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Evolution and Biological Meaning of Genomic Wastelands (RCRO): Proposal of Hypothesis

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Post-Genome Biology of Primates

Part of the book series: Primatology Monographs ((PrimMono))

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Abstract

Differences of subterminal regions of chromosomes between humans and African apes have long been a matter of great interest in cytogenetics because of the absence and presence, respectively, of large heterochromatin blocks. I tried to dissect such mysterious heterochromatic blocks of African apes using molecular techniques. Thus far, four DNA components were found as elements constructing the subtelomeric heterochromatin (terminal retrotransposable compound repeated DNA organizations, RCROs). Of the four components, one (subterminal satellite, StSat) was localized by PRINS reaction on chromosomes of chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, siamang, and rhesus macaque. Here, I discuss hypothetical evolutionary aspects of the terminal RCROs, their intragenomic dispersion, and their biological meaning. These aspects will probably become important clues at the chromosomal level in post-genomic research to elucidate human evolution.

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Abbreviations

FISH:

Fluorescence in situ hybridization

GW:

Genomic wasteland

HERV:

Human endogenous retrovirus

PRINS:

Primed in situ

RCRO:

Retrotransposable compound repeated DNA organization

StSat:

Subterminal satellite

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Acknowledgments

Primate biomaterials were supplied from KUPRI, Japan; JMC, Japan; and Ouji Zoo, Japan, through the GAIN project; PSSP, IPB, Indonesia; and PBZT, Madagascar. I thank Dr. A Koga for his critical reading of the manuscript and valuable comments, and Dr. Elizabeth Nakajima for revision of the English. This research was supported in part by the Global COE Program (A06 to Kyoto University) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan and a grant of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (20405016, 22247037).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, 41-2 Kanrin, Inuyama, Aichi, 484-8506, Japan

    Hirohisa Hirai

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  1. Hirohisa Hirai
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Correspondence to Hirohisa Hirai .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kanrin 41-2, Inuyama, Aichi, 484-8506, Japan

    Hirohisa Hirai

  2. Department of Cellular and Molecular Bio., Inuyama, 484-8506, Japan

    Hiroo Imai

  3. Kyoto University, Primates Research Institute, Kanbayashi, Inuyama, 484-8506, Aichi, Japan

    Yasuhiro Go

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Hirai, H. (2012). Evolution and Biological Meaning of Genomic Wastelands (RCRO): Proposal of Hypothesis. In: Hirai, H., Imai, H., Go, Y. (eds) Post-Genome Biology of Primates. Primatology Monographs. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54011-3_15

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