Dimitri P, Corradini N, Rossi F, Mei E, Zhimulev I F, Vernì F
Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia Molecolare, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Cytogenet Genome Res. 2005;110(1-4):165-72. doi: 10.1159/000084949.
Over 50 years ago Barbara McClintock discovered that maize contains mobile genetic elements, but her findings were at first considered nothing more than anomalies. Today it is widely recognized that transposable elements have colonized all eukaryotic genomes and represent a major force driving evolution of organisms. Our contribution to this special issue deals with the theme of transposable element-host genome interactions. We bring together published and unpublished work to provide a picture of the contribution of transposable elements to the evolution of the heterochromatic genome in Drosophila melanogaster. In particular, we discuss data on 1) colonization of constitutive heterochromatin by transposable elements, 2) instability of constitutive heterochromatin induced by the I factor, and 3) evolution of constitutive heterochromatin and heterochromatic genes driven by transposable elements. Drawing attention to these topics may have direct implications on important aspects of genome organization and gene expression.
50多年前，芭芭拉·麦克林托克发现玉米含有可移动遗传元件，但她的发现起初只被视为异常现象。如今，人们普遍认识到转座元件已在所有真核生物基因组中占据一席之地，并成为推动生物进化的一股主要力量。我们在本期特刊中的贡献涉及转座元件与宿主基因组相互作用这一主题。我们汇集了已发表和未发表的研究成果，以展现转座元件对黑腹果蝇异染色质基因组进化的贡献。具体而言，我们讨论了以下几方面的数据：1）转座元件对组成型异染色质的占据；2）I因子诱导的组成型异染色质的不稳定性；3）由转座元件驱动的组成型异染色质和异染色质基因的进化。关注这些主题可能会对基因组组织和基因表达的重要方面产生直接影响。
