Chromosomal Telomeres

我们正在研究果蝇的端粒区域 melanogaster，作为后生动物端粒的模型。 我们已经表明 在果蝇中，与酵母相反， 终端已被删除，可以传输许多 代 我们对近端部分的结构分析 已经揭示了一个复杂的散布， 不同的重复序列。 初步结果显示， 顶生和亚顶生长度的频率出乎意料地高 变化. 此外，我们还记录了一个案例， 当一个基因被转座到一个 亚末端部位。 真核生物染色体的末端称为端粒， 被认为是染色体所需的特殊结构 稳定 最近的研究表明， 末端序列基序在单细胞真核生物中是保守的， 脊椎动物和高等植物。 在许多真核生物中， 区域还包括更复杂的重复序列， 在所有或一个子集或染色体尖端之间共享。 端粒 在单细胞真核生物中研究得最广泛， 对整个序列组织知之甚少， 功能或动力学的端粒区域的多细胞 真核生物 *

We are examining the telomere region of the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model for metazoan telomeres. We have shown that in Drosophila, in contrast to yeast, a chromosome from which the terminus has been deleted can be transmitted for many generations. Our structural analysis of the subterminal portion of the telomere region has revealed a complex interspersion of different repetitive sequences. Preliminary results suggest an unexpectedly high frequency of terminal and subterminal length variations. In addition, we have documented a case in which the expression of a gene was repressed when it was transposed to a subterminal site. The termini of eukaryotic chromosomes, called telomeres, are specialized structures thought to be required for chromosome stability. It has recently been shown that a characteristic terminal sequence motif is conserved among unicellular eukaryotes, vertebrates and higher plants. In many eukaryotes the telomere region also encompasses more complex repetitive sequences that are shared among all or a subset or the chromosome tips. Telomeres have been studied most extensively in single-celled eukaryotes and there is little known about the overall sequence organization, functions, or dynamics of the telomere region of multicellular eukaryotes.***