor of Applied Science Honours with the Institute of Applied Ecology at the University of Canberra. We would like to thank Jacqui Richardson and Alistair Zealey for their care of captive animals and Juliet Ward for laboratory assistance.

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  1. Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    M. J. Young, D. O’Meally, S. D. Sarre, A. Georges & T. Ezaz

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  1. M. J. Young
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  2. D. O’Meally
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  3. S. D. Sarre
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  4. A. Georges
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  5. T. Ezaz
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Correspondence to T. Ezaz.

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Responsible Editor: Walther Traut.

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Young, M.J., O’Meally, D., Sarre, S.D. et al. Molecular cytogenetic map of the central bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps (Squamata: Agamidae). Chromosome Res 21, 361–374 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-013-9362-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-013-9362-z

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