Population Scale Analysis of Centromeric Satellite DNA Reveals Highly Dynamic Evolutionary Patterns and Genomic Organization in Long-Tailed and Rhesus Macaques

oleh: Worapong Singchat, Syed Farhan Ahmad, Kitipong Jaisamut, Thitipong Panthum, Nattakan Ariyaraphong, Ekaphan Kraichak, Narongrit Muangmai, Prateep Duengkae, Sunchai Payungporn, Suchinda Malaivijitnond, Kornsorn Srikulnath

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-06-01

Deskripsi

Centromeric satellite DNA (cen-satDNA) consists of highly divergent repeat monomers, each approximately 171 base pairs in length. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity in the centromeric region of two primate species: long-tailed (<i>Macaca fascicularis</i>) and rhesus (<i>Macaca mulatta</i>) macaques. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and bioinformatic analysis showed the chromosome-specific organization and dynamic nature of cen-satDNAsequences, and their substantial diversity, with distinct subfamilies across macaque populations, suggesting increased turnovers. Comparative genomics identified high level polymorphisms spanning a 120 bp deletion region and a remarkable interspecific variability in cen-satDNA size and structure. Population structure analysis detected admixture patterns within populations, indicating their high divergence and rapid evolution. However, differences in cen-satDNA profiles appear to not be involved in hybrid incompatibility between the two species. Our study provides a genomic landscape of centromeric repeats in wild macaques and opens new avenues for exploring their impact on the adaptive evolution and speciation of primates.