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

LINE-1 are retrotransposable elements, a kind of repetitive DNA included in the heterochromatin regions of chromosomes. Repetitive DNA represent one of the major genomic components which role is not still clear challenging genomic assembly. LINE-1 sequences have been linked to genome evolution, plasticity and speciation; despite their importance their chromosomal distribution is poorly known in Primates. In this perspective, we mapped through fluorescence in situ hybridization LINE-1 probes onto two representative platyrrhini species, Aotus nancymae (Cebidae) and on Alouatta belzebul (Atelidae), both characterized to have a high rearranged karyotype, in order to investigate their chromosomal distribution and role and better characterize the two genomes. We find a centromeric enrichment of LINE-1 sequences on all biarmed and acrocentric chromosomes co-localize with heterochromatin C positive bands. This distribution let us to hypothesizes that LINE 1 sequences could have a role in centromere architecture and karyotype organization of platyrrhini genomes.