Multiple rDNA units distributed on all chromosomes of Nosema bombycis

Among Microsporidia, Nosema bombycis has a novel arrangement of LSUrRNA, SSUrRNA, ITS, IGS and 5SrRNA. To determine the distribution of rDNA among the chromosomes, we performed genome-wide screening and Southern blotting with three probes (SSU, ITS and IGS). Southern blotting revealed that ribosomal RNA genes are distributed on all chromosomes of N. bombycis, which is contrary to the previous result, which concluded that the N. bombycis rRNA genes were limited to a single chromosome. This wide distribution is similar to that of the rDNA unit of Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Screening of the N. bombycis genome detected 53 LSUrRNA elements, 43 SSUrRNA elements and 36 5SrRNA elements. However, it is still difficult to determine their loci on the chromosomes as the genomic map is unfinished.