Analysis of transcripts from non-coding RNA BncDNA associated with the presence of B chromosome in Astatotilapia latifasciata

• Grant number: 13/01688-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: César Martins
• Grantee: Érica Ramos
• Supervisor: Rachel J. Waugh O'Neill
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Connecticut (UCONN), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/20959-8 - Structural and functional analysis of transcripts from non-coding DNA BncDNA associated with the presence of B chromosomes in Astatotilapia latifasciata, BP.IC

Abstract

B chromosomes have been identified in among 15% of eukaryote species and, despite the fact they are considered dispensable and parasitic elements of genome, some studies have suggested a significant functional importance to these chromosomes. Among the species which have supernumerary chromosomes, Astatotilapia latifasciata is an African cichlid carrying 1 to 2 B chromosomes in approximately 30% of individuals. In this specie a repetitive DNA sequence was described spread in the whole extension of B chromosome and having high identity with genome and transcriptome sequences of the cichlid's species Metriaclima zebra, Astatotilapia burtoni and Oreochromis niloticus. This sequence of DNA showed no similarity to any known repetitive elements or protein coding sequences, suggesting that it is involved in the transcription of a non-coding RNA, named BncDNA. For better understanding evolution and function of this sequence in the genome of Astatotilapia latifasciata, this study aims to identify BncDNA transcripts and to analyze its potential for transcribing small functional RNAs in different tissues of individuals with and without B chromosomes. (AU)