Enriched G-quadruplexes on the Drosophila Male X Chromosome Function as Insulators of Dosage Compensation Complex

Qian, S.-H.; Chen, L.; Chen, Z.-X.

doi:10.1101/656538

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/656538

Enriched G-quadruplexes on the Drosophila Male X Chromosome Function as Insulators of Dosage Compensation Complex

Qian, S.-H.·Chen, L.·Chen, Z.-X.

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Abstract

The evolution of sex chromosomes has resulted in half X chromosome dosage in males as females. Dosage compensation, or the two-fold upregulation in males, was thus evolved to balance the gene expression between sexes. However, the step-wise evolutionary trajectory of dosage compensation during Y chromosome degeneration is still unclear. Here, we show that the specific structured elements G-quadruplexes (G4s) are enriched on the X chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster. Meanwhile, on the X chromosome, the G4s are underrepresented on the H4K16 acetylated regions and the binding sites of dosage compensation complex male-specific lethal (MSL) complex. Peaks of G4 density and potential are observed at the flanking regions of MSL binding sites, suggesting G4s act as insulators to precisely up-regulate certain regions in males. Thus, G4s may be involved in the evolution of dosage compensation process through fine-tuning one-dose proto-X chromosome regions around MSL binding sites during the gradual Y chromosome degeneration.\n\nOne Sentence SummaryG-quadruplexes act as insulators to precisely up-regulate X chromosome in males.

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Qian, S.-H., Chen, L., Chen, Z.-X.. 2019-06-02. Enriched G-quadruplexes on the Drosophila Male X Chromosome Function as Insulators of Dosage Compensation Complex. https://doi.org/10.1101/656538

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