Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new data

Here, a comprehensive cytogenetic analysis of three species of tenebrionid beetles: Alphitobius diaperinus, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio, is presented. This paper also contains a review of the cytogenetic information for each species and adds new data. The male karyotype of both T. molitor an...

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Main Authors: Pablo MORA, José M. RICO-PORRAS, Teresa PALOMEQUE, Ana VALDIVIA, Diogo C. CABRAL-DE-MELLO, Pedro LORITE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 2024-06-01
Series:European Journal of Entomology
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Online Access:https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-202401-0023_cytogenetic-studies-on-three-tenebrionid-beetles-tenebrio-molitor-alphitobius-diaperinus-and-zophobas-morio.php
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author Pablo MORA
José M. RICO-PORRAS
Teresa PALOMEQUE
Ana VALDIVIA
Diogo C. CABRAL-DE-MELLO
Pedro LORITE
author_facet Pablo MORA
José M. RICO-PORRAS
Teresa PALOMEQUE
Ana VALDIVIA
Diogo C. CABRAL-DE-MELLO
Pedro LORITE
author_sort Pablo MORA
collection DOAJ
description Here, a comprehensive cytogenetic analysis of three species of tenebrionid beetles: Alphitobius diaperinus, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio, is presented. This paper also contains a review of the cytogenetic information for each species and adds new data. The male karyotype of both T. molitor and Z. morio is 2n = 18 + Xyp, with large heterochromatic blocks in the pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes. The male A. diaperinus karyotype is 2n = 18 + X0, also with heterochromatic pericentromeric regions in all chromosomes. The location of the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) differs in each species: in A. diaperinus, it is located on the smallest pair of autosomes, while in T. molitor, it is on two pairs of autosomes and both sex chromosomes. In contrast, it is exclusively located on the X chromosome in Z. morio. Telomere analysis revealed that all species have TCAGG repeats in their telomeres, but lack the canonical TTAGG insect telomeric motif. In addition, a study of the distribution of satellite DNA and composition revealed that each species has a main satellite DNA family forming the pericentromeric heterochromatin. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of each of these satellites did not produce hybridization signal in the other two species, indicating a divergence in repetitive DNA composition among them. This study adds to the understanding of chromosomal organization, heterochromatin distribution and repetitive DNA dynamics in tenebrionid beetles and sheds light on their cytogenetic diversity and evolutionary significance.
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spelling doaj-art-c6549d60e3d947db81022c87df90d6d42025-08-20T01:56:53ZengInstitute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of ScienceEuropean Journal of Entomology1210-57591802-88292024-06-01121120621810.14411/eje.2024.023eje-202401-0023Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new dataPablo MORA0José M. RICO-PORRAS1Teresa PALOMEQUE2Ana VALDIVIA3Diogo C. CABRAL-DE-MELLO4Pedro LORITE5Departamento de Biología Experimental, Área de Genética, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; e-mails: pmora@ujaen.es, jmrico@ujaen.es, tpalome@ujaen.es, avc00047@red.ujaen.es, plorite@ujaen.esDepartamento de Biología Experimental, Área de Genética, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; e-mails: pmora@ujaen.es, jmrico@ujaen.es, tpalome@ujaen.es, avc00047@red.ujaen.es, plorite@ujaen.esDepartamento de Biología Experimental, Área de Genética, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; e-mails: pmora@ujaen.es, jmrico@ujaen.es, tpalome@ujaen.es, avc00047@red.ujaen.es, plorite@ujaen.esDepartamento de Biología Experimental, Área de Genética, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; e-mails: pmora@ujaen.es, jmrico@ujaen.es, tpalome@ujaen.es, avc00047@red.ujaen.es, plorite@ujaen.esDepartamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências/IB, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, 13506-900 São Paulo, Brazil; e-mail: cabral.mello@unesp.brDepartamento de Biología Experimental, Área de Genética, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; e-mails: pmora@ujaen.es, jmrico@ujaen.es, tpalome@ujaen.es, avc00047@red.ujaen.es, plorite@ujaen.esHere, a comprehensive cytogenetic analysis of three species of tenebrionid beetles: Alphitobius diaperinus, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio, is presented. This paper also contains a review of the cytogenetic information for each species and adds new data. The male karyotype of both T. molitor and Z. morio is 2n = 18 + Xyp, with large heterochromatic blocks in the pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes. The male A. diaperinus karyotype is 2n = 18 + X0, also with heterochromatic pericentromeric regions in all chromosomes. The location of the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) differs in each species: in A. diaperinus, it is located on the smallest pair of autosomes, while in T. molitor, it is on two pairs of autosomes and both sex chromosomes. In contrast, it is exclusively located on the X chromosome in Z. morio. Telomere analysis revealed that all species have TCAGG repeats in their telomeres, but lack the canonical TTAGG insect telomeric motif. In addition, a study of the distribution of satellite DNA and composition revealed that each species has a main satellite DNA family forming the pericentromeric heterochromatin. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of each of these satellites did not produce hybridization signal in the other two species, indicating a divergence in repetitive DNA composition among them. This study adds to the understanding of chromosomal organization, heterochromatin distribution and repetitive DNA dynamics in tenebrionid beetles and sheds light on their cytogenetic diversity and evolutionary significance.https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-202401-0023_cytogenetic-studies-on-three-tenebrionid-beetles-tenebrio-molitor-alphitobius-diaperinus-and-zophobas-morio.phpkaryotypefluorescence in situ hybridizationc-bandingnortelomeresatellite dna
spellingShingle Pablo MORA
José M. RICO-PORRAS
Teresa PALOMEQUE
Ana VALDIVIA
Diogo C. CABRAL-DE-MELLO
Pedro LORITE
Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new data
European Journal of Entomology
karyotype
fluorescence in situ hybridization
c-banding
nor
telomere
satellite dna
title Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new data
title_full Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new data
title_fullStr Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new data
title_full_unstemmed Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new data
title_short Cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles, Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus and Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An overview and new data
title_sort cytogenetic studies on three tenebrionid beetles tenebrio molitor alphitobius diaperinus and zophobas morio coleoptera tenebrionidae an overview and new data
topic karyotype
fluorescence in situ hybridization
c-banding
nor
telomere
satellite dna
url https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-202401-0023_cytogenetic-studies-on-three-tenebrionid-beetles-tenebrio-molitor-alphitobius-diaperinus-and-zophobas-morio.php
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