Linear and spatial organization of polytene chromosomes of the African malaria mosquito Anopheles funestus

Anopheles funestus Giles is one of the major malaria vectors in Africa, but little is known about its genetics. Lack of a cytogenetic map characterize d by regions has hindered the progress of genetic research with this import ant species. This study developed a cytogenetic map of An. funestus using o varian nurse cell polytene chromosomes. We demonstrate an important applica tion with the cytogenetic map for characterizing various chromosomal invers ions for specimens collected from coastal Kenya. The linear and spatial org anization of An. funestus polytene chromosomes was compared with the best-s tudied malaria mosquito, An. gambiae Giles. Comparisons of chromosome morph ology between the two species have revealed that the rnost extensive chromo somal rearrangement occurs in pericentromeric heterochromatin of autosomes. Differences in pericentromeric heterochromatin types correlate with nuclea r organization differences between An. funestus and An. gambiae. Attachment s of chromosomes to the nuclear envelope strongly depend on the presence of diffusive beta -heterochromatin. Thus, An. funestus and An. gambiae exhibi t species-specific characteristics in chromosome-linear and -spatial organi zations.