Characteristics and possible mechanisms of formation of microinversions distinguishing human and chimpanzee genomes.

ABSTRACT: Genomic inversions come in various sizes. While long inversions are relatively easy to identify by aligning high-quality genome sequences, unambiguous identification of microinversions is more problematic. Here, using a set of extra stringent criteria to distinguish microinversions from other mutational events, we describe microinversions that occurred after the divergence of humans and chimpanzees. In total, we found 59 definite microinversions that range from 17 to 33 nucleotides in length. In majority of them, human genome sequences matched exactly the reverse-complemented chimpanzee genome sequences, implying that the inverted DNA segment was copied precisely. All these microinversions were flanked by perfect or nearly perfect inverted repeats pointing to their key role in their format

SUBMITTER: Potapova NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8755829 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature