| Abstract: | Genomes of 22 species and subspecies of salamandrids (Triturus, Cynops, Neurergus, Notophthalmus, Pachytriton, and Pleurodeles ) were studied. Satellite TkS1 (32-33 bp) was found in all examined species, both in direct and reversed orientations. The use of single-primer PCR with oligonucleotides, which are homologous to the most conservative part of satellite TkS1, allowed us to reveal DNA fragments, flanked by single copies (or small tandem repeats) of satellites TkS1 having various (5' and 3') orientation. Such fragments were observed in Pleurodeles waltl, Triturus a. alpestris, T. vulgaris lantzi, T. v. vulgaris, Neurergus crocatus and T. vulgaris graecus. The length of amplified DNA fragments in three subspecies of T. vulgaris differed. This might be connected with unequal amounts and different distribution of 5' and 3' copies of satellite TkS1 in their genomes. Patterns of DNA amplification in Triturus a. alpestris and Neurergus crocatus were quite similar. Only two species (Triturus a. alpestris and T. v. vulgaris) had approximately equal amounts and similar distribution of 5' and 3' copies of satellite TkS1 in their genomes. |
