Localization of the repetitive telomeric sequence (TTAGGG)n in four salmonid species

Abstract

We have analyzed the localization of the highly conserved telomeric sequence (TTAGGG)n in four salmonid species, two of the genus Salmo (Salmo trutta and Salmo salar) and two of the genus Oncorhynchus (Onchorhynchus mykiss and Onchorhynchus kisutch), by fluorescent in situ hybridization. As expected, the hybridization signal was mostly localized at the telomeres of all chromosomes in the four species. Two species evidenced special hybridization sites with the telomeric probe: (i) interstitial heterochromatic blocks in particular long chromosomes in S. salar, this observation supports tandem fusions as the karyotypic evolutionary mechanism leading to the formation of the long acrocentric and submetacentric chromosomes in the karyotype of S. salar; (ii) the whole NOR region in O. mykiss; this observation suggests that the (TTAGGG)n sequence is scattered all along this chromosome region. Key words : Salmo, Oncorhynchus, telomeres, in situ hybridization, evolution.