title: Telomeric DNA localization on dinoflagellate chromosomes: structural and evolutionary implications.
abstract: Dinoflagellates are eukaryotic microalgae with distinct chromosomes throughout the cell cycle which lack histones and nucleosomes. The molecular organization of these chromosomes is still poorly understood. We have analysed the presence of telomeres in two evolutionarily distant and heterogeneous dinoflagellate species (Prorocentrum micans and Amphidinium carterae) by FISH with a probe containing the Arabidopsis consensus telomeric sequence. Telomere structures were identified at the chromosome ends of both species during interphase and mitosis and were frequently associated with the nuclear envelope. These results identify for the first time telomere structures in dinoflagellate chromosomes, which are formed in the absence of histones. The presence of telomeres supports the linear nature of dinoflagellate chromosomes.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alverca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuadrado
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jouve
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreno Díaz de la Espina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007399:Interphase; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan