Abstract
In situ hybridization experiments demonstrate the wide distribution of (CA/GT)n repeats within the genome of Drosophila hydei. (CA/GT)n sequences are evenly distributed in the euchromatin of autosomes and the X chromosome but are not present in most of the heterochromatin of the sex chromosomes. Both sex chromosomes carry one large block of (CA/GT)n. At least part of this (CA/GT)n cluster in the Y chromosome is transcribed in a strandspecific manner and at a high rate in primary spermatocyte nuclei. Also, in polytene chromosomes, specific transcription of (CA/GT)n sequences is found in certain puffs as demonstrated by transcript in situ hybridization. The X chromosomal euchromatin carries approximately twice as much (CA/GT)n over its entire length as the autosomes. These observations are discussed with respect to the mechanisms of dosage compensation and position-effect variegation. A possible biological role of (CA/GT)n sequences, which has been the subject of controversy among various investigators, is their involvement in the control of the rate of transcription.
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Huijser, P., Hennig, W. & Dijkhof, R. Poly(dC—dA/dG—dT) repeats in the Drosophila genome: a key function for dosage compensation and position effects?. Chromosoma 95, 209–215 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330352
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330352