Cell culture from Astatotilapia latifasciata and genome assembly of its B chromosome: contributions to the understanding of the effects of supernumerary chromosomes

• Grant number: 17/07484-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: César Martins
• Grantee: Adauto Lima Cardoso
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/16661-1 - Sex and B chromosome enigmas: model systems for the study of chromosome and genome evolution, AP.TEM

Abstract

Supernumerary B chromosomes are additional genetic elements found in several eukaryotic groups. Most research on this topic is focused on the structure and evolutionary history of B chromosomes; however, issues about its functionality and maintenance mechanisms still remain unanswered. The fish species A. latifasciata became an important model in the study of the biology of B chromosomes, being the subject of integrated studies of cytogenetics, molecular biology and genomics, regarding structure, evolution and effects of this element. Despite advances, the knowledge about the genetic content of this element is not clear, especially of its exclusive sequences. In addition, advances in understanding their effects are still in the beginning due to the absence of material suitable for assay involving mainly functional genetics, such as cell cultures. Thus, the present project aims to sequence and perform a genomic assembly of the material resulting from the isolation of the B chromosome by flow cytometry and to develop a protocol for primary cell culture of this species. Moreover, primary cell cultures will be manipulated in order to obtain a cell line. In addition, scientific dissemination material on the genetic variability and evolution will be generated. The development of this project will advance over the knowledge of the B chromosome genomic content and will provide a new platform based in cell cultures useful for functional studies.