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. 1990 Dec;87(24):9923–9927. doi: 10.1073/pnas.87.24.9923

Mutation in a heterochromatin-specific chromosomal protein is associated with suppression of position-effect variegation in Drosophila melanogaster.

J C Eissenberg 1, T C James 1, D M Foster-Hartnett 1, T Hartnett 1, V Ngan 1, S C Elgin 1
PMCID: PMC55286  PMID: 2124708

Abstract

We report here that a point mutation in the gene which encodes the heterochromatin-specific nonhistone chromosomal protein HP-1 in Drosophila melanogaster is associated with dominant suppression of position-effect variegation. The mutation, a G-to-A transition at the first nucleotide of the last intron, causes missplicing of the HP-1 mRNA. This suggests that heterochromatin-specific proteins play a central role in the gene suppression associated with heterochromatic position effects.

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Selected References

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