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Interstitial telomeric sites and Robertsonian translocations in species of Ipheion and Nothoscordum (Amaryllidaceae)

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Abstract

The genera Nothoscordum and Ipheion (Allioideae, Amaryllidaceae) are cytologically characterized by a dysploid series with variable numbers of metacentric and acrocentric chromosomes typical of karyotypes rearranged by Robertsonian translocations (RT). Since they have large chromosomes, low diploid numbers, and possess two telomeric motifs [the vertebrate-type (TTAGGG) n and the Arabidopsis-type (TTTAGGG) n ] they are suitable for investigating the occurrence and possible role of interstitial telomeric sites (ITS) associated with RT. We analyzed the distributions of telomeric sites in 12 species of Nothoscordum and Ipheion and found that both telomeric probes colocalized in all chromosome termini. Cloning and sequencing PCR products obtained using both telomeric primers simultaneously revealed long stretches of (TTAGGG) n and (TTTAGGG) n sequences together with degenerated telomeric sequences. Most acrocentric chromosomes have a 45S rDNA site at the terminal region of the short arms adjacent to the most distal telomeric sites. Telomeric signals were found at all chromosome ends, but ITS were also detected in a few proximal and subterminal regions in some Nothoscordum species. Although RT are common in this group of plants, our findings suggest that proximal positioning of telomeric motifs are not necessarily related to that kind of rearrangement. Rather, transposition of telomeric sequences followed by amplification, could better explain the presence of (TTAGGG) n and (TTTAGGG) n repeats at those sites. Furthermore, a few small interstitial sites found in some Nothoscordum species indicate that dispersion of these sequences was not restricted to the proximal region.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Brazilian agencies Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia de Pernambuco (FACEPE - APQ-2008-2.02/12) for financial support and a grant to G.S. by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plant Cytogenetics and Evolution, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Department of Botany, Federal University of Pernambuco, Rua Nelson Chaves S/N, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, 50670-420, Brazil

    Gustavo Souza & Marcelo Guerra

  2. Laboratory of Cytogenetics and Plant Diversity, Department of General Biology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

    Andre L. L. Vanzela

  3. Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Agronomy, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Orfeo Crosa

Authors
  1. Gustavo Souza
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  2. Andre L. L. Vanzela
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  3. Orfeo Crosa
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  4. Marcelo Guerra
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gustavo Souza.

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10709_2016_9886_MOESM1_ESM.tif

Appendix S1 Analysis of 5 s rDNA-like fragment of Nothoscordum gracile clone pNg-tel3. Phylogenetic comparison and identity with part of the 5S rDNA gene of several angiosperms. As outgroups two species of gymnosperms (Pinus and Cycas) (TIFF 19615 kb)

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Souza, G., Vanzela, A.L.L., Crosa, O. et al. Interstitial telomeric sites and Robertsonian translocations in species of Ipheion and Nothoscordum (Amaryllidaceae). Genetica 144, 157–166 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-016-9886-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-016-9886-1

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