The burst of satellite DNA in <i>Leptidea</i> wood white butterflies and their putative role in karyotype evolution

Satellite DNAs (satDNAs) are abundant components of eukaryotic genomes, playing pivotal roles in chromosomal organization, genome stability, and evolution. Here, we combined cytogenetic and genomic methods to characterize the satDNAs in the genomes of Leptidea butterflies. Leptidea is characterized by the presence of a high heterochromatin content, large genomes, and extensive chromosomal reshuffling as well as the occurrence of cryptic species. We show that, in contrast to other Lepidoptera, satDNAs constitute a considerable proportion of Leptidea genomes, ranging between 4.11% and 11.05%. This amplification of satDNAs, together with the hyperactivity of transposable elements, contributes to the substantial genome expansion in Leptidea. Using chromosomal mapping, we show that, particularly LepSat01-100 and LepSat03-167 satDNAs, are preferentially localized in heterochromatin exhibiting variable distribution that may have contributed to the highly diverse karyotypes within the genus. The satDNAs also exhibit W-chromosome accumulation, suggesting their involvement in sex chromosome evolution. Our results provide insights into the dynamics of satDNAs in Lepidoptera genomes and highlight their role in genome expansion and chromosomal organization, which could influence the speciation process. The high proportion of repetitive DNAs in the genomes of Leptidea underscores the complex evolutionary dynamics revealing the interplay between repetitive DNAs and genomic architecture in the genus.