Heterochromatic genes in Drosophila: a comparative analysis of two genes

Sandra R Schulze; Bryant F McAllister; Donald A R Sinclair; Kathleen A Fitzpatrick; Marcella Marchetti; Sergio Pimpinelli; Barry M Honda

doi:10.1534/genetics.106.056069

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Heterochromatic genes in Drosophila: a comparative analysis of two genes

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Heterochromatic genes in Drosophila: a comparative analysis of two genes

Sandra R Schulze, Bryant F McAllister, Donald A R Sinclair, Kathleen A Fitzpatrick, Marcella Marchetti, Sergio Pimpinelli and Barry M Honda

Genetics (Austin), Vol.173(3), pp.1433-1445

07/2006

DOI: 10.1534/genetics.106.056069

PMCID: PMC1526689

PMID: 16648646

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Abstract

Centromeric heterochromatin comprises approximately 30% of the Drosophila melanogaster genome, forming a transcriptionally repressive environment that silences euchromatic genes juxtaposed nearby. Surprisingly, there are genes naturally resident in heterochromatin, which appear to require this environment for optimal activity. Here we report an evolutionary analysis of two genes, Dbp80 and RpL15, which are adjacent in proximal 3L heterochromatin of D. melanogaster. DmDbp80 is typical of previously described heterochromatic genes: large, with repetitive sequences in its many introns. In contrast, DmRpL15 is uncharacteristically small. The orthologs of these genes were examined in D. pseudoobscura and D. virilis. In situ hybridization and whole-genome assembly analysis show that these genes are adjacent, but not centromeric in the genome of D. pseudoobscura, while they are located on different chromosomal elements in D. virilis. Dbp80 gene organization differs dramatically among these species, while RpL15 structure is conserved. A bioinformatic analysis in five additional Drosophila species demonstrates active repositioning of these genes both within and between chromosomal elements. This study shows that Dbp80 and RpL15 can function in contrasting chromatin contexts on an evolutionary timescale. The complex history of these genes also provides unique insight into the dynamic nature of genome evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence

Species Specificity

Ribosomal Proteins - genetics

Molecular Sequence Data

Chromosome Mapping

Transcription Factors - genetics

Drosophila Proteins - metabolism

Drosophila - ultrastructure

Drosophila melanogaster - genetics

Ribosomal Proteins - metabolism

Transcription Factors - metabolism

Heterochromatin

Sequence Alignment

Animals

Cloning, Molecular

Conserved Sequence

Drosophila - metabolism

Drosophila Proteins - genetics

Drosophila - genetics

Evolution, Molecular

Details

Title: Subtitle: Heterochromatic genes in Drosophila: a comparative analysis of two genes
Creators: Sandra R Schulze - Department of Molecular Biology snd Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Bryant F McAllister
Donald A R Sinclair
Kathleen A Fitzpatrick
Marcella Marchetti
Sergio Pimpinelli
Barry M Honda
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Genetics (Austin), Vol.173(3), pp.1433-1445
DOI: 10.1534/genetics.106.056069
PMID: 16648646
PMCID: PMC1526689
NLM abbreviation: Genetics
ISSN: 0016-6731
eISSN: 1943-2631
Publisher: United States
Language: English
Date published: 07/2006
Academic Unit: Biology
Record Identifier: 9983991960602771

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