In situ binding of AT-rich repetitive DNA to the centromeric heterochromatin in polytene chromosomes of chironomids

Chromosoma ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. Schmidt ◽  
H. -G. Keyl
Genetics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 659-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Zhang ◽  
A C Spradling

Abstract Peri-centromeric regions of Drosophila melanogaster chromosomes appear heterochromatic in mitotic cells and become greatly underrepresented in giant polytene chromosomes, where they aggregate into a central mass called the chromocenter. We used P elements inserted at sites dispersed throughout much of the mitotic heterochromatin to analyze the fate of 31 individual sites during polytenization. Analysis of DNA sequences flanking many of these elements revealed that middle repetitive or unique sequence DNAs frequently are interspersed with satellite DNAs in mitotic heterochromatin. All nine Y chromosome sites tested were underrepresented > 20-fold on Southern blots of polytene DNA and were rarely or never detected by in situ hybridization to salivary gland chromosomes. In contrast, nine tested insertions in autosomal centromeric heterochromatin were represented fully in salivary gland DNA, despite the fact that at least six were located proximal to known blocks of satellite DNA. The inserted sequences formed diverse, site-specific morphologies in the chromocenter of salivary gland chromosomes, suggesting that domains dispersed at multiple sites in the centromeric heterochromatin of mitotic chromosomes contribute to polytene beta-heterochromatin. We suggest that regions containing heterochromatic genes are organized into dispersed chromatin configurations that are important for their function in vivo.


Genome ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 967-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Marin ◽  
M. Labrador ◽  
A. Fontdevila

The frequency and types of repetitive nonsatellite DNA of two sibling species of the repleta group of Drosophila, D. buzzatii, and D. koepferae have been determined. For each species, the analysis is based on a sample of more than 100 clones (400 kb) obtained from genomic DNA. A theoretical model has been developed to correct for the presence of a mixture of repetitive and unique DNA in these clones. After correction, a high content of repetitive DNA has been demonstrated for both species (D. buzzatii, 19–26%; D. koepferae, 27–32%). The repetitive sequences have been classified according to their hybridization pattern when used as probes against genomic DNA and by their in situ hybridization signals on polytene chromosomes. Data suggest that the main nonsatellite component of these species is simpler and more repetitive than that of D. melanogaster, pointing to a wide variability in content and class size distribution of repetitive DNA among Drosophila species.Key words: repetitive DNA, DNA evolution, Drosophila, repleta group, sibling species.


Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 647-656
Author(s):  
William B Eggleston ◽  
Nac R Rim ◽  
Johng K Lim

Abstract The structure of chromosomal inversions mediated by hobo transposable elements in the Uc-1 X chromosome was investigated using cytogenetic and molecular methods. Uc-1 contains a phenotypically silent hobo element inserted in an intron of the Notch locus. Cytological screening identified six independent Notch mutations resulting from chromosomal inversions with one breakpoint at cytological position 3C7, the location of Notch. In situ hybridization to salivary gland polytene chromosomes determined that both ends of each inversion contained hobo and Notch sequences. Southern blot analyses showed that both breakpoints in each inversion had hobo-Notch junction fragments indistinguishable in structure from those present in the Uc-1 X chromosome prior to the rearrangements. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of the 12 hobo-Notch junction fragments in the six inversions, followed by DNA sequence analysis, determined that each was identical to one of the two hobo-Notch junctions present in Uc-1. These results are consistent with a model in which hobo-mediated inversions result from homologous pairing and recombination between a pair of hobo elements in reverse orientation.


Genetics ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-482
Author(s):  
Hampton L Carson

ABSTRACT Of 103 picture-winged Drosophila species endemic to the high Hawaiian islands, all but three are endemic to single islands or island complexes. They are presumed to have evolved in situ on each island. The banding pattern sequences of the five major polytene chromosomes of these species have been mapped to a single set of Standard sequences. Sequential variation among these chromosomes is due to 213 paracentric inversions. An atlas of their break points is provided. Geographical, morphological and behavioral data may be used to supplement the cytological information in tracing ancestry. Starting at the newer end of the archipelago, the 26 species of the Island of Hawaii (less than 700,000 years old) are inferred to have been derived from 19 founders, 15 from the Maui complex, three from Oahu and one from Kauai. The existence of 40 Maui complex species is explicable as resulting from 12 founders, ten from Oahu and two from Kauai. The 29 Oahu species can be explained by 12 founder events, five from Kauai and seven from Maui complex (summary in Figure 5). Although the ancestry of two Kauai species can be traced to newer islands, the ten remaining ones on this island (age about 5.6 million years) are apparently ancient elements in the fauna, relating ultimately to Palearctic continental sources.


2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1779-1786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Yang ◽  
Hecui Zhang ◽  
Richard Converse ◽  
Yong Wang ◽  
Xiaoying Rong ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (1) ◽  
pp. C257-C265 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ruknudin ◽  
C. Valdivia ◽  
P. Kofuji ◽  
W. J. Lederer ◽  
D. H. Schulze

cDNAs for the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger from Drosophila melanogaster (Dmel/Nck) have been cloned by homology screening using the human heart Na+/Ca2+ exchanger cDNA. The overall deduced protein structure for Dmel/Nck is similar to that of mammalian Na+/Ca2+ exchanger genes NCX1 and NCX2, having six hydrophobic regions in the amino terminus separated from six at the carboxy-terminal end by a large intracellular loop. Sequence comparison of the Drosophila exchanger cDNAs with NCX1 and NCX2 Na+/Ca2+ exchangers are approximately 46% identical at the deduced amino acid level. Consensus phosphorylation sites for both protein kinase C and protein kinase A are present on the intracellular loop region of the Dmel/Nck. Alternative splicing for the Dmel/Nck gene is suggested in the same intracellular loop region as demonstrated for NCX1. Functionally, the Drosophila Na+/ Ca2+ exchanger expressed in oocytes differs from expressed mammalian NCX1 with regard to Ca2+ transport in Ca2+/ Ca2+ exchange and the effect of monovalent-dependent Ca2+/ Ca2+ exchange. The Dmel/Nck gene maps to chromosome 3 (93A-B) using in situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes, the same position as the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, a related transporter. We conclude that, although extracellular Na+ concentration-dependent Ca2+ transport is subserved by both human and Drosophila Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, there are clear and important differences in the transporters, which should be useful in deducing how the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger protein function depends on its structure.


Genome ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1018-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Nenno ◽  
K. Schumann ◽  
W. Nagl

This is the first report of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on plant polytene chromosomes. Different protease pretreatments have been tested to improve fluorescence in situ hybridization FISH on polytene chromosomes of a plant, Phaseolus coccineus, with the aim to enable the detection of low-copy genes. The structural preservation of the chromosomes and the distinctness of the FISH signals were comparatively analysed with a probe for the ribosomal RNA genes after digestion with pepsin and trypsin. The pepsin pretreatment resulted in a general loosening of chromatin with good conservation of chromosome morphology and an increased number and density of signal points. The six nucleolus organizers exhibited significant differences in condensation. The pretreatment with pepsin enabled the detection of the low-copy genes encoding the seed storage protein phaseolin.Key words: plant, Leguminosae, ribosomal RNA genes, seed storage protein genes, protease.


Genome ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Zwick ◽  
Robert E. Hanson ◽  
M. Nurul Islam-Faridi ◽  
David M. Stelly ◽  
Rod A. Wing ◽  
...  

In situ hybridization (ISH) for the detection of single- or low-copy sequences, particularly large DNA fragments cloned into YAC or BAC vectors, generally requires the suppression or "blocking" of highly-repetitive DNAs. C0t-1 DNA is enriched for repetitive DNA elements, high or moderate in copy number, and can therefore be used more effectively than total genomic DNA to prehybridize and competitively hybridize repetitive elements that would otherwise cause nonspecific hybridization. C0t-1 DNAs from several mammalian species are commercially available, however, none is currently available for plants to the best of our knowledge. We have developed a simple 1-day procedure to generate C0t-1 DNA without the use of specialized equipment.Key words: C0t-1 DNA, in situ hybridization, BACs, plants.


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