Searching transposable elements in deer genome and its relationship with chromosomal rearrangements

• Grant number: 16/08812-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2017
• End date: September 25, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: José Maurício Barbanti Duarte
• Grantee: Elias Alberto Gutierrez Carnelossi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Transposable Elements (TEs) are short sequences of DNA which build up a significant portion of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Their ability to replicate and drift are associated to chromosomal polymorphisms, which may implicate in structural or functional shifts in the genome. Such deviations potentially affect complex phenotypes and the evolution of species. Still, there is little genomic information regarding the distribution, impact and dynamics of TEs in wildlife mammals, but very well documented in insects and plants. Studies in the Artiodactyla Cervidae family, showed that chromosomal and karyotype variation are quite usual between and even within species. An intraspecific chromosomal polymorphism characterized by centric fusions, tanden translocation, and the presence of the B chromosomes, was observed in different population of Mazama genre. Thereby, the aim is to determine the diversity of TEs in Cervidae genome, its distribution in the chromosomes and if their location may be related to the chromosomal rearrangements between the Mazama species. Thus, this proposal aims to cover five major aspects: i) identify and record copies of TEs in genome deposited; ii) record complete and putatively active copies; iii) establish the position of TEs in relation to genes on chromosome map available; iv) compare the Mazama gouazoubira karyotype and Cervus elaphus and v) validate the occurrence of specific TEs by FISH technique in karyotypes of Mazama species. In general perspective, the proposal configures a promising outcome to increase the understanding the composition of TEs, location and their role in chromosomal rearrangements and and consequently its relation of the deers species evolution. (AU)