The cytogenetic boundaries of the rDNA region within heterochromatin of the X chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster and their relation to male meiotic pairing sites

Abstract

The proximal breakpoints of the inversion chromosomes In(1)ωm4 and In(1)m51b were shown, by in situ hybridization, to define the boundaries of the ribosomal DNA region located within the X chromosome heterochromatin (Xh). We estimate that at least 95% of the rDNA is located between the In(1)ωm4 and In(1)ωm51b proximal breakpoints. In contrast only 60–70% of the Type I intervening sequences located in Xh are located between these breakpoints. The Type I intervening sequences in the rDNA region occur as inserts in the 28S rRNA sequences while the remainder of the sequences are distal to the In(1)ωm4 breakpoint and not associated with rRNA genes. The regions of Xh which contain rDNA and Type I intervening sequences were related to regions shown by Cooper (1964) to contribute to meiotic pairing between the X and Y chromosomes in male Drosophila. We demonstrate that the rRNA coding region contributes to X/Y pairing. However, no single region of Xh is required for fidelity of male meiotic pairing of the sex chromosomes. © 1982, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.