Abstract
A total of 1020 B s Yy +chromosomes was screened for the induction of male sterile mutations by X irradiation. The 29 recovered mutations were analyzed by genetic complementation and the metaphase chromosomes stained with Hoechst 33258 and observed with fluorescence microscopy. The cytological and genetic maps derived from this analysis were compared to similar maps of the Y chromosome mutations isolated in an earlier study (Brosseau, 1960). Unlike the previous work we have identified only 6 male fertility loci (2 on the short arm, 4 on the long arm) on the Y chromosome. These loci are distributed along the length of the long arm and are likely to reside at two separate sites on the short arm. There is no apparent clustering of these fertility factors in this heterochromatic chromosome. The deletions obtained in this study were observed to be unstable and the nature of this instability was investigated. The original Y chromosome was marked at both telomeres with normally X-linked genes. The loss of one or the other of these markers was accompanied in many cases by the concomitant loss of large segments of Y chromosome material. The possible mechanism of this loss is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, W.K., Spofford, J.B.: Heterochromatic control of position-effect variegation in Drosophila. Univ. of Texas Publ. 5914, 135–154 (1959)
Bridges, D.B.: Non-disjunction as proof of the chromosome theory of heredity. Genetics 1, 1–52 (1916)
Brosseau, G.E.: Crossing over between Y chromosomes in male Drosophila. Dros. Inf. Serv. 32, 115–116 (1958)
Brosseau, G.E.: Genetic analysis of the male fertility factors on the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 45, 257–274 (1960)
Comings, D.E.: Mechanisms of chromosome banding VIII. Hoechst 33258-DNA interaction. Chromosoma (Berl.) 52, 229–243 (1975)
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)
Das, B.D., Raman, R., Sharma, T.: Chromosome Condensation and Hoechst 33258 fluorescence in meiotic chromosomes of the grasshopper, Spathosternum prasiniferum. Chromosoma (Berl.) 70, 251–258 (1979)
Gatti, M., Pimpinelli, S., Santini, G.: Characterization of Drosophila heterochromatin. I. Staining and decondensation with Hoechst 33258 and Quinacrine. Chromosoma (Berl.) 57, 351–375 (1976)
Hess, O., Meyer, G.F.: Genetic activities of the Y chromosome in Drosophila during spermatogenesis. Advanc. Gen. 14, 171–223 (1968)
Holmquist, G.: Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining of Drosophila chromosomes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 49, 333–356 (1975)
Kennison, J.: The Genetic and Cytological Organization of the Y Chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 98, 529–548 (1981)
Kiefer, B.I.: Development, organization, and degeneration of the Drosophila sperm flagellum. J. Cell Sci. 6, 177–194 (1970)
Lefevre, G.: A Photographic representation and interpretation of the polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster salivary glands. In: The genetics and biology of Drosophila. Vol. 1a, (Ashburner and Novitski, eds.), New York: Academic Press 1976
Lewis, E.B.: The phenomenon of position effect. Advanc. Genet. 3, 73–115 (1950)
Lim, J.K., Snyder, L.A.: Cytogenetic and complementational analyses of recessive lethal mutations induced in the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster by three alkylating agents. Genet. Res. Camb. 24, 1–10 (1975)
Lindsley, D.L.: Spermatogonial exchanges between the X and Y chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 40, 24–44 (1955)
Lindsley, D.L., Grell, E.H.: Genetic variations of Drosophila melanogaster. Carnegie Inst. Publ. 627 (1968)
Mukai, T.: The genetic structure of natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster. I. Spontaneous mutation rate of polygenes controlling viability. Genetics 50, 1–19 (1964)
Neuhaus, M.: Additional data on crossing over between X and Y chromosomes in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 22, 333–339 (1937)
Neuhaus, M.J.: A cytogenetic study of the Y chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster. J. Genetics 37, 229–254 (1939)
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)
Petes, T.D.: Unequal meiotic recombination within tandem arrays of yeast ribosomal DNA genes. Cell 19, 765–774 (1980)
Pimpinelli, S., Santini, G., Gatti, M.: Characterization of Drosophila heterochromatin II. C- and N-Banding. Chromosoma (Berl.) 57, 377–386 (1976)
Ritossa, F.J., Spiegelman, S.: Localization of DNA complementary to ribosomal RNA in the nucleolus organizer region of Drosophila melanogaster. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 53, 737–745 (1965)
Spofford, J.B.: Position effect variegation in Drosophila. In the Genetics and Biology of Drosophila, Vol. 1c. Ashburner and Novitski, Eds. New York: Academic Press (1976)
Suchowersky, O., Kiess, M., Kaufman, T.C., Suzuki, D.T.: Recovery and partial characterization of X and Y linked temperature sensitive male steriles on an attached XY chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster. Dros. Inf. Serv. 51, 55 (1974)
Szostak, S., Wu, R.: Unequal crossing over in the ribosomal DNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nature (Lond.) 284, 426–430 (1980)
Tartof, K.D.: Redundant genes. Ann. Rev. Gen. 9, 355–385 (1975)
Williamson, J.H.: Ethyl methane-sulfonate-induced mutants in the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutation Res. 10, 503–506 (1970)
Williamson, J.H.: Allelic complementation between mutants in the fertility factors of the Y chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster. Mol. Gen. Genet. 119, 43–47 (1972)
Williamson, J.H.: The genetics of the Y chromosome. In: The genetics and biology of Drosophila, Vol. 1b. (Ashburner and Novitski, eds.) New York: Academic Press 1976
Williamson, J.H., Parker, D.R.: Recombination between the X and Y chromosomes. In the Genetics and Biology of Drosophila, Vol. 1b. (Ashburner and Novitski, eds.) New York: Academic Press 1976
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Author to whom correspondence should be sent
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hazelrigg, T., Fornili, P. & Kaufman, T.C. A cytogenetic analysis of X- ray induced male steriles on the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster . Chromosoma 87, 535–559 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333474
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333474