TY - JOUR

T1 - Satellite DNA content and distribution along the mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of Coleonyx mitratus (Eublepharidae, Gekkota)

AU - Tishakova, Katerina V.

AU - Lisachov, Artem P.

AU - Prokopov, Dmitry Yu.

AU - Lisachova, Lada S.

AU - Borodin, Pavel M.

AU - Trifonov, Vladimir A.

N1 - Tishakova, K.V., Lisachov, A.P., Prokopov, D.Y. et al. Satellite DNA content and distribution along the mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of Coleonyx mitratus (Eublepharidae, Gekkota). Chromosome Res 34, 31 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-026-09822-5 This work was supported by the research grants no. FSUS-2024-0018 and FWNR-2026-0024 from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Russia).

PY - 2026/10/28

Y1 - 2026/10/28

N2 - Satellite DNAs (satDNAs) are repetitive sequences that play important structural and functional roles in vertebrate genomes; however, their genomic composition and behavior during meiosis remain poorly understood in geckos. Here, we investigated the satellitome of the Central American banded gecko (Coleonyx mitratus) using bioinformatic and cytogenetic approaches. We identified fifteen candidate satDNA sequences representing at least fourteen satDNA families and mapped their distribution on mitotic and meiotic chromosomes. Most satellites were concentrated in constitutive heterochromatin regions. One of the satDNA families, CmitSat-10-58, showed compact signals associated with the core of the synaptonemal complex on most chromosomes and co-localized with anti-centromere antibodies, suggesting a possible role in centromeric function. A heterochromatin region on chromosome 6 containing two satDNA families showed delayed synapsis and excessive stretching during the pachytene stage. Differences in satDNA composition between the X and Y chromosomes may be associated with their delayed synapsis. Our results provide new insight into the organization, chromosomal distribution, and potential functional significance of satellite DNA in gecko genomes, and support further investigation of the relationship between repetitive DNA, heterochromatin organization, and chromosome dynamics during meiosis.

AB - Satellite DNAs (satDNAs) are repetitive sequences that play important structural and functional roles in vertebrate genomes; however, their genomic composition and behavior during meiosis remain poorly understood in geckos. Here, we investigated the satellitome of the Central American banded gecko (Coleonyx mitratus) using bioinformatic and cytogenetic approaches. We identified fifteen candidate satDNA sequences representing at least fourteen satDNA families and mapped their distribution on mitotic and meiotic chromosomes. Most satellites were concentrated in constitutive heterochromatin regions. One of the satDNA families, CmitSat-10-58, showed compact signals associated with the core of the synaptonemal complex on most chromosomes and co-localized with anti-centromere antibodies, suggesting a possible role in centromeric function. A heterochromatin region on chromosome 6 containing two satDNA families showed delayed synapsis and excessive stretching during the pachytene stage. Differences in satDNA composition between the X and Y chromosomes may be associated with their delayed synapsis. Our results provide new insight into the organization, chromosomal distribution, and potential functional significance of satellite DNA in gecko genomes, and support further investigation of the relationship between repetitive DNA, heterochromatin organization, and chromosome dynamics during meiosis.

KW - FISH

KW - Recombination

KW - Satellite DNA

KW - Squamata

KW - Synaptonemal complex

KW - Чешуйчатые

KW - Сателлитная ДНК

KW - Рекомбинация

KW - Синаптонемный комплекс

KW - FISH

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/4d5bd050-86c0-34a1-9147-5ace920e2dc0/

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105055030853

U2 - 10.1007/s10577-026-09822-5

DO - 10.1007/s10577-026-09822-5

M3 - Article

C2 - 42946935

VL - 34

JO - Chromosome Research

JF - Chromosome Research

SN - 0967-3849

IS - 1

ER -