Cytogenetic characterization of the moray eel Gymnothorax tile and chromosomal banding comparison in Muraenidae (Anguilliformes)

Abstract

The karyotype of the teleostean Gymnothorax tile was analysed by replication banding in order to clearly identify the homologous chromosomes. The RBG pattern was then compared to those of the other Muraenidae studied (G. unicolor and Muraena helena) and banding homologies of nine chromosome pairs were pointed out. A single nucleolar organizer region (NOR) was localized by FISH, silver- and CMA₃-staining on the short arm of the pair 12. Telomeric (TTAGGG) repeats were terminally localized by FISH on all the chromosome pairs. The genome size and the AT-DNA content were evaluated by flow cytometry. Available cytogenetic data on the Muraenidae were then compared and discussed.

Keywords:

• Anguilliformes
• comparative cytogenetics
• karyotype evolution
• moray eel
• replication banding

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Professor Ugo Laudani for useful suggestions and discussions.

Notes

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark