Satellite DNAs are tandemly repeated sequences that constitute a considerable part of the genomic DNA of many eukaryotic organisms. They represent a major building element of pericentromeric and centromeric heterochromatin. The existence of conserved motifs and structural properties and their transcriptional activity suggest that, in addition to participating in centromere and heterochromatin formation, satellite DNAs might also act as cis-regulatory elements of gene expression. TCAST represents major satellite DNA in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Dispersed form of TCAST satellite was associated with 101 proteincoding genes. This study reveals polymorphism of dispersed TCAST satellite-like elements among strains of T. castaneum and gives a strong indication for the role of site specific recombination as a mechanism of dispersion of repetitive elements. The results of this study also suggest the role of dispersed TCAST satellite-like elements in regulation of genes located in their vicinity, under specific heat stress conditions.