Abstract
Polymorphism of the nucleolus organizer region (NOR) on the putative sex chromosomes of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) was examined using conventional cytogenetic and molecular techniques. Variation was observed in the number, size and position of rDNA loci on the sex pair. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses showed that the sex chromosomes of Arctic char lack the repetitive DNA sequences (MboI/Bg/II family) that are a prominent feature of the sex chromosomes of lake trout (S. namaycush). Southern analyses of genomic DNAs using an rDNA fragment as probe revealed extensive restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) variation among individuals. Despite the presence of variation in all aspects of this rDNA locus, no sex-specific differences were detected. Repetitive DNAs (multicopy rDNA as in Arctic char or tandem repetitive DNA as in lake trout) appear to play important but different roles in the evolution of the sex chromosomes in these species.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 221-227 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Chromosome Research |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1997 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thank L. Beukeboom and T. Sharbel for reviewing the manuscript and M. Pabst for providing Arctic char blood samples. Lake trout specimens were obtained from D. Bast, National Fish Hatchery, Iron River, Wisconsin, USA. This research was supported by a grant from the NRI Competitive Grants Program/USDA (93-37205-9171) to K.M.R.
Keywords
- Arctic char
- Fluorescence in situ hybridization
- Heterochromatin
- Lake trout
- Nucleolus organizer region
- Sex chromosomes