DNA sequence adjacent to and specific for the 1.672 g/cm3 satellite DNA in the Drosophila genome.

The Drosophila genome contains nearly 2.8 X 10(4) kilobases of satellite DNA. This simple sequence satellite DNA is contained within transcriptionally inactive heterochromatin that is distributed among all chromosomes with a concentration at the centromeres and along the length of the Y chromosome. To investigate the relationship of the satellite DNA with the surrounding sequences, we have isolated a satellite junction sequence that is repetitive and specifically adjacent to the 1.672 g/cm3 satellite DNA. It is conserved between strains of Drosophila melanogaster and localized to the chromocenter of polytene chromosomes. The characteristics of this sequence suggest a functional role involving the specific organization of large regions of chromosomes.