Abstract
The chromosomal distribution of the (TTAGGG) n telomeric repetitive sequences was studied in the Malagasy species Eulemur fulvus fulvus (2n = 60), Eulemur rubriventer (2n = 50), Eulemur coronatus (2n = 46) and Eulemur macaco (2n = 44). These sequences hybridize to the telomeres of all chromosomes of the four species and also to the pericentromeres of all chromosomes of E. fulvus, E. coronatus and E. macaco, with the exception of the pericentromeres of E. coronatus and E. macaco chromosomes 9, the homeologous E. fulvus chromosomes 2 and E. macaco chromosomes 1. In E. rubriventer only a very weak signal was detected at the pericentromeres of a few chromosomes. In E. fulvus, E. coronatus and E. macaco, non-telomeric (TTAGGG) n sequences collocalize with constitutive heterochromatin. The interspecific differences of the hybridization pattern of (TTAGGG) n sequences at the pericentromeres suggest that E. rubriventer branched off the common trunk before amplification of endogenous (TTAGGG) n sequences occurred in pericentromeric regions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnason U, Allderdice PW, Lieu J, Widegren B (1988) Highly repetitive DNA in the baleen whale genera Balaenoptera and Megaptera. J Mol Evol 27: 217–221.
Blackburn EH (1991) Structure and function of telomeres. Nature 350: 569–573.
Blackburn EH (1994) Telomeres: no end in sight. Cell 77: 621–623.
Crovella S, Montagnon D, Rumpler Y (1995) Highly repeated DNA sequences and systematics of malagasy primates. Hum Evol 10: 35–44.
Dutrillaux B (1979) Chromosomal evolution in Primates: tentative phylogeny from Microcebus murinus (Prosimian) to man. Human Genet 48: 251–314.
Elder JF, Turner BJ (1995) Concerted evolution of repetitive DNA sequences in Eukaryotes. Quart Rev Biol 70: 297–320.
Fang G, Cech TR (1995) Telomere proteins. In: Blackburn EH and Greider CW ed. Telomeres. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, pp 69–105.
Fanning TG (1987) Origin and evolution of a major feline satellite DNA. J Mol Biol 197: 627–634.
Fry K, Salser W (1977) Nucleotide sequences of HS-alfa satellite DNA from Kangaroo rat Dipodomys ordii and characterization of similar sequences in other rodents. Cell 12: 1069–1084.
Garagna S, Broccoli D, Redi CA, Searle JB, Cook HJ, Capanna E (1995) Robertsonian metacentrics of the house mouse lose telomeric sequences but retain some minor satellite sequences DNA in the pericentromeric area. Chromosoma 103: 685–692.
Meyne J, Ratliff RL, Moyzis RK (1989) Conservation of the human telomere sequence (TTAGGG)n among vertebrates. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86: 7049–7053.
Meyne J, Baker RJ, Hobart HH et al. (1990) Distribution of nontelomeric sites of the (TTAGGG)n telomeric sequence in vertebrate chromosomes. Chromosoma 99: 3–10.
Moyzis RK, Buckingham JM, Cram LS, Dani M, Deaven LL, Jones MD, Meyne J, Ratliff RL, Wu JR (1988) A highly conserved repetitive DNA sequence, (TTAGGG)n, present at the telomeres of human chromosomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85: 6622–6626.
Ronchetti E, Crovella S, Rumpler Y, Pellicciari C, Manfredi Romanini MG (1993) Genome size and quantitative and qualitative characteristics of C-heterochromatic DNA in Eulemur species and in a viable hybrid. Cytogenet Cell Genet 63: 1–5.
Rumpler Y, Dutrillaux B (1990) Chromosome evolution and speciation in Primates. University of the Basque Country, ed. Vol. 23 New York: Springer.
Rumpler Y, Warter S, Isbak B, Dutrillaux B (1989) Chromosomal evolution in Prosimians. J Hum Evol 4: 157–170.
Salvadori S, Deiana A, Coluccia E, Floridia G, Rossi E, Zuffardi O (1995) Telomeric sequences and ribosomal genes in Atlantic eels. Chromosome Res 3: 54–58.
Simons E, Rumpler Y (1988) Eulemur, new generic name for species of Lemur other than Lemur catta. Compte Rendus Academie de Sciences de Paris 307 (serie III): 547–551.
Southern EM (1970) Base sequence and evolution of guinea pig α-satellite DNA. Nature 227: 794–798.
Sumner AT (1972) A simple technique for demonstrating centromeric heterochromatin. Exp Cell Res 75: 304–306.
Warter S, Rumpler Y (1985) Cytogenetic study of a female Lemur coronatus x Lemur macaco hybrid. Am J Phys Antropol 67: 123–126.
Zachian VA (1995) Telomeres: beginning to understand the end. Science 270: 1601–1607.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garagna, S., Ronchetti, E., Mascheretti, S. et al. Non-telomeric chromosome localization of (TTAGGG) n repeats in the genus Eulemur. Chromosome Res 5, 487–491 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018425215516
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018425215516