Chromosome analysis and FISH mapping of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), telomeric (TTAGGG)n and (GATA)n repeats in the leech Haemopis sanguisuga (L.) (Annelida: Hirudinea).
In the present paper the chromosome complement (n = 13; 2n = 26) of the common leech Haemopis sanguisuga (L.) (Annelida: Hirudinea: Hirudinidae) was analyzed using banding techniques and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with three repetitive DNA probes [ribosomal DNA (rDNA), (TTAGGG)n and (GATA)n]. FISH with the rDNA probe consistently mapped major ribosomal clusters (18S-28S rDNA) in the pericentromeric region of one large metacentric chromosome pair; this region, which consisted of heterochromatin rich in GC base pairs, was preferentially stained by silver nitrate (Ag-NOR). The (TTAGGG)n telomeric probe was hybridized with the termini of nearly all chromosomes, whereas the (GATA)n probe did not label any chromosome areas.
Vitturi
R
R
Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Università di Palermo, Italy. zuvitcol@unipa.it
Libertini
A
A
Armetta
F
F
Sparacino
L
L
Colomba
M S
MS
D000818:Animals; D000845:Annelida / Q000235:genetics*; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*
D015342:DNA Probes; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S