title: Satellite Ic: a possible link between the satellite DNAs of D. virilis and D. melanogaster.
abstract: In this study, we isolated and characterized a previously undetected cryptic satellite DNA comprising 0.1% of the total nuclear genome of D. virilis. This satellite is hidden from detection in neutral CsCl by satellite I and is therefore designated cryptic satellite I or Ic. Sequence analysis reveals that Ic is the repeating heptanucleotide [poly d(AATATAG): d(CTATATT)]. It is more closely related to the three simple sequence satellite DNAs of D. melanogaster, a distantly related species, than it is to any of the major D. virilis satellite DNA sequences. Ic may therefore be a link between the simple sequence satellites of D. virilis and D. melanogaster. As an extension of this theory, we have constructed a "family tree" linking the satellites of D. virilis and D. melanogaster by a series of "simple" operations. Only one intermediate required by this evolutionary scheme has not yet been identified.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004276:DNA, Satellite / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004276:DNA, Satellite