The organization of genomes in higher organisms has been studied extensively in recent years. With current achievements in gene engineering, it seems quite realistic that they will be specifically modified in the nearest future to produce new, economi cally valuable forms of animals and plants. The success of these experiments will depend greatly on the level of our knowledge of the structural features of plant and animal DNAs. Comparative studies of DNA from different organisms began with discovery of its genetic significance in the late 1950's. A few years later it was found that nuclear DNA, the main storage of genetic information,~an consist of several fractions differ ing in some physical and chemical properties. Along with the "major" DNA, bearing the main load during the genotype functioning, the so-called satellite DNAs were discovered. T. G. Beridze, the author of this book, is one of the pioneers in the study of these extraordinary DNAs. The results of his experiments with plant satellite DNAs have essentially influenced the formation of our current ideas on their structure and prop erties.
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ISBN-13
978-3-642-70771-1 (9783642707711)
DOI
10.1007/978-3-642-70771-1
Schweitzer Klassifikation
1 Detection of Satellite DNAs.- 2 Evolution of the Term "Satellite DNA".- 2.1 Intracellular Localization of stDNAs.- 2.2 Kinetic Satellites.- 2.3 Hidden stDNAs; Twin Satellites.- 2.4 Conditions Requisite for stDNA Detection by Gradient Technique.- 2.5 Contemporary Interpretation of the Term "Satellite DNA".- 3 Distribution.- 4 Reassociation Kinetics.- 5 Chromosomal Location.- 6 Structural Features.- 6.1 Protozoa.- 6.2 Arthropods.- 6.3 Amphibians.- 6.4 Mammals.- 6.5 Primates.- 6.6 Plant stDNA.- 7 Structure of stDNA-Containing Chromatin.- 7.1 Isolation of Satellite Chromatin.- 7.2 Reasons for the Compactness of Satellite Chromatin.- 7.3 Chromatin of the African Green Monkey.- 7.4 Drosophila Chromatin.- 7.5 Mouse Chromatin.- 7.6 Rat Chromatin.- 7.7 Bovine Chromatin.- 7.8 Specific Binding of stDNA with Microtubular Proteins.- 8 What Unites stDNAs?.- 8.1 Specific Conformation?.- 8.2 Length of the Repeating Unit?.- 8.3 Base Sequence?.- 8.4 5-methylcytosine?.- 8.5 Concluding Remarks.- 9 Origin.- 9.1 Saltatory Replication.- 9.2 Unequal Crossing-Over.- 9.3 Two-Step Mechanism Formation.- 10 Functional Role.- 10.1 StDNA Transcription.- 10.2 Role of stDNA in Somatic Cells.- 10.3 Hypotheses on the Functional Role of stDNA.- References.
