Higher-order organisation of extremely amplified, potentially functional and massively methylated 5S rDNA in European pikes (Esox sp.)

Abstract Background Pikes represent an important genus (Esox) harbouring a pre-duplication karyotype (2n = 2x = 50) of economically important salmonid pseudopolyploids. Here, we have characterized the 5S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) in Esox lucius and its closely related E. cisalpinus using cytogeneti...

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Main Authors: Radka Symonová, Konrad Ocalewicz, Lech Kirtiklis, Giovanni Battista Delmastro, Šárka Pelikánová, Sonia Garcia, Aleš Kovařík
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2017-05-01
Series:BMC Genomics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-017-3774-7
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author Radka Symonová
Konrad Ocalewicz
Lech Kirtiklis
Giovanni Battista Delmastro
Šárka Pelikánová
Sonia Garcia
Aleš Kovařík
author_facet Radka Symonová
Konrad Ocalewicz
Lech Kirtiklis
Giovanni Battista Delmastro
Šárka Pelikánová
Sonia Garcia
Aleš Kovařík
author_sort Radka Symonová
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Pikes represent an important genus (Esox) harbouring a pre-duplication karyotype (2n = 2x = 50) of economically important salmonid pseudopolyploids. Here, we have characterized the 5S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) in Esox lucius and its closely related E. cisalpinus using cytogenetic, molecular and genomic approaches. Intragenomic homogeneity and copy number estimation was carried out using Illumina reads. The higher-order structure of rDNA arrays was investigated by the analysis of long PacBio reads. Position of loci on chromosomes was determined by FISH. DNA methylation was analysed by methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes. Results The 5S rDNA loci occupy exclusively (peri)centromeric regions on 30–38 acrocentric chromosomes in both E. lucius and E. cisalpinus. The large number of loci is accompanied by extreme amplification of genes (>20,000 copies), which is to the best of our knowledge one of the highest copy number of rRNA genes in animals ever reported. Conserved secondary structures of predicted 5S rRNAs indicate that most of the amplified genes are potentially functional. Only few SNPs were found in genic regions indicating their high homogeneity while intergenic spacers were more heterogeneous and several families were identified. Analysis of 10–30 kb-long molecules sequenced by the PacBio technology (containing about 40% of total 5S rDNA) revealed that the vast majority (96%) of genes are organised in large several kilobase-long blocks. Dispersed genes or short tandems were less common (4%). The adjacent 5S blocks were directly linked, separated by intervening DNA and even inverted. The 5S units differing in the intergenic spacers formed both homogeneous and heterogeneous (mixed) blocks indicating variable degree of homogenisation between the loci. Both E. lucius and E. cisalpinus 5S rDNA was heavily methylated at CG dinucleotides. Conclusions Extreme amplification of 5S rRNA genes in the Esox genome occurred in the absence of significant pseudogenisation suggesting its recent origin and/or intensive homogenisation processes. The dense methylation of units indicates that powerful epigenetic mechanisms have evolved in this group of fish to silence amplified genes. We discuss how the higher-order repeat structures impact on homogenisation of 5S rDNA in the genome.
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spelling doaj.art-9cf162aa6b394b1088ccfeb7c43ed8062022-12-22T01:02:06ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642017-05-0118111610.1186/s12864-017-3774-7Higher-order organisation of extremely amplified, potentially functional and massively methylated 5S rDNA in European pikes (Esox sp.)Radka Symonová0Konrad Ocalewicz1Lech Kirtiklis2Giovanni Battista Delmastro3Šárka Pelikánová4Sonia Garcia5Aleš Kovařík6Research Institute for Limnology, University of InnsbruckDepartment of Marine Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of GdanskDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and MazuryMuseum of Natural HistoryLaboratory of Fish Genetics, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of SciencesInstitut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB-CSIC-ICUB)Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics, Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of ScienceAbstract Background Pikes represent an important genus (Esox) harbouring a pre-duplication karyotype (2n = 2x = 50) of economically important salmonid pseudopolyploids. Here, we have characterized the 5S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) in Esox lucius and its closely related E. cisalpinus using cytogenetic, molecular and genomic approaches. Intragenomic homogeneity and copy number estimation was carried out using Illumina reads. The higher-order structure of rDNA arrays was investigated by the analysis of long PacBio reads. Position of loci on chromosomes was determined by FISH. DNA methylation was analysed by methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes. Results The 5S rDNA loci occupy exclusively (peri)centromeric regions on 30–38 acrocentric chromosomes in both E. lucius and E. cisalpinus. The large number of loci is accompanied by extreme amplification of genes (>20,000 copies), which is to the best of our knowledge one of the highest copy number of rRNA genes in animals ever reported. Conserved secondary structures of predicted 5S rRNAs indicate that most of the amplified genes are potentially functional. Only few SNPs were found in genic regions indicating their high homogeneity while intergenic spacers were more heterogeneous and several families were identified. Analysis of 10–30 kb-long molecules sequenced by the PacBio technology (containing about 40% of total 5S rDNA) revealed that the vast majority (96%) of genes are organised in large several kilobase-long blocks. Dispersed genes or short tandems were less common (4%). The adjacent 5S blocks were directly linked, separated by intervening DNA and even inverted. The 5S units differing in the intergenic spacers formed both homogeneous and heterogeneous (mixed) blocks indicating variable degree of homogenisation between the loci. Both E. lucius and E. cisalpinus 5S rDNA was heavily methylated at CG dinucleotides. Conclusions Extreme amplification of 5S rRNA genes in the Esox genome occurred in the absence of significant pseudogenisation suggesting its recent origin and/or intensive homogenisation processes. The dense methylation of units indicates that powerful epigenetic mechanisms have evolved in this group of fish to silence amplified genes. We discuss how the higher-order repeat structures impact on homogenisation of 5S rDNA in the genome.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-017-3774-7rDNAEvolutionChromosomeFishEsoxSingle cell PacBio sequencing
spellingShingle Radka Symonová
Konrad Ocalewicz
Lech Kirtiklis
Giovanni Battista Delmastro
Šárka Pelikánová
Sonia Garcia
Aleš Kovařík
Higher-order organisation of extremely amplified, potentially functional and massively methylated 5S rDNA in European pikes (Esox sp.)
BMC Genomics
rDNA
Evolution
Chromosome
Fish
Esox
Single cell PacBio sequencing
title Higher-order organisation of extremely amplified, potentially functional and massively methylated 5S rDNA in European pikes (Esox sp.)
title_full Higher-order organisation of extremely amplified, potentially functional and massively methylated 5S rDNA in European pikes (Esox sp.)
title_fullStr Higher-order organisation of extremely amplified, potentially functional and massively methylated 5S rDNA in European pikes (Esox sp.)
title_full_unstemmed Higher-order organisation of extremely amplified, potentially functional and massively methylated 5S rDNA in European pikes (Esox sp.)
title_short Higher-order organisation of extremely amplified, potentially functional and massively methylated 5S rDNA in European pikes (Esox sp.)
title_sort higher order organisation of extremely amplified potentially functional and massively methylated 5s rdna in european pikes esox sp
topic rDNA
Evolution
Chromosome
Fish
Esox
Single cell PacBio sequencing
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-017-3774-7
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