Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetic dissection of heterochromatin in Drosophila: The role of basal X heterochromatin in meiotic sex chromosome behaviour

  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We have examined the female meiotic behaviour of three X chromosomes which have large deletions of the basal heterochromatin in Drosophila melanogaster. We find that most of this heterochromatin can be removed without substantially altering pairing and segregation of the two Xs. To compare the role of heterochromatin in male meiosis we have constructed individuals which carry two extra identical heterochromatic mini X chromosomes. These minis behave as univalents even though their heterochromatin is known to contain satellite DNA. We conclude therefore that this satellite DNA is not sufficient to allow effectively normal meiotic behaviour. In all other respects our results in the male extend and confirm Cooper's postulate that there exist specific pairing sites in the X heterochromatin. Thus we find no support in either female or male meiosis for the concept that satellite DNA is involved in meiotic chromosome pairing of either a chiasmate or an achiasmate kind.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baimai, V.: Heterochromatin and multiple inversions in a Drosophila chromosome. Canad. J. Genet. Cytol. 17, 15–20 (1975a)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baimai, V.: The relationship between metaphase heterochromatin and polytene inversions in Drosophila. Experientia (Basel) 31, 779–780 (1975b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, W. K.: Chromosome segregation in Drosophila virilis males with multiple sex chromosomes. Genetics 41, 907–914 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bostock, C.: Repetitious DNA. In: Advanc. Cell Biol. 2, 153–223 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Britten, R.J., Kohne, D.E.: Repeated sequences in DNA. Science 161, 529–540 (1968)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Comings, D.E.: The structure and function of chromatin. Advanc. Hum. Genet. 3, 237–431 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Comings, D.E., Riggs, A.D.: Molecular mechanisms of chromosome pairing, folding and function. Nature (Lond.) 233, 48–50 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, K.W.: A new theory of secondary nondisjunction in female Drosophila melanogaster. Proc. nat. Acad. (Wash.) 34, 179–187 (1948)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, K.W.: Cytogenetic analysis of major heterochromatic elements (especially Xh and Y) in Drosophila melanogaster and the theory of heterochromatin. Chromosoma (Berl.) 10, 535–588 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, K.W.: Meiotic conjunctive elements not involving chiasmata. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci (Wash.) 52, 1248–1255 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Endow, S.A., Polan, M.L., Gall, J.G.: Satellite DNA sequences of Drosophila melanogaster. J. molec. Biol. 96, 665–692 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gall, J.G., Cohen, E.H., Atherton, D.P.: The satellite DNAs of Drosophila virilis. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 38, 417–421 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gall, J.G., Cohen, E.H., Polan, M.L.: Repetitive DNA sequences in Drosophila. Chromosoma (Berl.) 33, 319–334 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gershenson, S.: Studies on the genetically inert region of the X-chromosome of Drosophila. J. Genet. 28, 297–313 (1933)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gershenson, S.: The nature of the so-called genetically inert parts of the chromosomes. Vid. Akad. Nauk. URSR 3-116 (Ukrainian with English summary) (1940)

  • Goldring, E.S., Brutlag, D.E., Peacock, W.J.: Arrangement of the highly repeated DNA of Drosophila melanogaster. In: The Eukaryote chromosome (W.J. Peacock and R.D. Brock, eds.), pp. 47–59. Canberra: ANU Press 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosden, J.R., Mitchell, A.R., Buckland, R.A., Clayton, R.P., Evans, H.J.: The location of four human satellite DNAs on human chromosomes. Exp. Cell Res. 92, 148–158 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grell, R.F.: Meiotic and somatic pairing. In: Genetic organization (E.W. Caspari and A.W. Ravin, eds.), Vol. 6, pp. 361–493. London-New York: Academic Press 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmquist, G.: Hoechst 33258 Fluorescent staining of Drosophila chromosomes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 49, 333–356 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, T.C.: A possible function of constitutive heterochromatin: The bodyguard hypothesis. Genetics 79, 137–150 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • John, B.: The cytogenetic systems of grasshoppers and locusts II. The origin and evolution of supernumerary segments. Chromosoma (Berl.) 44, 123–146 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • John, B.: Myths and Mechanisms of Meiosis. Chromosoma (Berl.) 54, 295–325 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, K.W.: Satellite DNA. J. med. Genet. 10, 273–281 (1973)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, K.W., Robertson, F.W.: Localization of reiterated nucleotide sequences in Drosophila and mouse by in situ hybridization of complementary RNA. Chromosoma (Berl.) 31, 331–345 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lagowski, J.M., Yu, M.-Y.W., Forrest, H.S., Laird, C.D.: Dispersity of repeat DNA sequences in Oncopeltus fasciatus, an organism with diffuse centromeres. Chromosoma (Berl.) 43, 349–373 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsley, D.L., Edington, C.W., Von Halle, E.S.: Sex-linked recessive lethals in Drosophila whose expression is suppressed by the Y chromosome. Genetics 45, 1649–1670 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsley, D.L., Grell, E.H.: Genetic variations of Drosophila melanogaster. Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ. 627 (1968)

  • Lindsley, D.L., Sandler, L.: The meiotic behaviour of grossly deleted X chromosomes in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 43, 547–563 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Macgregor, H.C., Kezer, J.: The chromosomal localization of a heavy satellite DNA in the testis of Plethodon c. cinereus. Chromosoma (Berl.) 33, 167–182 (1971)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maguire, M.P.: Role of heterochromatin in homologous chromosome pairing: Evaluation of evidence. Science 176, 543–544 (1972)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mazrimas, J.A., Hatch, F.T.: A possible relationship between satellite DNA and the evolution of kangaroo rat species (genus Dipodomys). Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 240, 102–105 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, J.R.: The initiation of nonhomologous chromosome pairing before exchange in female Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 57, 409–425 (1967)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miklos, G.L. Gabor: Sex chromosome pairing and male fertility. Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 13, 558–577 (1974)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miklos, G.L. Gabor., Nankivell, R.N.: Telomeric satellite DNA functions in regulating recombination. Chromosoma (Berl.) 56, 143–167 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miklos, G.L. Gabor., Smith, J.: Segregation in Drosophila melanogaster males carrying a predominantly heterochromatic free X duplication. Dros. Inf. Serv. 51, 121 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moens, P.B.: Mechanisms of chromosome synapsis at meiotic prophase. Int. Rev. Cytol. 35, 117–134 (1973)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peacock, W.J., Brutlag, D., Goldring, E., Appels, R., Hinton, C.W., Lindsley, D.L.: The organization of highly repeated DNA sequences in Drosophila melanogaster chromosomes. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 38, 405–416 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Peacock, W.J., Miklos, G.L. Gabor.: Meiotic drive in Drosophila: New interpretations of the segregation distorter and sex chromosome systems. In: Advanc. Genet. 17, 361–409 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rae, P.M.M.: Chromosomal distribution of rapidly reannealing DNA in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 67, 1018–1025 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturtevant, A.H., Beadle, G.W.: The relations of inversions in the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster to crossing over and disjunction. Genetics 21, 554–604 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, P.M.B.: Origin of satellite DNA. Nature (Lond.) 229, 306–308 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, P.M.B.: “Repetitive” DNA in higher organisms. In: Progr. Biophys. molec. Biol. 23, 145–190 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population Biology, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University, 2601, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia

    Masatoshi Yamamoto & George L. Gabor Miklos

Authors
  1. Masatoshi Yamamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. George L. Gabor Miklos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yamamoto, M., Gabor Miklos, G.L. Genetic dissection of heterochromatin in Drosophila: The role of basal X heterochromatin in meiotic sex chromosome behaviour. Chromosoma 60, 283–296 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329776

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329776

Keywords

Search

Navigation