title: Chromosomal distribution of microsatellite repeats in Amazon cichlids genome (Pisces, Cichlidae).
abstract: Fish of the family Cichlidae are recognized as an excellent model for evolutionary studies because of their morphological and behavioral adaptations to a wide diversity of explored ecological niches. In addition, the family has a dynamic genome with variable structure, composition and karyotype organization. Microsatellites represent the most dynamic genomic component and a better understanding of their organization may help clarify the role of repetitive DNA elements in the mechanisms of chromosomal evolution. Thus, in this study, microsatellite sequences were mapped in the chromosomes of Cichla monoculus Agassiz, 1831, Pterophyllum scalare Schultze, 1823, and Symphysodon discus Heckel, 1840. Four microsatellites demonstrated positive results in the genome of Cichla monoculus and Symphysodon discus, and five demonstrated positive results in the genome of Pterophyllum scalare. In most cases, the microsatellite was dispersed in the chromosome with conspicuous markings in the centromeric or telomeric regions, which suggests that sequences contribute to chromosome structure and may have played a role in the evolution of this fish family. The comparative genome mapping data presented here provide novel information on the structure and organization of the repetitive DNA region of the cichlid genome and contribute to a better understanding of this fish family's genome.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Genética, Laboratório de Citogenômica Animal, Av. General Rodrigo Otávio, 3000, Japiim, Zip code 69077-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Genética, Laboratório de Citogenômica Animal, Av. General Rodrigo Otávio, 3000, Japiim, Zip code 69077-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Claudia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Integração Latino Americana, Laboratório de Genética, Av. Tarquínio Joslin dos Santos, 1000, Jardim Universitário, Zip code 85857-190, Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Leandra
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Terencio
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Genética, Laboratório de Citogenômica Animal, Av. General Rodrigo Otávio, 3000, Japiim, Zip code 69077-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Édika Sabrina Girão Mitozo
authors.initials: ÉS
authors.lastname: de Tavares
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho - UNESP, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Morfologia, Laboratório Genômica Integrativa, Rubião Junior, Zip code 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Laboratório de Genética Animal, Av. André Araújo, 2936 Zip Code 69077-000, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Feldberg
keywords: Karyotype evolution; fluorescence in situ hybridization; genome organization; repetitive DNA