Satellite DNAs Analysis and the Structure of X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y Sex Chromosomes in Eigenmannia sp2

• Grant number: 24/21850-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Utsunomia
• Grantee: Manuela Cândido de Mello Ferro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Satellite DNAs (satDNAs) are tandemly organized repetitive elements that constitute a significant fraction of the genetic material in eukaryotes, usually located in heterochromatic regions. Despite their significant abundance, these sequences do not exhibit a defined general function and were considered "junk DNA" for some time. With the popularization of high-throughput DNA sequencing methods, combined with the development of bioinformatics tools, the rapid prospecting of satellite DNAs in non-model species is facilitated. Notably, animals belonging to the genus Eigenmannia are part of the family Sternopygidae, comprising eight species and a diversity that still requires taxonomic revision, as many described species may actually represent groups of cryptic species. Thus, the results generated in this project will guide future analyses on the evolution of satDNAs in Gymnotiformes and contribute to the understanding of this family. This project aims to characterize the satellitome of Eigenmannia sp2 and analyze differential abundance between males and females. For this purpose, the plan is to prospect satDNAs, compare sequence catalogs, map them on chromosomes from male and female samples, and integrate all results to uncover the evolutionary path of these chromosomes. Additionally, a catalog-format description of the satDNAs from the sex chromosome of Eigenmannia sp2 will also be performed.