ABSTRACT
Species Chironomussp.propeagilis Kiknadze, Siirin, Filippova et al., 1991 belongs to the Ch.plumosus group of sibling species. It was described on the basis of its karyotype and analysis of isozymes from one population in the Urals but since then no quantitative data on chromosomal polymorphism of this species have been published. The goal of this study is to broaden our knowledge of the chromosomal polymorphism and distribution of the Chironomussp.propeagilis, which, along with the data on chromosomal polymorphism of other species from the Ch.plumosus group, can give us a better understanding of the connection between chromosomal polymorphism and ecological conditions of habitats. The specimens of Chironomussp.propeagilis were found only in 8 natural populations from the Urals, Western Siberia and Kazakhstan, which allows us to conclude that the species range of Chironomussp.propeagilis is not as wide as for most other species from Ch.plumosus group. An analysis of chromosomal polymorphism in these 8 natural populations of Chironomussp.propeagilis has been performed. All of the studied populations were either monomorphic or showed very low level of chromosomal polymorphism, with 4.4-8.7% of heterozygous specimens per population and 0.04-0.08 heterozygotic inversion per larvae. The total number of banding sequences found in the banding sequence pool of Chironomussp.propeagilis is 10. The mapping of banding sequence p'ag2B3 is presented for the first time. Besides inversions, one reciprocal translocation was found in a population from Kazakhstan, B-chromosome was found in one population from the Urals region of Russia, and heterozygosity of the level of expression of Balbiany rings in arm G was observed in several studied populations.
ABSTRACT
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of chromosomal polymorphism in 19 natural populations of Ch.agilis had been performed. Most studied populations showed a medium level of chromosomal polymorphism: on average 45±3.0% of specimens are heterozygotes with 0.52±0.01 heterozygotic inversion per larvae. Besides inversions, B-chromosomes were found in two populations. The total number of banding sequences found in banding sequence pool of Ch.agilis is 16. Three banding sequences - p'agiB3, p'agiD3, p'agiF3 - are described for the first time.
ABSTRACT
A revision of mapping of main and alternative banding sequences in chromosome III (EF) has been made for 14 species of the Chironomus plumosus group. In total, new versions of mapping are presented for 18 banding sequences of arm E and 18 banding sequences of arm F. A new way of tracing the origins of banding sequences in chromosome III of the Ch. plumosus group in comparison with basic banding sequences of the genus Chironomus is suggested. The presented data indicate that h'pluE2 in arm E and p'borF2 in arm F are the closest to banding sequences of Ch. piger Strenzke, 1959 and thus should be considered the most ancient among banding sequences of chromosome III in the Ch. plumosus group. Phylogenetic relationships of banding sequences of chromosome III are discussed.
ABSTRACT
Chromosomal localization of ribosomal RNA coding genes has been studied by using FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) in 21 species from the genus Chironomus Meigen, 1803. Analysis of the data has shown intra- and interspecific variation in number and location of 5.8S rDNA hybridization sites in 17 species from the subgenus Chironomus and 4 species from the subgenus Camptochironomus Kieffer, 1914. In the majority of studied species the location of rDNA sites coincided with the sites where active NORs (nucleolus organizer regions) were found. The number of hybridization sites in karyotypes of studied chironomids varied from 1 to 6. More than half of the species possessed only one NOR (12 out of 21). Two rDNA hybridization sites were found in karyotypes of five species, three - in two species, and five and six sites - in one species each. NORs were found in all chromosomal arms of species from the subgenus Chironomus with one of them always located on arm G. On the other hand, no hybridization sites were found on arm G in four studied species from the subgenus Camptochironomus. Two species from the subgenus Chironomus - Chironomusbalatonicus Devai, Wuelker & Scholl, 1983 and Chironomus "annularius" sensu Strenzke, 1959 - showed intraspecific variability in the number of hybridization signals. Possible mechanisms of origin of variability in number and location of rRNA genes in the karyotypes of species from the genus Chironomus are discussed.
ABSTRACT
Anhydrobiosis represents an extreme example of tolerance adaptation to water loss, where an organism can survive in an ametabolic state until water returns. Here we report the first comparative analysis examining the genomic background of extreme desiccation tolerance, which is exclusively found in larvae of the only anhydrobiotic insect, Polypedilum vanderplanki. We compare the genomes of P. vanderplanki and a congeneric desiccation-sensitive midge P. nubifer. We determine that the genome of the anhydrobiotic species specifically contains clusters of multi-copy genes with products that act as molecular shields. In addition, the genome possesses several groups of genes with high similarity to known protective proteins. However, these genes are located in distinct paralogous clusters in the genome apart from the classical orthologues of the corresponding genes shared by both chironomids and other insects. The transcripts of these clustered paralogues contribute to a large majority of the mRNA pool in the desiccating larvae and most likely define successful anhydrobiosis. Comparison of expression patterns of orthologues between two chironomid species provides evidence for the existence of desiccation-specific gene expression systems in P. vanderplanki.
Subject(s)
Chironomidae/genetics , Chromosomes, Insect/chemistry , Genome, Insect , Insect Proteins/genetics , Phylogeny , Animals , Biological Evolution , Chironomidae/classification , Chironomidae/growth & development , Desiccation , Gene Expression , Genome Size , Larva , Methyltransferases/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Stress, Physiological , Thioredoxins/genetics , Water/metabolismABSTRACT
A revision of the main and alternative banding sequences in chromosome II (CD) has been made for all 14 species of the Chironomus plumosus (Linnaeus, 1758)group. A new version of mapping has been suggested for 10 out of 18 banding sequences of arm C and 12 out of 22 banding sequences of arm D. Mapping of 7 banding sequences has been done for the first time according to the Keyl-Devai system. Phylogenetic relationships of banding sequences of chromosome II have been discussed.
