Evolutionarily different alphoid repeat DNA on homologous chromosomes in human and chimpanzee

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992 Apr 15;89(8):3310-4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.8.3310.

Abstract

Centromeric alphoid DNA in primates represents a class of evolving repeat DNA. In humans, chromosomes 13 and 21 share one subfamily of alphoid DNA while chromosomes 14 and 22 share another subfamily. We show that similar pairwise homogenizations occur in the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), where chromosomes 14 and 22, homologous to human chromosomes 13 and 21, share one partially homogenized alphoid DNA subfamily and chromosomes 15 and 23, homologous to human chromosomes 14 and 22, share another extensively homogenized subfamily. Such a pattern of homogenization presumably predates speciation 3-10 million years ago. However, the alphoid DNA on these human and chimpanzee chromosomes is not orthologous but originates from two evolutionarily different repeat families. It follows that dramatic sequence evolution has occurred in a concerted fashion among the chromosomes in one or both species during or after separation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Centromere / physiology
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22
  • DNA / genetics*
  • Hominidae / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pan troglodytes / genetics*
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid*
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Substances

  • DNA

Associated data

  • GENBANK/M16087
  • GENBANK/M16101
  • GENBANK/M28221
  • GENBANK/M38466
  • GENBANK/M38467
  • GENBANK/M58446
  • GENBANK/X01750
  • GENBANK/X03692
  • GENBANK/X03693
  • GENBANK/X14299
  • GENBANK/X14300
  • GENBANK/X14301
  • GENBANK/X14302
  • GENBANK/X14303