Karyology of the Antarctic chiton Nuttallochiton mirandus (Thiele, 1906) (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) with some considerations on chromosome evolution in chitons

Chromosome Res. 2008;16(6):899-906. doi: 10.1007/s10577-008-1247-1. Epub 2008 Aug 2.

Abstract

We describe the karyotype, location of nucleolus-organizing regions (NORs) and heterochromatin distribution and composition in the Antarctic chiton Nuttallochiton mirandus. Specimens had a karyotype of 2n = 32 chromosomes, of which two were microchromosomes. Among macrochromosomes, the elements of the first and fourth pair were bi-armed, the others were telocentric. At least six NOR sites were detected with NOR-FISH, but only four were Ag-NOR-banding-positive. The two microchromosomes were essentially euchromatic, while all macrochromosomes exhibited clear pericentromeric C bands that were found to be AT-rich (being quinacrine- and DAPI-positive) and resistant to digestion with AluI and HaeIII. N. mirandus has the largest number of chromosomes (2n = 32) and telocentric elements (26) of all the chiton species studied to date. The karyological results of our study agree with previous molecular data indicating N. mirandus as a sister taxon of Acanthochitona crinita. The karyotypes of the two species could be related as a result of Robertsonian rearrangements. According to the more parsimonious hypothesis, the former would be the primitive karyotype, although other evolutionary events cannot be ruled out.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antarctic Regions
  • Chromosomes / genetics*
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Karyotyping
  • Male
  • Metaphase
  • Phylogeny
  • Polyplacophora / genetics*
  • Spermatogonia / cytology