title: Centromeres from telomeres? The centromeric region of the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster contains a tandem array of telomeric HeT-A- and TART-related sequences.
abstract: Cytological and cytogenetic studies have previously defined the region needed for centromeric function in the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. We have identified a YAC clone that originated from this region. Molecular analysis of the YAC and genomic DNAs has allowed the description of a satellite DNA made of telomeric HeT-A- and TART-derived sequences and the construction of a long-range physical map of the heterochromatic region h18. Sequences within the YAC clone are conserved in the centromeric region of the sibling species Drosophila simulans. That telomere-derived DNA now forms part of the centromeric region of the Y chromosome could indicate a telomeric origin of this centromere. The existence of common determinants for the function of both centromeres and telomeres is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular 'Severo Ochoa' (CSIC-UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agudo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Losada
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Abad
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pimpinelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ripoll
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villasante
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002503:Centromere; D018244:Chromosomes, Artificial, Yeast; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences; D016615:Telomere; D014998:Y Chromosome