The human sex chromosomes have evolved a complex genomic architecture consisting of a plethora of highly homogenous palindromic sequences harboring testis expressed genes. The high level of nucleotide sequence identity between palindrome arms is believed to be the result of palindrome arm-to-arm recombination. Recombination between Y-specific palindrome arms can cause large deletions of critical testis genes resulting in male infertility. The recent mouse sex chromosome sequences reveal that they also contain large palindromes, thus, providing an excellent model system to study sex chromosome palindromes.
Aims 1 +2 investigates whether arm-to-arm recombination, also known as gene conversion, is acting on the mouse Y-specific palindromes. Detection of gene conversion within the mouse Y-palindromes would explain the high levels of nucleotide sequence identity between palindrome arms.
Aim 3 examines the expression patterns of mouse sex chromosome palindrome associated genes to elucidate palindromes functions during spermatogenesis. Characterization of sex-chromosome palindromes and their associated genes will be of relevance to understanding the mechanisms of gene conversion and male fertility. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32HD052379-02
Application #
7278768
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F08-G (20))
Program Officer
Taymans, Susan
Project Start
2006-07-01
Project End
2009-06-30
Budget Start
2007-07-01
Budget End
2008-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$46,826
Indirect Cost
Name
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
120989983
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02142
Mueller, Jacob L; Mahadevaiah, Shantha K; Park, Peter J et al. (2008) The mouse X chromosome is enriched for multicopy testis genes showing postmeiotic expression. Nat Genet 40:794-9