Centromeres of Cucumis melo L. comprise Cmcent and two novel repeats, CmSat162 and CmSat189

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 1; p. e0227578
• Main Authors: Setiawan, Agus Budi, Teo, Chee How, Kikuchi, Shinji, Sassa, Hidenori, Kato, Kenji, Koba, Takato
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 16-01-2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Cell division; Centromere - genetics; Centromeres; Chromosomes; Cucumis melo - genetics; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA probes; DNA, Plant - genetics; EDTA; Ethanol; Eukaryotes; Fluorescence; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Genome, Plant - genetics; Genomes; Genomics; Horticulture; Hybridization; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Laboratories; Meiosis; Metaphase; Nucleotide sequence; Povidone; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Research and Analysis Methods; Transcription, Genetic; Japan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227578

Centromeres are prerequisite for accurate segregation and are landmarks of primary constrictions of metaphase chromosomes in eukaryotes. In melon, high-copy-number satellite DNAs (SatDNAs) were found at various chromosomal locations such as centromeric, pericentromeric, and subtelomeric regions. In the present study, utilizing the published draft genome sequence of melon, two new SatDNAs (CmSat162 and CmSat189) of melon were identified and their chromosomal distributions were confirmed using fluorescence in situ hybridization. DNA probes prepared from these SatDNAs were successfully hybridized to melon somatic and meiotic chromosomes. CmSat162 was located on 12 pairs of melon chromosomes and co-localized with the centromeric repeat, Cmcent, at the centromeric regions. In contrast, CmSat189 was found to be located not only on centromeric regions but also on specific regions of the chromosomes, allowing the characterization of individual chromosomes of melon. It was also shown that these SatDNAs were transcribed in melon. These results suggest that CmSat162 and CmSat189 might have some functions at the centromeric regions.