Genetics, Vol 131, 683-691, Copyright © 1992


INVESTIGATIONS

Somatic Instability of a Drosophila Chromosome

D. R. Wines and S. Henikoff
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98104

A mitotically unstable chromosome, detectable because of mosaic expression of marker genes, was generated by X-ray mutagenesis in Drosophila. Nondisjunction of this chromosome is evident in mitotic chromosome preparations, and premature sister chromatid separation is frequent. The mosaic phenotype is modified by genetic elements that are thought to alter chromatin structure. We hypothesize that the mitotic defects result from a breakpoint deep in the pericentric heterochromatin, within or very near to the DNA sequences essential for centromere function. This unique chromosome may provide a tool for the genetic and molecular dissection of a higher eukaryotic centromere.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
Y. Dalal, T. Furuyama, D. Vermaak, and S. Henikoff
Inaugural Article: Structure, dynamics, and evolution of centromeric nucleosomes
PNAS, October 9, 2007; 104(41): 15974 - 15981.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ScienceHome page
S. Henikoff, K. Ahmad, and H. S. Malik
The Centromere Paradox: Stable Inheritance with Rapidly Evolving DNA
Science, August 10, 2001; 293(5532): 1098 - 1102.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
K. A. Maggert and G. H. Karpen
The Activation of a Neocentromere in Drosophila Requires Proximity to an Endogenous Centromere
Genetics, August 1, 2001; 158(4): 1615 - 1628.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
K. L. Hari, K. R. Cook, and G. H. Karpen
The Drosophila Su(var)2-10 locus regulates chromosome structure and function and encodes a member of the PIAS protein family
Genes & Dev., June 1, 2001; 15(11): 1334 - 1348.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
S. Henikoff, K. Ahmad, J. S. Platero, and B. van Steensel
From the Cover: Heterochromatic deposition of centromeric histone H3-like proteins
PNAS, January 18, 2000; 97(2): 716 - 721.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
GeneticsHome page
K. Ekwall, G. Cranston, and R. C. Allshire
Fission Yeast Mutants That Alleviate Transcriptional Silencing in Centromeric Flanking Repeats and Disrupt Chromosome Segregation
Genetics, November 1, 1999; 153(3): 1153 - 1169.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Mol. Biol. CellHome page
L. L. Freeman-Cook, J. M. Sherman, C. B. Brachmann, R. C. Allshire, J. D. Boeke, and L. Pillus
The Schizosaccharomyces pombe hst4+ Gene Is a SIR2 Homologue with Silencing and Centromeric Functions
Mol. Biol. Cell, October 1, 1999; 10(10): 3171 - 3186.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
T Torok, P D Harvie, M Buratovich, and P J Bryant
The product of proliferation disrupter is concentrated at centromeres and required for mitotic chromosome condensation and cell proliferation in Drosophila.
Genes & Dev., January 15, 1997; 11(2): 213 - 225.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J. Cell Sci.Home page
K Ekwall, E. Nimmo, J. Javerzat, B Borgstrom, R Egel, G Cranston, and R Allshire
Mutations in the fission yeast silencing factors clr4+ and rik1+ disrupt the localisation of the chromo domain protein Swi6p and impair centromere function
J. Cell Sci., January 11, 1996; 109(11): 2637 - 2648.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Genes Dev.Home page
R C Allshire, E R Nimmo, K Ekwall, J P Javerzat, and G Cranston
Mutations derepressing silent centromeric domains in fission yeast disrupt chromosome segregation.
Genes & Dev., January 15, 1995; 9(2): 218 - 233.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
J. Cell Sci.Home page
R Kellum and B. Alberts
Heterochromatin protein 1 is required for correct chromosome segregation in Drosophila embryos
J. Cell Sci., January 4, 1995; 108(4): 1419 - 1431.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
ScienceHome page
P. Bernard, J.-F. Maure, J. F. Partridge, S. Genier, J.-P. Javerzat, and R. C. Allshire
Requirement of Heterochromatin for Cohesion at Centromeres
Science, December 21, 2001; 294(5551): 2539 - 2542.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]