Restriction enzyme banding in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Abstract

SummaryFixed metaphase chromosomes of brown trout and Atlantic salmon were digested with various restriction enzymes and stained with Giemsa. C band-like patterns were produced in both species by Alu I, Dde I, Hae III and Mbo I. Alu I revealed extra chromosome bands in brown trout which allowed identification of additional chromosome pairs, while the other three enzymes produced patterns identical to C banding. In the Atlantic salmon Dde I revealed telomeric bands at all telomeres in addition to the conventional C bands and all four enzymes had differential effects on the nucleolar organizer-associated heterochromatin. The relevance of these findings to chromosome identification and constitutive heterochromatin organization in salmonid fishes is discussed.