A large palindrome with interchromosomal gene duplications in the pericentromeric region of the D. melanogaster Y chromosome

Mol Biol Evol. 2011 Jul;28(7):1967-71. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msr034. Epub 2011 Feb 5.

Abstract

The non-recombining Y chromosome is expected to degenerate over evolutionary time, however, gene gain is a common feature of Y chromosomes of mammals and Drosophila. Here, we report that a large palindrome containing interchromosomal segmental duplications is located in the vicinity of the first amplicon detected in the Y chromosome of D. melanogaster. The recent appearance of such amplicons suggests that duplications to the Y chromosome, followed by the amplification of the segmental duplications, are a mechanism for the continuing evolution of Drosophila Y chromosomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Gene Duplication*
  • Genes, Insect*
  • Inverted Repeat Sequences*
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Y Chromosome*

Associated data

  • GENBANK/CU457433