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Evolutionary dynamics of rDNA clusters on chromosomes of moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera)

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Abstract

We examined chromosomal distribution of major ribosomal DNAs (rDNAs), clustered in the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs), in 18 species of moths and butterflies using fluorescence in situ hybridization with a codling moth (Cydia pomonella) 18S rDNA probe. Most species showed one or two rDNA clusters in their haploid karyotype but exceptions with 4–11 clusters also occurred. Our results in a compilation with previous data revealed dynamic evolution of rDNA distribution in Lepidoptera except Noctuoidea, which showed a highly uniform rDNA pattern. In karyotypes with one NOR, interstitial location of rDNA prevailed, whereas two-NOR karyotypes showed mostly terminally located rDNA clusters. A possible origin of the single interstitial NOR by fusion between two NOR-chromosomes with terminal rDNA clusters lacks support in available data. In some species, spreading of rDNA to new, mostly terminal chromosome regions was found. The multiplication of rDNA clusters without alteration of chromosome numbers rules out chromosome fissions as a major mechanism of rDNA expansion. Based on rDNA dynamics in Lepidoptera and considering the role of ordered nuclear architecture in karyotype evolution, we propose ectopic recombination, i.e., homologous recombination between repetitive sequences of non-homologous chromosomes, as a primary motive force in rDNA repatterning.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Marie Korchová for technical assistance and our colleagues, Oxana Habuštová for Ostrinia nubilalis, Jiří Beneš, Zdeněk Fric, Josef Jaroš, and Martin Konvička for their help with collecting and determination of some species. Our thanks are also due to Zenta Kajiura (Shinshu University, Japan) for Antheraea pernyi through NBRP, Sandra Barns and Stuart Reynolds (Bath University, UK) for Manduca sexta, Josef Chytil (Přerov, Czech Republic) for Lymantria dispar, Tomáš Hamřík (Velká Bíteš, Czech Republic) for Arctia caja, and Zdeněk Hanč (České Budějovice) for valuable advice. This work was funded by grants 206/06/1860 of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GACR) and IAA600960925 of the Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, both Prague, and from the Entomology Institute project Z50070508. P. N. acknowledges the support from the grant SGA2006/01 of the Student Grant Agency of the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, and the support of his Ph.D. programme by the GACR grant 521/08/H042. K. S. and A. Y. were supported from grants 18380037 and 191114 of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), respectively.

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  1. Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Petr Nguyen & František Marec

  2. Biology Centre ASCR, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Petr Nguyen & František Marec

  3. Laboratory of Applied Molecular Entomology, Research Institute of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, N9, W9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan

    Ken Sahara & Atsuo Yoshido

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  1. Petr Nguyen
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Correspondence to František Marec.

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Nguyen, P., Sahara, K., Yoshido, A. et al. Evolutionary dynamics of rDNA clusters on chromosomes of moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera). Genetica 138, 343–354 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-009-9424-5

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