Non xenopus-like DNA sequence organization in the Chironomus tentans genome

Abstract

We have examined the sequence organization of Chironomus tentans DNA by means of optical and hydroxyapatite renaturation kinetics of total DNA fragment sizes of 0.36, 2.6 and 13.5 kilobases (kb) as well as isolated middle repeat DNA at sizes of 0.36 and 13.5 kb. 90% of the DNA renatured as unique sequences of a genome of 0.20 pg with the balance of DNA renaturing as middle repetitive sequences present on average 90 times per haploid genome. At a DNA fragment length of 13.5 kb, 35% of the DNA was trapped on the hydroxyapatite as middle repetitive fraction. We concluded C. tentans DNA to have a mean repeat length of about 4.3 kb distributed through out at least 35% of the genome with an inter repeat spacing of at least 13.5 kb but possibly being distributed throughout the whole genome with an inter repeat spacing of 36 kb. This shows C. tentans DNA organization not to follow the almost ubiquitous Xenopus model but to be similar to the organization of Drosophila melanogaster DNA.