Analysis of satellite DNAs in the sequenced genome of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera)

The genome of the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum was recently sequenced and draft assembly that represent about 70% of the genome was produced. It has been proposed that “unknown” parts of the genome represent regions of highly repetitive DNA that could not be assembled. In silico analysis of the abundance and distribution of repetitive DNA revealed that approximately 30% of the assembled genome is composed of repetitive DNA (Wang et al, Genome Biology 2008, 9:R61). In assembled genome satellite DNAs build only 2, 5%. This result is in contrast with experimental data which revealed that highly abundant (peri)centromeric 360 bp satellite makes up to 17 % of the genome. We will present our in silico and experimental analysis of newly identified satellite DNAs from reptig files that could not be assembled into scaffolds, as well as a comprehensive analysis of 360 bp satellite DNA described previously.