The human Y chromosome, in the light of evolution

Lahn, Bruce T.; Pearson, Nathaniel M.; Jegalian, Karin

doi:10.1038/35056058

Cited by 191 publications

(141 citation statements)

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“…VCX/Y protein molecules are small size and high charge, which resembles those chromatin-associated proteins, such as histones or protamines, the latter mediate condensed DNA packaging in sperm. Because of the two features, VCX/Y proteins had been speculated as components of chromatin in previous study [2,3]. However, the results of immunohistochemistry and subcellular localization in COS7 cells drop another hint.…”

Section: Yeast Two-hybrid Screeningmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Expression and localization of VCX/Y proteins and their possible involvement in regulation of ribosome assembly during spermatogenesis

Zou

Zhang²,

Zhang

et al. 2003

Cell Res

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Variable Charge X/Y (VCX/Y) is a human testis-specific gene family that localized on X and Y chromosomes. In this study, VCY protein was expressed in E. coli in the form of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. With the purified fusion protein as antigen, the anti-GST-VCY antibody was generated and the localization of VCY protein in human testis was determined by immunohistochemistry. In the testis seminiferous epithelium, VCY proteins were highly expressed in nuclei of germ cells. Using propidium iodide staining and green fluorescent protein (GFP) tag technologies, VCY and VCX-8r proteins were mainly localized in the nucleoli of COS7 cells. In addition, the colocalization for VCY and VCX-8r in COS7 cells was also observed. With VCY cDNA as bait, a cDNA fragment of acidic ribosomal protein PO was obtained using yeast two-hybrid system. All the information above indicates that VCX/Y protein family might be involved in the regulation of ribosome assembly during spermatogenesis.

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Section: Yeast Two-hybrid Screeningmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…All these genes compose of a human sex-chromosomal gene family [2]. These genes are the only active human XY homologues that are both expressed exclusively in testis [3]. Expression analysis (Northern blots and RT-PCR) shows that all copies of VCX and VCY are transcribed exclusively in the testis and most likely in germ cells [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expression and localization of VCX/Y proteins and their possible involvement in regulation of ribosome assembly during spermatogenesis

Zou

Zhang²,

Zhang

et al. 2003

Cell Res

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“…By this type of process, a single locus takes control of sex determination, that is, derived states with a single sex-determining gene can evolve. Single locus sex determination, such as that of mammals, with a single Y-linked gene, SRY (Lahn et al, 2001), controlling sex, might also be able to evolve directly, but no detailed model has yet been worked out to show how this could occur.…”

Section: What Causes Suppressed Recombination?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is also well established that such nonrecombining Y or W chromosomes have lost many genes that are carried on the ancestrally homologous X or Z chromosomes (genetic degeneration; Bull, 1983;Charlesworth and Charlesworth, 2000). In mammals, only a few X-linked genes have homologues on the Y chromosome, and several Y-linked genes are known that do not have homology to X-linked genes and have presumably been translocated to the Y from elsewhere (Lahn et al, 2001); in D. melanogaster, all known Y-linked genes are in this latter category (Carvalho, 2002). The X and Y (or Z and W) chromosomes are often morphologically distinguishable (heteromorphic), with the Y or W being largely heterochromatic and containing a high proportion of repetitive DNA (Bull, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Steps in the evolution of heteromorphic sex chromosomes

2005

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We review some recently published results on sex chromosomes in a diversity of species. We focus on several fish and some plants whose sex chromosomes appear to be 'young', as only parts of the chromosome are nonrecombining, while the rest is pseudoautosomal. However, the age of these systems is not yet very clear. Even without knowing what proportions of their genes are genetically degenerate, these cases are of great interest, as they may offer opportunities to study in detail how sex chromosomes evolve. In particular, we review evidence that recombination suppression occurs progressively in evolutionarily independent cases, suggesting that selection drives loss of recombination over increasingly large regions. We discuss how selection during the period when a chromosome is adapting to its role as a Y chromosome might drive such a process.

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“…(1 -3) To account for its evolution, several alternative hypotheses have been proposed to explain the driving forces of degeneration of the Y chromosomes that can occur as recombination with the X chromosome is increasingly blocked. (1,2,(4)(5)(6)(7) This problem has been discussed extensively by population geneticists and was not included in this review.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Y chromosome as a target for acquired and amplified genetic material in evolution

2005

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SummaryThe special properties of the Y chromosome stem form the fact that it is a non-recombining degenerate derivative of the X chromosome. The absence of homologous recombination between the X and the Y chromosome leads to gradual degeneration of various Y chromosome genes on an evolutionary timescale. The absence of recombination, however, also favors the accumulation of transposable elements on the Y chromosome during its evolution, as seen with both Drosophila and mammalian Y chromosomes. Alongside these processes, the acquisition and amplification of autosomal male benefit genes occur. This review will focus on recent studies that reveal the autosome-acquired genes on the Y chromosome of both Drosophila and humans. The evolution of the acquired and amplified genes on the Y chromosome is also discussed. Molecular and comparative analyses of Y-linked repeats in the Drosophila melanogaster genome demonstrate that there was a period of their degeneration followed by a period of their integration into RNAi silencing, which was beneficial for male fertility. Finally, the function of non-coding RNA produced by amplified Y chromosome genetic elements will be discussed.

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The human Y chromosome, in the light of evolution

Cited by 191 publications

References 100 publications

Expression and localization of VCX/Y proteins and their possible involvement in regulation of ribosome assembly during spermatogenesis

Expression and localization of VCX/Y proteins and their possible involvement in regulation of ribosome assembly during spermatogenesis

Steps in the evolution of heteromorphic sex chromosomes

The Y chromosome as a target for acquired and amplified genetic material in evolution

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