A class of repetitive DNA sequences frequently found at centromeric regions are R/Y-satellites showing an asymmetric distribution of residues resulting in one strand being rich in purines (R-strand) while the complementary strand is pyrimidine-rich (Y-strand). The dodeca-satellite of Drosophila belongs to this class of centromeric satellites. In vitro, the dodeca-satellite forms altered DNA structures in which the R-strand forms very stable intramolecular fold-backs that are stabilised by the formation of tandem G x A mismatches. A single-stranded nucleic acids binding protein, DDP1, binds the unstructured dodeca-satellite Y-strand with high affinity. In polytene chromosomes, DDP1 associates with the heterochromatic chromocenter and, at the euchromatic chromosome arms, co-localises with HP1. DDP1 is a vigilin. Vigilins are highly conserved multi-KH-domain proteins. Scp160p, the vigilin from S. cerevisiae, is involved in the control of ploidy. DDP1 complements a deltascp160 deletion.

• PMID: 12723691
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• PubMed

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Journal Article | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Authors

Cortés A, Huertas D, Marsellach FX, Ferrer-Miralles N, Ortiz-Lombardía M, Fanti L, Pimpinelli S, Piña B, Azorín F

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