DNA sequence organization in the genome of Petroselinum sativum (Umbelliferae)

The genome of parsley was studied by DNA/DNA reassociation to reveal its spectrum of DNA reiteration frequencies and sequence organization. The reassociation of 300 nucleotide DNA fragments indicates the presence of four classes of DNA differing in repetition frequency. These classes are: highly repetitive sequences, fast intermediate repetitive sequences, slow intermediate repetitive sequences, and unique sequences. The repeated classes are reiterated on average 136,000, 3000, and 42 times respectively. A minor part of the genome is made up of palindromes. — The organization of DNA sequences in the P. sativum genome was determined by the reassociation kinetics of DNA fragments of varying length. Further information was derived from S1 nuclease resistance and from hyperchromicity measurements on DNA fragments reassociated to defined C0t values. — The portion of the genome organized in a short period interspersion pattern amounts to 47%, with the unique sequences on an average 1000 nucleotides long, and most of the repetitive sequences about 300 nucleotides in length, whereas the weight average length may be up to 600 nucleotides. — About 5% unique DNA and 11% slow intermediate repetitive DNA consist of sequences from 103 up to 104 nucleotides long; these are interspersed with repetitive sequences of unknown length. Long repetitive sequences constitute 33% of the genome, 13% are satellite-like organized, and 20% in long stretches of intermediate repetitive DNA in which highly divergent sequences alternate with sequences that show only minimal divergence. — The results presented indicate remarkable similarities with the genomes of most animal species on which information is available. The most intriguing pecularity of the plant genome derives from its high content of repetitive DNA and the presumed organization of the latter.