Evolutionary characterization of a Y chromosomal sequence conserved in the genusMus

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Abstract
Summary: The extent of accumulation of mouseYchromosomal repetitive sequences generally correlates with the known phylogenetic relationships in the genusMus. However, we describe here aM. musculus Ychromosomal repetitive sequence, designated as ACClfl, whose accumulation patterns among eightMusspecies do not correspond to their phylogenetic relationships. Although male-specific hybridization bands were present in all the species examined, significant accumulation (> 200 copies) in theYchromosomes was found inM. minutoides(subgenusNannomys),M. pahari(subgenusCoelomys) andM. saxicola(subgenusPyromys) as well as in the three closely related speciesM. hortulanus, M. musculusandM. spretusthat belong to the subgenusMus. Unexpectedly, theYchromosomes ofM. caroliandM. cookii(both subgenusMus) had considerably reduced amounts of ACClfl-related sequences. Furthermore, in rats (Rattus norvegicus) the major accumulation sites appear to be autosomal. These observations suggest that caution must be taken in the interpretation of data obtained with repetitive sequences that have evolved quickly.