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Related Concept Videos

Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3 variants are also...
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Centrosome Duplication

The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
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Centrosome Duplication02:25

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The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
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Polytene Chromosomes02:04

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Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...
Position-effect Variegation02:32

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In 1928, a German botanist Emil Heitz observed the moss nuclei with a DNA binding dye. He observed that while some chromatin regions decondense and spread out in the interphase nucleus, others do not. He termed them euchromatin and heterochromatin, respectively. He proposed that the heterochromatin regions reflect a functionally inactive state of the genome. It was later confirmed that heterochromatin is transcriptionally repressed, and euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.
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The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
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Imaging Centrosomes in Fly Testes
09:41

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Published on: September 20, 2013

Stepwise evolution of essential centromere function in a Drosophila neogene.

Benjamin D Ross1, Leah Rosin, Andreas W Thomae

  • 1Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 8, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Newly evolved genes can rapidly gain essential functions, like the Drosophila Umbrea gene in chromosome segregation. This study reveals how Umbrea’s protein network rewiring and centromere localization enabled its crucial role.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Cell biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Evolutionarily young genes with essential functions present a paradox.
  • Understanding how these genes acquire critical roles is largely unknown.
  • The gene Umbrea in Drosophila melanogaster is an example of a young gene with an essential function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To trace the evolutionary path of the Drosophila gene Umbrea.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which Umbrea acquired its essential function in chromosome segregation.
  • To provide temporal and mechanistic insights into young gene neofunctionalization.

Main Methods:

  • Evolutionary cell biology approach.
  • Tracing gene evolution in Drosophila melanogaster.
  • Analyzing protein interaction networks and subcellular localization.

Main Results:

  • The Drosophila gene Umbrea acquired essential chromosome segregation function less than 15 million years ago.
  • Neofunctionalization involved loss of a heterochromatin-localizing domain.
  • Alterations rewired Umbrea's protein interactions, leading to species-specific centromere localization.

Conclusions:

  • Young genes can rapidly acquire essential functions through specific evolutionary steps.
  • Umbrea's case demonstrates a mechanism for neofunctionalization involving protein network rewiring and localization changes.
  • Such evolutionary innovations may continuously shape the eukaryotic centromeric protein repertoire.