Centromeric enrichment of LINE-1 retrotransposon in two species of South American monkeys Alouatta belzebul and Ateles nancymaae (Platyrrhini, Primates)

LINE-1 sequences have been linked to genome evolution, plasticity and speciation; however, despite their importance, their chromosomal distribution is poorly known in primates. In this perspective, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to map LINE-1 probes onto two representative platyrrhine species, Aotus nancymaae (Cebidae) and Alouatta belzebul (Atelidae), both characterized with highly rearranged karyotypes, in order to investigate their chromosomal distribution and role and to better characterize the two genomes. We found centromeric enrichment of LINE-1 sequences on all biarmed and acrocentric chromosomes co-localized with heterochromatin C-positive bands. This distribution led us to hypothesize that LINE 1 sequences may have a role in the centromere architecture and karyotype organization of platyrrhine genomes.