Centromeres from telomeres? The centromeric region of the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster contains a tandem array of telomeric HeT-A- and TART-related sequences

M Agudo; A Losada; J P Abad; S Pimpinelli; P Ripoll; A Villasante

doi:10.1093/nar/27.16.3318

Centromeres from telomeres? The centromeric region of the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster contains a tandem array of telomeric HeT-A- and TART-related sequences

Nucleic Acids Res. 1999 Aug 15;27(16):3318-24. doi: 10.1093/nar/27.16.3318.

Authors

M Agudo¹, A Losada, J P Abad, S Pimpinelli, P Ripoll, A Villasante

Affiliation

¹ Centro de Biología Molecular 'Severo Ochoa' (CSIC-UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain.

Abstract

Cytological and cytogenetic studies have previously defined the region needed for centromeric function in the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. We have identified a YAC clone that originated from this region. Molecular analysis of the YAC and genomic DNAs has allowed the description of a satellite DNA made of telomeric HeT-A- and TART-derived sequences and the construction of a long-range physical map of the heterochromatic region h18. Sequences within the YAC clone are conserved in the centromeric region of the sibling species Drosophila simulans. That telomere-derived DNA now forms part of the centromeric region of the Y chromosome could indicate a telomeric origin of this centromere. The existence of common determinants for the function of both centromeres and telomeres is discussed.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Centromere*
Chromosomes, Artificial, Yeast
Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
Molecular Sequence Data
Tandem Repeat Sequences
Telomere*
Y Chromosome*

Associated data

GENBANK/AJ009983
GENBANK/AJ009984