Comparative cytogenomics of different populations of Characidium zebra (Teleostei, Characiformes)

• Grant number: 22/16360-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Utsunomia
• Grantee: Hélio Gomes da Silva Filho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Satellite DNAs (satDNAs) are tandemly repeated DNA elements that constitute a significant fraction of the eukaryotic genetic material, generally occupying heterochromatic regions. Despite their abundance, these sequences do not exhibit a general and defined function, and were considered "junk DNA" for a long period. In the late few years, the popularization of massive sequencing DNA techniques, combined with the development of bioinformatic tools allowed the rapid and massive prospection of satDNAs in non-model species. This project aims to characterize additional satellitomes of Characiformes fish, notably, different populations of Characidium zebra. Thus, we intend to prospect satDNAs, compare the catalogs of sequences, map in the chromosomes of both samples and integrate all the results. Besides, a comparison agains the catalog of Characidium gomesi will be also carried out. Notably, these species are within Crenuchidae (sister group of all the other families in Characiformes) and results generated here will guide future analyses of satDNA evolution in Characiformes