Organization and localization of satellite DNA in the chromosomes of Proceratophrys boiei (Anura, Odontophrynidae)

• Grant number: 18/12128-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2018
• End date: November 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Pasquali Parise Maltempi
• Grantee: Raquel Fogarin Destro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Heterochromatin of eukaryotic organisms is usually composed of repetitive DNA sequences. A special type of these are satellite DNA which constitutes a non-coding fraction of the genome, consisting of long matrices of repeated sequences, that are preferably located in the heterochromatin of the pericentromeric and subtelomeric chromosomal regions. In this present work, we intend to study the genomic organization and the chromosomal location of some satDNAs sequences present in the genome of the species Proceratophrys boiei (Wied-Neuwied, 1825), which is very interesting from the genetic and cytogenetic point of view, since in previous studies a chromosomal heteromorphism linked to the differentiation of sex chromosomes in females of a population of the species has been identified. In order to do this, an extensive analysis in the sequenced genome of the species, using bioinformatics tools, from which countless possible satDNAs were isolated. As part of the objectives of the present proposal, these possible satDNAs will be validated by PCR and chromosomal in situ hybridization and some sequences will be chosen to be deeply studied in this project. These analyzes were carried out by Profa Patricia PP Maltempi's research group, with the participation of the proponent student of this project. The isolation of repetitive sequences, especially satDNA, is an innovative study, constituting an important tool to obtain data that will enrich evolutionary studies in anurans, being able to reveal new knowledge about the genome and the chromosomes of these organisms, since there are few works involving repetitive sequences in anurans.