Unraveling the role of satellite DNAs in the evolution of the giant XY sex chromosomes of the flea beetle Omophoita octoguttata (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

The flea beetle Omophoita octoguttata (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) is a member of a group in which the males completely lack meiotic recombination (male-specific achiasmy) and that have extraordinarily large X and Y chromosomes. We combined genome sequencing, including microdissected Y and X chromosomes, and cytogenetic in situ hybridization studies, to evaluate the potential role of satellite DNAs (satDNAs) in the differentiation of those gigantic sex chromosomes.

Results

We report flow cytometry results showing that this species has a very large genome size (estimated to be 4.61 and 5.47 pg, or roughly 4.6 and 5.5 gigabases, for males and females, respectively), higher than the estimates from two other Alticinae species without giant sex chromosomes, suggesting t

SUBMITTER: Vidal JAD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11846391 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature