title: Heterochromatin protein 1, a known suppressor of position-effect variegation, is highly conserved in Drosophila.
abstract: The Su(var)205 gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), a protein located preferentially within beta-heterochromatin. Mutation of this gene has been associated with dominant suppression of position-effect variegation. We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding HP1 from Drosophila virilis, a distantly related species. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence with Drosophila melanogaster HP1 shows two regions of strong homology, one near the N-terminus (57/61 amino acids identical) and the other near the C-terminus (62/68 amino acids identical) of the protein. Little homology is seen in the 5' and 3' untranslated portions of the gene, as well as in the intronic sequences, although intron/exon boundaries are generally conserved. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of HP1-like proteins from other species shows that the cores of the N-terminal and C-terminal domains have been conserved from insects to mammals. The high degree of conservation suggests that these N- and C-terminal domains could interact with other macromolecules in the formation of the condensed structure of heterochromatin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Elgin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005091:Exons; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C000716867:Su(var)205 protein, Drosophila; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D004247:DNA