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Genome organization of major tandem repeats in the hard tick, Ixodes scapularis

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Abstract

In spite of the global medical and veterinary importance of Ixodid ticks, relatively little is known about their genome organization. To address this, we developed the first fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-based chromosome markers in the Lyme disease vector, Ixodes scapularis. Shotgun genomic DNA (gDNA) sequences were used to identify three major tandem repeat families which were localized to specific heterochromatic regions of I. scapularis chromosomes prepared from the mitotic cell line ISE18. Together, these repeats were estimated to contribute ∼159 Mb (8%) of the 2.1 Gb (haploid) I. scapularis genome. The relative arrangement of each tandem repeat family and the nucleolar organizing regions was determined by rehybridization to individual chromosome spreads, which was useful to distinguish different chromosomes in the ISE18 karyotype. Long stretches (>20 kb) of tandem repeat-containing gDNA were resistant to digestion by the methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme HpaII and localized to the presumed peri-centromeric regions of the chromosomes. A telomeric probe based on the arthropod-conserved (TTAGG) n tandemly repetitive motif was localized to the termini of each I. scapularis chromosome. Localization of these markers produced the first link between DNA sequences and major structural features of I. scapularis chromosomes and thereby provided the framework for a FISH-based physical map.

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Abbreviations

rRNA:

ribosomal ribonucleic acid

DAPI:

4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

FISH:

Fluorescence in situ hybridization

gDNA:

Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid

ISE18:

Ixodes scapularis embryos cell line 18

ISR:

Ixodes scapularis repeat

NOR:

Nucleolar organizing region

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

SSC:

Saline-sodium citrate

TBE:

Tris-borate-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank S. Jackson and J. Stewart for their helpful review comments on the manuscript. This research was supported by the NIAID contract HHS2662004000396 (VectorBase contract) to C.A. Hill and the Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund to C.A. Hill.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2089, USA

    Jason M. Meyer, Janice P. Van Zee & Catherine A. Hill

  2. Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Timothy J. Kurtti

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  1. Jason M. Meyer
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  4. Catherine A. Hill
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Correspondence to Jason M. Meyer.

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Meyer, J.M., Kurtti, T.J., Van Zee, J.P. et al. Genome organization of major tandem repeats in the hard tick, Ixodes scapularis . Chromosome Res 18, 357–370 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-010-9120-4

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