Cytogenetic studies in two species of Tetraodontiformes using cell culture technique

• Grant number: 19/08115-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Claudio de Oliveira
• Grantee: Andressa Galasso
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The order Tetraodontiformes has approximately 440 valid species distributed in 10 families. This group presents the most compact genomes among all the vertebrates and several chromosomal peculiarities that makes them a very interesting group for cytogenetic studies. Only 65 species have been studied cytogenetically until now and this may be due to the fact that the preparations of the tetraodontid chromosomes are difficult to obtain. An approach where cell culture methodology is used with a small tissue fragment to provide quality chromosomes, often without the need for individual sacrifice, may be considered a good alternative for studying the karyotypes of Tetraodontiformes. Thus, the present study has as objective to study cytogenetically two species of the order Tetraodontiformes using the technique of culture of adherent cells with the intention of increase the cytogenetic information for this group. With the present project we intend: (1) To adjust the cell culture methodology for Tetraodontiformes; (2) Isolate and maintain primary cultures of fibroblast cells from two species of Tetraodontiformes; (3) Establish cell lines of these species; (4) Obtain chromosomal preparations of these cell lines; (5) Test cytogenetic markers in the species studied; and (6) Cryopreserving cell lines obtained in liquid nitrogen. With this we intend to take a significant step in the cytogenetic studies to order Tetraodontiformes, in addition to aggregate these lineages to the bank of marine fish cells of our laboratory.