Paternal imprint essential for the inheritance of telomere identity in Drosophila

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1016792108
• Publication Date: 2011-03-08T12:01:21Z
• Authors: Guanjun Gao; Yan Cheng; Natalia Wesolowska; Yikang S. Rong
• Keywords: Inheritance

Chromatin remodeling during sperm maturation could erase epigenetic landmarks on the paternal genome, creating a challenge for its reestablishment fertilization. Here, we show that selective retention of chromosomal protein in mature protects identity telomeres Drosophila . The ms(3)k81 ( k81 ) gene is duplication hiphop encodes telomeric protein. Although HipHop somatic cells, K81 produced exclusively males and localizes to postmitotic including sperm. In embryos fathered by mutants, maternal supplies fail reestablish protective cap telomeres, leading their fusions. These fusions hinder segregation genome result haploid with chromosomes. functional divergence between manifests not only expression patterns but also functions they encode. By swapping two coding regions, can replace protection; however, cannot germ line specify telomere identity, because ectopically expressed testis removed from chromatin maturation. lacks short motif essential survive process. We combined are likely fulfilled single ancestral locus other species, supporting hypothesis evolutionary process subfunctionalization was responsible preservation hiphop-k81 duplicate.