Cloning and characterization of a highly conserved satellite DNA sequence specific for the phytoparasitic nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Abstract

The phytoparasitic nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, contains an unusually abundant satellite DNA which constitutes up to 30% of its genome. It is represented as a tandemly repeated MspI-site-containing sequence with a monomeric unit of 160 bp. Thirteen monomers were cloned and sequenced. The consensus sequence is 62% A+T-rich, with the presence of direct and inverted repeat clusters. Monomers of the sequence are very similar, showing on average 3.9% divergence from the calculated consensus. The results suggest that some homogenizing mechanism is acting to maintain the homogeneity of this satellite DNA despite its abundance and that it is not transcribed.