Genome and Karyotype Reorganization after Whole Genome Duplication in Free-Living Flatworms of the Genus Macrostomum

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Lukas Schärer¹  NikolayB. Rubtsov²  IlyasY. Jetybayev²  KiraS. Zadesenets² 

[1] Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Basel, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland;The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Lavrentiev ave. 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;

关键词: karyotype instability;    karyotypic and genomic diversity;    genome evolution;    repetitive dna;    aneuploidy;    whole genome duplication;    polyploidy;    flatworms;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms21020680

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The genus Macrostomum represents a diverse group of rhabditophoran flatworms with >200 species occurring around the world. Earlier we uncovered karyotype instability linked to hidden polyploidy in both M. lignano (2n = 8) and its sibling species M. janickei (2n = 10), prompting interest in the karyotype organization of close relatives. In this study, we investigated chromosome organization in two recently described and closely related Macrostomum species, M. mirumnovem and M. cliftonensis, and explored karyotype instability in laboratory lines and cultures of M. lignano (DV1/10, 2n = 10) and M. janickei in more detail. We revealed that three of the four studied species are characterized by karyotype instability, while M. cliftonensis showed a stable 2n = 6 karyotype. Next, we performed comparative cytogenetics of these species using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with a set of DNA probes (including microdissected DNA probes generated from M. lignano chromosomes, rDNA, and telomeric DNA). To explore the chromosome organization of the unusual 2n = 9 karyotype discovered in M. mirumnovem, we then generated chromosome-specific DNA probes for all chromosomes of this species. Similar to M. lignano and M. janickei, our findings suggest that M. mirumnovem arose via whole genome duplication (WGD) followed by considerable chromosome reshuffling. We discuss possible evolutionary scenarios for the emergence and reorganization of the karyotypes of these Macrostomum species and consider their suitability as promising animal models for studying the mechanisms and regularities of karyotype and genome evolution after a recent WGD.

【 授权许可】

Unknown