Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Highly repetitive component α and related alphoid DNAs in man and monkeys

  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The genomes of Old-World, New-World, and prosimian primates contain members of a large class of highly repetitive DNAs that are related to one another and to component α DNA of the African green monkey by their sequence homologies and restriction site periodicities. The members, of this class of highly repetitive DNAs are termed the alphoid DNAs, after the prototypical member, component α of the African green monkey which was the first such DNA to be identified (Maio, 1971) and sequenced (Rosenberg et al., 1978). The alphoid DNAs appear to be uniquely primate sequences. — From the restriction enzyme cleavage patterns and Southern blot hybridizations under different stringency conditions, the alphoid DNAs comprise multiple sequence families exhibiting varying degrees of homology to component α DNA. They also share common elements in their restriction site periodicities (172 · n base-pairs), in the long-range organization of their repeating units, and in their banding behavior in CsCl and Cs2SO4 buoyant density gradients, in which they band within the bulk DNA as cryptic repetitive components. — In the three species from the Family Cercopithecidae examined, the alphoid DNAs represent the most abundant, tandemly repetitive sequence components, comprising about 24% of the African green monkey genome and 8 to 10% of the Rhesus monkey and baboon genomes. In restriction digests, the bulk of the alphoid DNAs among the Cercopithecidae appeared quantitatively reduced to a simple series of arithmetic segments based on a 172 base-pair (bp) repeat. In contrast with these simple restriction patterns, complex patterns were observed when human alphoid DNAs were cleaved with restriction enzymes. Detailed analysis revealed that the human genome contains multiple alphoid sequence families which differ from one another both in their repeat sequence organization and in their degree of homology to the African green monkey component α DNA. — The finding of alphoid sequences in other Old-World primate families, in a New-World monkey, and in a prosimian primate attests to the antiquity of these sequences in primate evolution and to the sequence conservatism of a large class of mammalian highly repetitive DNA. In addition, the relative conservatism exhibited by these sequences may distinguish the alphoid DNAs from more recently evolved highly repetitive components and satellite DNAs which have a more restricted taxonomical distribution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Breathnach, R., Benoist, C., O'Hare, K., Gannon, F., Chambon, P.: Ovalbumin gene: Evidence for a leader sequence in mRNA and DNA sequences at the exon-intron boundaries. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 75, 4853–4857 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Britten, R.J., Davidson, E.H.: Repetitive and non-repetitive DNA sequences and a speculation on the origins of evolutionary novelty. Quart. Rev. Biol. 46, 111–138 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D.D., Sugimoto, K.: The structure and evolution of ribosomal and 5S DNAs of Xenopus laevis and Xenopus mulleri. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 38, 501–505 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, F.L., Musich, P.R., Maio, J.J.: The repetitive sequence structure of component α DNA and its relationship to the nucleosomes of the African green minkey. J. molec. Biol. 131, 777–799 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiarelli, A.B.: Evolution of the Primates. London-New York: Academic Press 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig-Holmes, A.P., Shaw, M.W.: Polymorphisms of human constitutive heterochromatin. Science 174, 702–704 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Denhardt, D.: A membrane-filter technique for the detection of complementary DNA. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 23, 641–646 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Donehower, L., Furlong, C., Gillespie, D., Kurnit, D.: DNA sequence of baboon highly-repeated DNA: Evidence for evolution by unequal mitotic exchanges. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 77, 2129–2133 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fittler, R.: Analysis of the α-satellite DNA from African green monkey cells by restriction nucleases. Europ. J. Biochem. 74, 343–352 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry, K., Salser, W.: Nucleotide sequences of HS-α satellite DNA from kangaroo rat Dipodomys ordii and characterization of similar sequences in other rodents. Cell 12, 1069–1084 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosden, J.R., Mitchell, A.R., Seuanez, H.N., Gosden, C.M.: The distribution of sequences complementary to human satellite DNAs I, II and IV. in the chromosomes of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and orang utan (Pongo pygmaeus). Chromosoma (Berl.) 63, 253–271 (1977a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosden, J.R., Mitchell, A.R., Seuanez, H.N.: Localization of sequences complementary to human satellite DNAs in man and the hominoid apes. In: Human cytogenetics: ICN-UCLA Symposia on molecular and cellular biology, VII, pp. 75–85. New York: Academic Press 1977b

    Google Scholar 

  • Grouchy de, J., Turleau, C., Finaz, C.: Chromosome phylogeny of the primates. Ann. Rev. Genet. 12, 289–328 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennig, W., Walker, P.M.B.: Variations in the DNA from two rodent families (Cricetidae and Muridae). Nature (Lond.) 225, 915–919 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeffreys, A.J., Flavell, R.A.: A physical map of the DNA regions flanking the rabbit β-globin gene. Cell 8, 429–439 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeppesen, P.G.N., Sanders, L., Slocombe, P.M.: A restriction cleavage map of φX174 DNA by pulse-chase labelling using E. coli DNA polymerase. Nucleic Acids Res. 3, 1323–1339 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, K.W.: Annotation: Satellite DNA. J. med. Genet. 10, 273–281 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, K.W., Purdom, I.F.: Evolution of defined classes of human and primate DNA. In: Chromosome variations in human evolution (A.J. Boyce, ed.). p. 39–51. London: Taylor and Francis 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • King, M.C., Wilson, A.C.: Evolution at two levels in humans and chimpanzees. Science 188, 107–116 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurnit, D.M.: Satellite DNA and heterochromatin variants: The case for unequal mitotic crossing over. Hum. Genet. 47, 169–186 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurnit, D.M., Maio, J.J.: Subnuclear redistribution of DNA species in confluent and growing mammalian cells. Chromosoma (Berl.) 42, 23–36 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurnit, D.M., Maio, J.J.: Variable satellite DNAs in the African green monkey Cercopithecus aethiops. Chromosoma (Berl.) 45, 387–400 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Laskey, R.A., Mills, A.D.: Quantitative film detection of 3H and 14C in polyacrylamide gels by fluorography. Europ. J. Biochem. 56, 335–341 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maio, J.J.: DNA strand reassociation and polyribonucleotide binding in the African green monkey, Cercopithecus aethiops. J. molec. Biol. 56, 579–595 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maio, J.J., Brown, F.L., Musich, P.R.: Subunit structure of chromatin and the organization of eukaryotic highly repetitive DNA: Recurrent periodicities and models for the evolutionary origins of repetitive DNA. J. molec. Biol. 117, 637–655 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maniatis, T.A., Jeffrey, A., Klied, D.G.: Nucleotide sequence of the rightward operator of phage λ. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 72, 1184–1188 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Manuelidis, L.: Complex and simple sequences in human repeated DNAs. Chromosoma (Berl.) 66, 1–21 (1978a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Manuelidis, L.: Chromosomal localization of complex and simple repeated human DNAs. Chromosoma (Berl.) 66, 23–32 (1978b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Manuelidis, L., Wu, J.C.: Homology between human and simian repeated DNA. Nature (Lond.) 276, 92–94 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moar, M.H., Purdon, I.F., Jones, K.W.: Influence of temperature on the detectability and chromosomal distribution of specific DNA sequences by in situ hybridization. Chromosoma (Berl.) 53, 345–359 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Musich, P.R., Brown, F.L., Maio, J.J.: Subunit structure of chromatin and the organization of eukaryotic highly repetitive DNA: Nucleosomal proteins associated with a highly repetitive mammalian DNA. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 74, 3297–3301 (1977a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Musich, P.R., Maio, J.J., Brown, F.L.: Subunit structure of chromatin and the organization of eukaryotic highly repetitive DNA: Indications of a phase relationship between restriction sites and chromatin subunits in African green monkey and calf nuclei. J. molec. Biol. 177, 657–677 (1977b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Noll, M.: Differences and similarities in chromatin structure of Neurospora crassa and higher eucaryotes. Cell 8, 349–355 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Polisky, B., Greene, P., Garfin, D.E., McCarthy, B.J., Goodman, H.M., Boyer, H.W.: Specificity of substrate recognition by the EcoRI restriction endonuclease. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 72, 3310–3314 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Prosser, J., Moar, M., Bobrow, M., Jones, K.W.: Satellite sequences in chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 319, 122–134 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, V.B., Thimmappaya, B., Dhar, R., Subramanian, K.N., Zain, B.S., Pan, J., Ghosh, P.K., Celma, M.L., Weissmann, S.M.: The genome of simian virus 40. Science 200, 494–502 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigby, P.W.J., Dieckmann, M., Rhodes, C., Berg, P.: Labeling of deoxyribonucleic acid to high specific activity in vitro by nick translation with DNA polymerase I. J. molec. Biol. 113, 237–251 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, H., Singer, M., Rosenberg, M.: Highly reiterated sequences of Simiansimiansimiansimiansimian. Science 200, 394–402 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, C.M., Deininger, P.L., Houck, C.M., Schmid, C.W.: A dimer satellite sequence in bonnet monkey DNA consists of distinct monomer subunits. J. molec. Biol. (in press, 1980)

  • Sakano, H., Huppi, K., Heinrich, G., Tonegawa, S.: Sequences at the somatic recombination sites of immunoglobulin light-chain genes. Nature (Lond.) 280, 288–294 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Salser, W.S., Isaacson, J.S.: Mutation rates in globin genes: The genetic load and Haldane's dilemma. Prog. Nucleic Acid. Res. 19, 205–220 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanger, F., Air, G.M., Barrell, B.G., Brown, N.L., Coulson, A.R., Fiddes, J.C., Hutchinson III, C.A., Slocombe, P.M., Smith, M.: Nucleotide sequence of bacteriophage φX174 DNA. Nature (Lond.) 265, 687–695 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schildkraut, C.L., Maio, J.J.: Studies on the intranuclear distribution and properties of mouse satellite DNA. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 161, 76–93 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schildkraut, C.L., Maio, J.J.: Fractions of HeLa DNA differing in their content of guanine + cytosine. J. molec. Biol. 46, 305–315 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Southern, E.M.: Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis. J. molec. Biol. 98, 503–517 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tartof, K.D.: Evolution of transcribed and spacer sequences in the ribosomal RNA genes of Drosophila. Cell 17, 607–614 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • van Ooyen, A., van den Berg, J., Mantei, N., Weissmann, C.: Comparison of total sequence of a cloned rabbit β-globin gene and its flanking regions with a homologous mouse sequence. Science 206, 337–344 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, P.M.B.: “Repetitive” DNA in higher organisms. Prog. Biophys. molec. Biol. 23, 147–190 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wuilmart, C., Urbain, J., Givol, D.: On the location of palindromes in immunoglobulin genes. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 74, 2526–2530 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, 10461, Bronx, New York, USA

    Phillip. R. Musich, Fred L. Brown & Joseph J. Maio

Authors
  1. Phillip. R. Musich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fred L. Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joseph J. Maio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Musich, P.R., Brown, F.L. & Maio, J.J. Highly repetitive component α and related alphoid DNAs in man and monkeys. Chromosoma 80, 331–348 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292688

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292688

Keywords

Search

Navigation