[Modular evolution of Bsp-repeats: formation of subrepeats and monomers preceded the divergence of four species of Canidae].

Determination of two nucleotide sequences of satellite-like DNA (Bsp-repeats) segments from the raccoon-like dog genome and analysis of these and three other homologous sequences from distantly related genomes of Canidae (silver fox, domestic dog, and gray fox) show that all these DNA fragments consist of five types of subrepeats (A, B, C, D, and E) and two types of monomers-ACB and ACED. Raccoon-like dog repeated segment of 1620 bp is composed of both type of monomers: ACBACED. Different monomers of the same type could be distinguished by subtypes of subrepeats. Building of a cladogram of 18 subrepeats and analysis of the structures of monomers and higher-order repeated units allowed us to reveal probable evolution events which have determined the hierarchical order in Bsp-repeat organization. Approximate periods of time for these evolution events were calculated from the number of substitutions per branch. Five main types of subrepeats and two types of monomers have been generated and propagated through several steps before divergence of the main phylogenetic trees of Canidae. Combinatorial variability appears to play a fundamental role in forming the hierarchical layers in Bsp-repeats structure.