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Satellite DNA
About: Satellite DNA is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2071 publications have been published within this topic receiving 91198 citations.
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TL;DR: A probe based on a tandem-repeat of the core sequence can detect many highly variable loci simultaneously and can provide an individual-specific DNA ‘fingerprint’ of general use in human genetic analysis.
Abstract: The human genome contains many dispersed tandem-repetitive 'minisatellite' regions detected via a shared 10-15-base pair 'core' sequence similar to the generalized recombination signal (chi) of Escherichia coli. Many minisatellites are highly polymorphic due to allelic variation in repeat copy number in the minisatellite. A probe based on a tandem-repeat of the core sequence can detect many highly variable loci simultaneously and can provide an individual-specific DNA 'fingerprint' of general use in human genetic analysis.
3,552 citations
TL;DR: Features of the organization of repetitive sequences in eukaryotic genomes, and their distribution in natural populations, reflect the evolutionary forces acting on selfish DNA.
Abstract: Repetitive DNA sequences form a large portion of the genomes of eukaryotes. The 'selfish DNA' hypothesis proposes that they are maintained by their ability to replicate within the genome. The behaviour of repetitive sequences can result in mutations that cause genetic diseases, and confer significant fitness losses on the organism. Features of the organization of repetitive sequences in eukaryotic genomes, and their distribution in natural populations, reflect the evolutionary forces acting on selfish DNA.
1,549 citations
TL;DR: The high frequency of cancer-linked DNA hypomethylation, the nature of the affected sequences, and the absence of associations with DNA hypermethylation are consistent with an independent role for DNA undermethylation in cancer formation or tumor progression.
Abstract: Cancer-associated DNA hypomethylation is as prevalent as cancer-linked hypermethylation, but these two types of epigenetic abnormalities usually seem to affect different DNA sequences. Much more of the genome is generally subject to undermethylation rather than overmethylation. Genomic hypermethylation in cancer has been observed most often in CpG islands in gene regions. In contrast, very frequent hypomethylation is seen in both highly and moderately repeated DNA sequences in cancer, including heterochromatic DNA repeats, dispersed retrotransposons, and endogenous retroviral elements. Also, unique sequences, including transcription control sequences, are often subject to cancer-associated undermethylation. The high frequency of cancer-linked DNA hypomethylation, the nature of the affected sequences, and the absence of associations with DNA hypermethylation are consistent with an independent role for DNA undermethylation in cancer formation or tumor progression. Increased karyotypic instability and activation of tumor-promoting genes by cis or trans effects, that might include altered heterochromatin-euchromatin interactions, may be important consequences of DNA hypomethylation which favor oncogenesis. The relationship of DNA hypomethylation to tumorigenesis is important to be considered in the light of cancer therapies involving decreasing DNA methylation. Inducing DNA hypomethylation may have short-term anticancer effects, but might also help speed tumor progression from cancer cells surviving the DNA demethylation chemotherapy.
1,496 citations
TL;DR: It seems probable, therefore, that the darker staining with Giemsa of these regions, after denaturation and annealing, indicates the presence of highly repetitive DNA.
Abstract: A GIEMSA staining procedure that preferentially stains centromeric heterochromatin in mouse chromosomes has been described1. This specificity was observed when fixed preparations were treated with sodium hydroxide to denature the DNA, and then incubated in warm saline to allow annealing, in the presence of 3H-labelled single stranded satellite DNA or its complementary RNA. In this way mouse satellite DNA was located in the centromeric heterochromatin1,2. It is known to consist of highly repetitive sequences3 and to anneal much more rapidly than non-repetitive DNA4. It seems probable, therefore, that the darker staining with Giemsa of these regions, after denaturation and annealing, indicates the presence of highly repetitive DNA.
1,140 citations
TL;DR: Hybridization of radioactive nucleic acids with the DNA of cytological preparations shows that the sequences of mouse satellite DNA are located in the centromeric heterochromatin of the mouse chromosomes.
Abstract: Hybridization of radioactive nucleic acids with the DNA of cytological preparations shows that the sequences of mouse satellite DNA are located in the centromeric heterochromatin of the mouse chromosomes. Other types of heterochromatin in the cytological preparations do not contain satellite DNA.
1,055 citations