A family of three related satellite DNAs in Drosophila virilis

Isolated single DNA strands of satellites II or III of Drosophila virilis form hybrid duplexes with the complementary single strands of satellite I. The hybrids denature at a higher temperature than controls, renature rapidly, and form bands of hybrid density in neutral CsCl. Isolated single strands of satellite II do not form clear-cut duplexes with the complementary strands of satellite III. Mixtures of satellites II and III denature at the same temperature as controls, and do not form bands in neutral CsCl. Therefore, satellite I-II and I-III complexes are extensively base paired, while satellite II-III complexes are minimally base paired. These experiments demonstrate partial homology among the three satellites, and suggest an evolutionary relationship among them. They also suggest that satellites and other repeated sequences from related species, which do not form hybrids in vitro, could have a common evolutionary origin, but have accumulated enough base substitutions to lose interspecific homology demonstrable by hybrid duplex formation.