Evolutionary dynamics of satellite DNA in species of the Genus Formica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

The satellite DNA has been characterized in eight species of the Formica genus. This satellite DNA is organized as tandemly repeated 129-bp monomers in all species and it presents internal inverted repeats. The results of all the analyses performed in the sequences sampled from Formica cunicularia, F. fusca, F. gerardi, F. rufibarbis, F. selysi, F. frontalis, and F. sanguinea suggest interspecific conservation of satellite DNA. Nevertheless, the results from the comparative analysis of the sequences sampled from F. subrufa and the remaining species studied suggest that the mechanisms producing concerted evolution have been efficient in these taxa. A CENP-B-like motif has been found in the satellite DNA from the species analysed, including F. subrufa. This satellite DNA is located in the pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes. We suggest that, although the evolution of the DNA satellite in ants could be similar to that in other organisms, there may be some particularities as a result of a haplodiploid system.