A satellite DNA of the Sparidae family (Pisces, Perciformes) associated with telomeric sequences

This paper reports on the isolation and localization of the subtelomeric DraI satellite DNA in the Sparidae family. Gene cloning determined that the DraI satellite DNA is present in only 3 species (Pagrus pagrus, P. auriga, and Pagellus erythrinus) of the 10 Sparidae species analyzed. The results were confirmed by PCR amplification. This satellite DNA is located in a subtelomeric position in all 48 acrocentric chromosomes of these species. However, interstitial loci are also observed. Sequence analysis of monomers of this repetitive family indicates that the satellite DNA is associated with telomeric sequences, (TTAGGG)(n), in at least one species, P. erythrinus. This is the first direct demonstration of the existence of the consensus telomere sequences of vertebrates in fish. Likewise, this report also demonstrates that the ends of fish chromosomes have a structure similar to those of most eukaryote chromosomes, viz., telomere sequences and subtelomeric sequences associated by a boundary in which both types of sequences are interspersed. The recent origin of the DraI satellite DNA and its use as a phylogenetic marker is discussed.