The Green Valley of Drosophila  melanogaster Constitutive Heterochromatin: Protein-Coding Genes Involved in Cell Division Control

Cells. 2022 Sep 29;11(19):3058. doi: 10.3390/cells11193058.

Abstract

Constitutive heterochromatin represents a significant fraction of eukaryotic genomes (10% in Arabidopsis, 20% in humans, 30% in D. melanogaster, and up to 85% in certain nematodes) and shares similar genetic and molecular properties in animal and plant species. Studies conducted over the last few years on D. melanogaster and other organisms led to the discovery of several functions associated with constitutive heterochromatin. This made it possible to revise the concept that this ubiquitous genomic territory is incompatible with gene expression. The aim of this review is to focus the attention on a group of protein-coding genes resident in D. melanogaster constitutive of heterochromatin, which are implicated in different steps of cell division.

Keywords: cell division; constitutive heterochromatin; drosophila; heterochromatic genes; mitotic apparatus.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Division / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster* / genetics
  • Genome
  • Heterochromatin* / genetics
  • Humans

Substances

  • Heterochromatin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the University of Bari, Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo #00869718Ricat (R.M.M.) and Sapienza University of Rome, Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo #RM120172B851A176 (P.D.).