The Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster exhibits chromosome-wide imprinting

Keith A. Maggert, Kent G. Golic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

Genomic imprinting is well known as a regulatory property of a few specific chromosomal regions and leads to differential behavior of maternally and paternally inherited alleles. We surveyed the activity of two reporter genes in 23 independent P-element insertions on the heterochromatic Y chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster and found that all but one location showed differential expression of one or both genes according to the parental source of the chromosome. In contrast, genes inserted in autosomal heterochromatin generally did not show imprint-regulated expression. The imprints were established on Y-linked transgenes inserted into many different sequences and locations. We conclude that genomic imprinting affecting gene expression is a general property of the Drosophila Y chromosome and distinguishes the Y from the autosomal complement.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1245-1258
Number of pages14
JournalGenetics
Volume162
Issue number3
StatePublished - Nov 1 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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