Identification of five new genes on the Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Nov 6;98(23):13225-30. doi: 10.1073/pnas.231484998. Epub 2001 Oct 30.

Abstract

The heterochromatic state of the Drosophila Y chromosome has made the cloning and identification of Y-linked genes a challenging process. Here, we report application of a procedure to identify Y-linked gene fragments from the unmapped residue of the whole genome sequencing effort. Previously identified Y-linked genes appear in sequenced scaffolds as individual exons, apparently because many introns have become heterochromatic, growing to enormous size and becoming virtually unclonable. A TBLASTN search using all known proteins as query sequences, tested against a blastable database of the unmapped fragments, produced a number of matches consistent with this scenario. Reverse transcription-PCR and genetic methods were used to confirm those that are expressed, Y-linked genes. The five genes reported here include three protein phosphatases (Pp1-Y1, Pp1-Y2, and PPr-Y), an occludin-related gene (ORY), and a coiled-coils gene (CCY). This brings the total to nine protein-coding genes identified on the Drosophila Y chromosome. ORY and CCY may correspond, respectively, to the fertility factors ks-1 and ks-2, whereas the three protein phosphatases represent novel genes. There remains a strong functional coherence to male function among the genes on the Drosophila Y chromosome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromosome Mapping*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Expressed Sequence Tags
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Occludin
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Y Chromosome*

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Occludin
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF427493
  • GENBANK/AF427494
  • GENBANK/AF427495
  • GENBANK/AF427496
  • GENBANK/AF427497
  • GENBANK/AF427498