Evolutionary dynamics of rDNA clusters on chromosomes of buthid scorpions (Chelicerata: Arachnida)

Štáhlavský F., Nguyen P., Sadílek D., Štundlová J., Just P., Haddad C. R., ...More

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, vol.131, no.3, pp.547-565, 2020 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 131 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa118
  • Journal Name: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Animal Behavior Abstracts, Applied Science & Technology Source, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Artic & Antarctic Regions, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Geobase, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.547-565
  • Keywords: 18S rDNA, FISH, Holokinetic chromosome, Karyotype evolution, Reciprocal translocation
  • Manisa Celal Bayar University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We examined the distribution of genes for major ribosomal RNAs (rDNA) on holokinetic chromosomes of 74 species belonging to 19 genera of scorpions from the family Buthidae using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Our analysis revealed differences between the two main evolutionary lineages within the family. The genera belonging to the 'Buthus group', with a proposed Laurasian origin, possess one pair of rDNA mainly in an interstitial position, with the only exceptions being the terminal location found in some Hottentotta and Buthacus species, possibly as a result of chromosome fissions. All the remaining buthid 'groups' possess rDNA found strictly in a terminal position. However, the number of signals may increase from an ancestral state of one pair of rDNA loci to up to seven signals in Reddyanus ceylonensis Kovarík et al., 2016. Despite the differences in evolutionary dynamics of the rDNA clusters between the 'Buthus group' and other lineages investigated, we found a high incidence of reciprocal translocations and presence of multivalent associations during meiosis in the majority of the genera studied. These phenomena seem to be typical for the whole family Buthidae.