Chromosomes of Iberian Leuciscinae (Cyprinidae) Revisited: Evidence of Genome Restructuring in Homoploid Hybrids Using Dual-Color FISH and CGH

Iberian Leuciscinae have been used in many studies as models to explore topics such as hybridization, allopolyploidy, modes of reproduction, and evolution. This article focuses on the contribution of cytogenomics to foster research in this group of cyprinid fish. Conventional and molecular banding results were reviewed, facilitating comparative analysis between nase and chub taxa inhabiting Portuguese freshwaters. Hybridization is known to occur within both Chondrostoma s.l. and Squalius genera although polyploidy has only been reported in the latter; the reasons behind such differential genome flexibility remain unidentified. FISH tools allowed recognizing additional chromosome markers, confirming NOR polymorphism and distinguishing species and their hybrids. Recombination and genome instability were detected in homoploid and polyploid hybrid genomes supporting active NOR transposition. However, the multiplication of rDNAs in these species does not seem to be associated with Rex3 retroelement, though hybrids were not surveyed. CGH and GISH allowed reaffirming the hybrid origin of S. alburnoides and confirming that the conservative karyotype patterns within Iberian leuciscines are restricted to the macrostructure. Current data also support the usefulness of mapping repetitive DNAs, especially for nonmodel compact genomes with less variable karyotypes and sequence data resources unavailable, like in many cyprinid lineages. (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel