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Repetitive DNAs and Karyotype Evolution in Phyllostomid Bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)
Geize Aparecida Deon1,2, Tariq Ezaz2, José Henrique Forte Stornioli3,4
1Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, São Paulo, Brazil.
Biomolecules
|September 27, 2025
Summary
Repetitive DNA in bats, specifically satellite DNA (satDNA), plays a key role in organizing genomes and evolving sex chromosomes in phyllostomid bats. These elements are less abundant than in other mammals.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Bats possess compact genomes with significant chromosomal rearrangements, making them ideal models for studying repetitive DNA.
- Phyllostomid bats, like Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata, exhibit complex multiple XY1Y2 sex chromosome systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the repetitive DNA content, specifically satellite DNA (satDNA) and microsatellites, in two phyllostomid bat species.
- To map these repetitive elements onto chromosomes and analyze their distribution and evolutionary conservation.
- To explore the role of repetitive DNA in genome organization and sex chromosome evolution in bats.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of satellite DNA (satDNA) libraries.
- In situ hybridization of satDNA and microsatellites onto chromosomes.
- Phylogenetic analysis of repetitive DNA sequences.
- Genomic hybridization to identify sex-linked repetitive regions.
Main Results:
- Four and ten satDNA families were identified in A. lituratus and C. perspicillata, respectively.
- SatDNAs predominantly localized to centromeric and subtelomeric regions, with conserved terminal patterns in related species.
- Microsatellites were found co-localized with 45S rDNA clusters on neo-sex chromosomes.
- A male-specific repetitive region was detected on the Y1 chromosome.
Conclusions:
- Bat genomes contain relatively low amounts of repetitive DNA compared to other mammals.
- Repetitive DNA elements are crucial for genome organization and the evolution of sex chromosomes in phyllostomid bats.
- The study highlights conserved patterns of repetitive DNA distribution and identifies potential sex-linked regions.
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