The differentiation of the sex chromosomes ofDrosophila into genetically active and inert regions

Müller, Hermann J.; Painter, Theophilus S.

doi:10.1007/bf01948610

Cited by 66 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The evolution of heterochromatin, and of genes in the vicinity of heterochromatin, has interested geneticists since the discoveries that heterochromatin exhibited many unique properties, including housing the sites for chromosome segregation (Anderson 1925), having novel modes of gene regulation (Muller and Painter 1932), and possessing very distinct sequence content (Kliman and Hey 1993;Hey and Kliman 2002;Ashburner et al 2004). Regional differences of CG content have been detected within the genomes of several organisms (Bernardi 1989;Sharp et al 1989;Carulli et al 1993;Sharp and Lloyd 1993;Dujon et al 1994;Feldmann et al 1994;Bernardi 1995;Deschavanne and Filipski 1995;Bradnam et al 1999;Eyre-Walker and Hurst 2001;Daubin and Perrière 2003;, and a positive correlation between CG content and recombination rates has been identified (Ikemura and Wada 1991;Gerton et al 2000;Fullerton et al 2001;Marais et al 2001Marais et al , 2003Birdsell 2002;Kong et al 2002;Marais and Piganeau 2002;Meunier and Duret 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Gene Sequence in Response to Chromosomal Location

Díaz-Castillo

Golic

2007

Genetics

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Evolutionary forces acting on the repetitive DNA of heterochromatin are not constrained by the same considerations that apply to protein-coding genes. Consequently, such sequences are subject to rapid evolutionary change. By examining the Troponin C gene family of Drosophila melanogaster, which has euchromatic and heterochromatic members, we find that protein-coding genes also evolve in response to their chromosomal location. The heterochromatic members of the family show a reduced CG content and increased variation in DNA sequence. We show that the CG reduction applies broadly to the protein-coding sequences of genes located at the heterochromatin:euchromatin interface, with a very strong correlation between CG content and the distance from centric heterochromatin. We also observe a similar trend in the transition from telomeric heterochromatin to euchromatin. We propose that the methylation of DNA is one of the forces driving this sequence evolution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Gene Sequence in Response to Chromosomal Location

Díaz-Castillo

Golic

2007

Genetics

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“…Heterochromatic regions are thought to contain fewer genes and generally are less transcriptionally active than euchromatin (Muller and Painter 1932;Cooper 1959;Ananiev and Gvozdev 1974;Frenster 1974;Lakhotia and Jacob 1974;Hilliker et al 1980). Classical genetic analyses have indicated that there may be a functional basis to the conservation of NO location.…”

Section: Rdna Function and Chromosomal Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Drosophila rRNA gene located in euchromatin is active in transcription and nucleolus formation.

Karpen¹,

Schaefer²,

Laird³

1988

Genes & Development

159

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P-element transformants of a single rRNA gene (rDNA) were used to investigate the relationship between the organization of the nucleolus organizer (NO) and rDNA function in Drosophila melanogaster. In situ hybridization to rRNA in polytene nuclei of salivary glands demonstrated that an rRNA gene can be transcribed at a high rate when inserted into chromosomal sites other than the NO. Structures that resemble morphologically the endogenous nucleoli ('mininucleoli') were associated with four different euchromatic sites of rDNA insertion. Molecular analyses revealed that these mininucleoli contained both rRNA and an antigen specific to nucleoli. Phenotypes resulting from rDNA deficiencies were rescued partially by the presence of the transformed rDNA, indicating that the transcripts and mininucleoli associated with the rDNA insertion sites were functional. Thus, two conserved features of rDNA organization in eukaryotes, namely tandem repetition and heterochromatic localization, are not required for rRNA gene function. We conclude that 'nucleolar organizing activity' is an intrinsic property of the rDNA or its RNA products.

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“…The sex chromosomes regularly segregate during male meiosis (Bridges, 1916) and the X chromosome pairing sites responsible for its segregation from the heterochromatic Y chromosome lie in the X chromosome heterochromatin (Xh) (Muller & Painter, 1932;Gershenson, 1940;Sandier & Braver, 1954;Cooper, 1964;Peacock, 1965).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The relationship between heterochromatic homology and meiotic segregation of compound second autosomes during spermatogenesis inDrosophila melanogaster

1982

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In this report we examine the meiotic segregation of compound second autosomes sharing varying extents of heterochromatic and euchromatic homology. The second chromosome heterochromatin does not appear to influence the random meiotic segregation of compound second autosomes during spermatogenesis; however, the proximal euchromatin is implicated in male meiotic pairing. We conclude that male autosomal meiotic pairing sites are specific euchromatic chromosomal regions.

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The differentiation of the sex chromosomes ofDrosophila into genetically active and inert regions

Cited by 66 publications

References 22 publications

Evolution of Gene Sequence in Response to Chromosomal Location

Evolution of Gene Sequence in Response to Chromosomal Location

A Drosophila rRNA gene located in euchromatin is active in transcription and nucleolus formation.

The relationship between heterochromatic homology and meiotic segregation of compound second autosomes during spermatogenesis inDrosophila melanogaster

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