Analysis of arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) haplotypes in the largest lakes of the North-West region of Russia for genetic monitoring

Background. Arctic char is a residential form of the Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus and a commercial target in Ladoga Lake. Caused by fishing the gradual decline in the number of ones in the largest lakes of the North-Western region of Russia is compensated by measures for its artificial reproduction. The aim of this work was to carry out gaplotyping of the arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) population in the largest lakes of the northwestern region of Russia. Materials and methods. The gaplotyping by PCR amplification in combination with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of several amplified mtDNA regions, sequencing of the D-loop of mtDNA. Results. Screening studies of the genetic diversity of arctic char were carried out in three geographical population of the North-Western region of Russia and also the lake form of Arctic char from Sobachye Lake (Putorana Plateau, Western Siberia). The variability of a significant part (more than 35%) of the mitochondrial genome was analyzed including the regions of 16S rRNA/ND1/ND2 (2000 bp), COXI (567 bp), ND5/ND6 (2490 bp) and D-loop (1097 bp). Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the control region mtDNA revealed 6 different haplotypes that were included in a single Eurasian group of char. Conclusion. The panel of PCR-RFLP markers can serve as a tool for monitoring the genetic structure of the arctic char populations of Ladoga Lake under conditions of ones artificial maintenance. Key words: arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus, mitochondrial DNA, PCR, RFLP, sequencing, haplotype