Two gene families clustered in a small region of the Drosophila genome

Abstract

Three Drosophila genes that are clustered within 8 X 10(3) bases of DNA at the chromosomal region 44D have been identified and mapped, and the gene cluster entirely sequenced. The three genes are 55 to 60% homologous in DNA sequence. One gene contains an intron in its 5'-proximal protein coding sequence while the other two have none at this position; similarly, another gene has an intron in its 3'-proximal protein coding sequence which is not found in the other genes. All three genes are abundantly expressed together in Drosophila first, second, and early third instar larval stages and in adults, but they are not abundantly expressed in either embryonic, late third instar larval, or pupal stages. This gene family lies 11 X 10(3) bases away from another cluster containing four Drosophila larval cuticle protein genes plus a pseudogene. The cuticle genes are all abundantly expressed throughout third instar larval development. Thus, at least seven protein-coding genes and one pseudogene lie within 27 X 10(3) bases of DNA. Moreover, two small gene families can lie adjacent on a chromosome and exhibit different patterns of developmental regulation, even though individual genes within each clustered family are co-ordinately expressed.