Evolutionary Dynamics of the Pericentromeric Heterochromatin in Drosophila virilis and Related Species.

ABSTRACT: Pericentromeric heterochromatin in Drosophila generally consists of repetitive DNA, forming the environment associated with gene silencing. Despite the expanding knowledge of the impact of transposable elements (TEs) on the host genome, little is known about the evolution of pericentromeric heterochromatin, its structural composition, and age. During the evolution of the Drosophilidae, hundreds of genes have become embedded within pericentromeric regions yet retained activity. We investigated a pericentromeric heterochromatin fragment found in D. virilis and related species, describing the evolution of genes in this region and the age of TE invasion. Regardless of the heterochromatic environment, the amino acid composition of the genes is under purifying selection. How

SUBMITTER: Rezvykh AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7911463 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature