MFASAT: A new alphoid DNA sequence isolated from Macaca fascicularis (Cercopithecidae, Primates)

A new highly repeated DNA fragment isolated from Macaca fascicularis (MFASA T) is described. Our findings obtained by sequencing, Southern blot analysi s, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) on metaphasic chromosomes s trongly suggest that MFASAT can be considered as a member of the alphoid DN A family characteristic of Old World monkeys. The chromosomal localization of MFASAT, obtained by FISH, showed that this alphoid DNA is present in the peri-centromeric area of all the chromosomes. MFASAT showed a high degree of conservation when compared, by sequence alignment, to other Macaca speci es and Papio papio as expected for species with considerable genome conserv ation. A low degree of homology has been found comparing M. fascicularis al phoid DNA with a more distantly related Cercopithecidae species such as Cer copithecus aethiops.