Evidence for the Transcription of a Satellite DNA Widely Found in Frogs

The satellite DNA (satDNA) PcP190 has been identified in multiple frog species from seven phylogenetically distant families within Hyloidea, indicating its broad distribution. This satDNA consists of repeats of approximately 190 bp and exhibits a highly conserved region (CR) of 120 bp, which is similar to the transcribed region of 5S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and a hypervariable region (HR) that varies in size and nucleotide composition among and within species. Here, to improve our understanding of PcP190 satDNA, we searched for evidence of its transcription in the available transcriptomes of Rhinella marina (Bufonidae) and Engystomops pustulosus (Leptodactylidae), two phylogenetically distantly related species.

We first characterized the 5S rDNA and PcP190 sequences in these species by searching for them in available genome assemblies. Next, we used the PcP190 (CR and HR) and 5S rDNA sequences of each species as queries to search for these sequences in RNA-seq libraries.

We identified two types of 5S rDNA in each analyzed species, with a new type found in E. pustulosus. Our results also revealed a novel type of PcP190 sequence in R. marina and a new subtype of PcP-1 in E. pustulosus. Transcriptome analyses confirmed the expected transcription of the 5S rRNA gene and showed transcription of both the CR and HR of the PcP190 satDNA in both species and in different tissues.

As the entire repeat of this satDNA is susceptible to transcription, the high variability observed in the HR cannot be attributed to transcriptional activity confined to the CR.