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| Author(s): |
Cristiani Gifalli Iughetti
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) |
| Defense date: | 2008-09-29 |
| Examining board members: |
Celia Priszkulnik Koiffmann;
Sanae Kasahara;
Anelisa Ferreira de Almeida Magalhães;
Lurdes Foresti de Almeida Toledo;
Yatiyo Yassuda
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| Advisor: | Celia Priszkulnik Koiffmann |
| Abstract | |
We studied the karyotypes of Brazilian monkeys (Platyrrhini, Primates) using both traditional cytogenetic techniques as well as FISH. FISH analysis employed human probes for chromosome 14, 15 and the X chromosome and a probe of the Y chromosome of Brachyteles arachnoides obtained by chromosome microdissection. Twenty-four individuals of Alouatta guariba clamitans were studied, twelve males and twelve females. For males, we found a diploid number of 2n = 49 due to the presumed absence of the Y chromosome probably due to a Y-autosome translocation, and 2n = 46 chromosomes, with 17, 19, 20, 21 or 24 biarmed chromosomes and 22, 28, 29, 30 or 32 acrocentrics. For females, a greater variability in the diploid number was observed with 46, 48 and 50 chromosomes and 18, 19, 20, 21, 27 or 28 biarmed chromosomes and 18, 19, 27, 30, 31 and 32 acrocentrics. The X chromosomes were submetacentric. Heteromorphisms were observed. A female with 48 chromosomes was described for the first time; this diploid number had only been described before for a single male. The subspecies has been confirmed by the presence of a characteristic chromosome pair of Alouatta guariba clamitans, pair 1, and by the geographic origin of the samples. The sex was also confirmed or determined by karyotype analysis. The major chromosomal differences between populations of the south and southeast of Brazil suggest that Alouatta guariba clamitans may be representative of two subspecies or even two separate species, highlighting the need for a taxonomic review. A male of A. sara was studied and we observed a diploid number of 2n = 50 chromosomes, with 16 biarmed, 31 acrocentrics and 3 microchromosomes, two submetacentrics and one acrocentric. The X chromosome was submetacentric and the Y chromosome was presumably missing, probably due to a Y-autosome translocation. A heteromorphism was observed. The heterochromatin was present in the pericentromeric region of chromosomes, including the three microchromosomes. Two females of Ateles paniscus paniscus were studied. The specimens had 32 chromosomes, with 30 biarmed and 2 acrocentrics. A heteromorphism was observed. The classification was based on the diploid number and presence of a metacentric chromosome, pair 2, characteristic of this subspecies. We also analyzed two males of Ateles sp. that showed a diploid number of 34 chromosomes, grouped in 32 biarmed and 2 acrocentrics. The Y chromosome was the smallest metacentric. The X chromosomes were submetacentrics. The description of heteromorphisms in this genus is frequent. We suggest that these two individuals of Ateles sp. are classified as Ateles paniscus chamek. The difference in the diploid number of the specimens is due to the presence of a metacentric in A. p. paniscus that is the result of the in tandem fusion of two chromosomes of A. p. chamek. The variability in this genus can be explained by pericentric inversions. We studied a female and a male of Callimico goeldii. Both had 48 chromosomes grouped in 28 biarmed chromosomes and 18 acrocentrics, plus an X submetacentric chromosome and a Y acrocentric. Heteromorphisms were observed. We observed no variations in the diploid number and all differences are due to the morphology of the sex chromosomes. Three males and four females of Callithrix sp. were studied. The chromosome number was 2n = 46, with 30 biarmed, 14 acrocentrics, a submetacentric X chromosome and an acrocentric Y chromosome. Two females and one male showed 46,XX/46,XY chimerisms. Heteromorphisms were found. The heterochromatin was present in the pericentromeric region and in extracentromeric blocks. We observed no variations in the diploid number and the only differences are due to the morphology of the sex chromosomes. We could not determine the Callithrix species, but the karyotypes suggest C. jacchus, C. penicillata or C. aurita. The Cebus nigritus male studied showed 54 chromosomes grouped in 20 biarmed and 32 acrocentrics, and a submetacentric X chromosome and an acrocentric Y. There were no heteromorphisms. Taking into account the phenotypic characteristics, similarities between chromosomes and geographical distribution, we suggest that C. nigritus is synonymous with C. vellerosus. We studied a female Callicebus caligatus that showed 48 chromosomes, with 16 biarmed and 32 acrocentrics. Heteromorphisms were observed. We also analyzed a female Callicebus nigrifrons, whose taxonomic placement was confirmed by cytogenetic analysis. Its diploid number was 2n = 42, including 30 biarmed and 12 acrocentrics. No heteromorphisms were observed. The X chromosomes were submetacentrics. The two Callicebus species showed different diploid numbers, with a predominance of acrocentric chromosomes in C. caligatus and a predominance of biarmed chromosomes in C. nigrifrons, indicating that the reduction in the diploid number was due to events of chromosomal fusion. We studied the syntenic association HSA 14/15 conservation in almost all genera of Platyrrhini. The HSA 14 homolog retained synteny for the entire chromosome however the HSA 15 homolog was fragmented. The association suggests a monophyletic origin of the Atelidae family and Callitrichinae subfamily. A 14/15/14 pattern was observed in Alouatta sara and a 15/14/15/14 pattern in Aotus nigriceps, showing a high degree of instability in this region in some genera. We report the presence of this association also in Cacajao melanocephalus, who had not been previously studied with FISH technique. The presence of the HSA 14/15 syntenic association in all species and subspecies of Platyrrhini that we studied indicates that this is an ancestral trait, agreeing with Platyrrhini ancestor karyotype. The painting with human X chromosome in almost all genera of Platyrrhini consistent with Ohnos Law, indicating evolutionary conservation of the X chromosome in placental mammals. The signals were found exclusively in the X chromosome homologs. The Y chromosome probe of Brachyteles arachnoides produced by chromosome microdissection showed homology between the Y chromosomes of all genera belonging to the Atelinae subfamily (Ateles belzebuth marginatus, Lagothrix lagothricha and Brachyteles arachnoides). Lagothrix and Brachyteles Y chromosomes are extremely small acrocentrics and the Ateles Y chromosome is small. We could not hybridize this probe in metaphases form Alouatta, which along with the Atelinae genera comprise family Atelidae. The use of molecular-cytogenetic traits can provide valuable information for the elucidation of phylogenetic relationships in tne Atelinae subfamily. Our data show that the Y chromosome in the subfamily Atelinae shares a common history and is consistent with the separation of family Atelidae into the subfamilies Atelinae and Alouattinae. In conclusion our study indicates a great degree of chromosomal varaibility within Platyrrhini and suggests a marked reorganization of the genome within this primate group, due to such processes as pericentric inversions, chromosome fusions, translocations between chromosomes and other complex rearrangements. Cytogenetic analyse in Platyrrhini are important for species identification. Such information can in turn be useful for a variety of conservation and systematic purposes including repatriation of animals in an appropriate geographical region, for captive breeding programs, increasing the chances of ex-situ breeding, and for the deposition of specimens in museums. It is also an important tool for identifying the geographical origins of specimens with uncertain origin. Integration of cytogenetic, morphological and molecular data is necessary for the understanding of variation and definition of the taxa and understanding evolutionary processes at these different levels. Forests destruction and fragmentation, agricultural practices, hunting and subtraction of individuals as pets have negatively affected the survival of Brazilian monkeys. (AU) | |