Cytogenetic characterization of olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus: DNA content, karyotype, AgNORs and location of major ribosomal genes

A cytogenetic analysis of Paralichthys olivaceus was carried out using the flow cytometry method for DNA content, silver staining for the nucleolus organizer region (AgNORs) identification and one-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosomal mapping of major ribosomal genes. Nuclear DNA content was estimated by flow cytometry method using Gallus domesticus erythrocytes as the internal reference standard. The C-value of this species was (0.737±0.024) pg, and the DNA contents of each chromosome were estimated to be 16.51 Mb to 39.50 Mb after paired according to the average relative length. The FISH probe was made by PCR amplification of a DNA fragment containing internal transcribed spacers ITS1 between 18S and 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and labeled by PCR incorporation of bio-16-dUTP. FISH signals and AgNORs were both located on the secondary constrictions of chromosome 1. These results will provide a better understanding of the cytogenetic information of this species and would help for further research of the karyotype evolution in the order Pleuronectiformes.