Movement of Drosophila melanogaster transposable elements other than P elements in a P-M hybrid dysgenic cross

1987 ◽  
Vol 208 (3) ◽  
pp. 506-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan P. Lewis ◽  
John F. Y. Brookfield
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Transposable Elements ◽  
P Elements

Rapid spread of a P element/Adh gene construct through experimental populations of Drosophila melanogaster

Genome ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1169-1175 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Meister ◽  
T. A. Grigliatti
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Alcohol Dehydrogenase ◽  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Transposable Element ◽  
Dehydrogenase Activity ◽  
P Element ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Alcohol Dehydrogenase Activity ◽  
Adh Gene ◽  
Experimental Populations

Transposable elements may be potential tools for the dispersal of engineered DNA through target insect populations. The utility of this hypothesis is predicated on the ability of transposable elements carrying a large DNA insert to rapidly disperse through a population. In addition, the inserted DNA must be replicated with a high degree of fidelity during this dispersal. We have monitored the ability of a transposable element with an inserted gene to spread through experimental populations and tested whether the passenger gene retains its ability to encode an active protein. Several Drosophila melanogaster laboratory populations were initiated with female flies that were null for alcohol dehydrogenase activity and contained no P elements. Most of the females were mated to males of the same strain; however, 1 or 10% of the females were mated to males from a strain that had previously been transformed with a helper P element and a P element/Adh gene construct. The dispersal of P elements to new genomes was monitored at each generation by randomly selecting females and performing DNA hybridization assays on dissected ovarian tissue. In addition, each female was tested for alcohol dehydrogenase activity using a simple histochemical assay. We find that, despite an approximate threefold increase in size, the P element constructs containing a functioning gene are still capable of rapid dispersal through the experimental populations. We also show that many of the inserted Adh genes still encode an active product.Key words: P element, transformation, Adh, transposable element.

scholarly journals Detection of P element transcripts in embryos of Drosophila melanogaster and D. willistoni

2009 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 679-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica L. Blauth ◽  
Rafaela V. Bruno ◽  
Eliana Abdelhay ◽  
Elgion L.S. Loreto ◽  
Vera L.S. Valente
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Hybrid Dysgenesis ◽  
P Element ◽  
Antisense Transcripts ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Drosophila Willistoni ◽  
Original Host

The P element is one of the most thoroughly studied transposable elements (TE). Its mobilization causes the hybrid dysgenesis that was first described in Drosophila melanogaster. While studies of the P element have mainly been done in D. melanogaster, it is believed that Drosophila willistoni was the original host species of this TE and that P was transposed to the D. melanogaster genome by horizontal transfer. Our study sought to compare the transcriptional behavior of the P element in embryos of D. melanogaster, which is a recent host, with embryos of two strains of D. willistoni, a species that has contained the P element for a longer time. In both species, potential transcripts of transposase, the enzyme responsible for the TE mobilization, were detected, as were transcripts of the 66-kDa repressor, truncated and antisense sequences, which can have the ability to prevent TEs mobilization. The truncated transcripts reveal the truncated P elements present in the genome strains and whose number seems to be related to the invasion time of the genome by the TE. No qualitative differences in antisense transcripts were observed among the strains, even in the D. willistoni strain with the highest frequency of heterochromatic P elements.

scholarly journals Distribution and structure of cloned P elements from the Drosophila melanogaster P strain π2

1992 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin O'Hare ◽  
Alan Driver ◽  
Stephen McGrath ◽  
Dena M. Johnson-Schiltz
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Genomic Library ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
P Element ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Single Base ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Element Sequence

SummaryP transposable elements of Drosophila melanogaster cloned from the strong P strain π2 have been analysed. The structures and chromosomal locations of 26 of the 30–50 elements estimated to be present in π2 have been determined. At one location two elements are inserted 100 base pairs (bp) apart, and in a second location two elements are only separated by the 8 bp duplicated upon P-element insertion. In addition to 2.9 kilobasepair (kbp) elements, elements with 14 different internal deletions from 1.3 to 2.3 kbp in size have been isolated. There are 7 copies of the 2–9 kbp element, 2 copies each of 5 internally deleted elements and a single copy of 9 internally deleted elements. One of the elements found twice is the KP element, which may play a role in the regulation of hybrid dysgenesis in strains which contain many copies of this element. Apart from internal deletions the elements are extremely homogeneous in DNA sequence, with only 2 single base polymorphisms detected twice each in over 16 kbp of P-element sequence. Although transpositions are infrequent in an inbred P cytotype strain such as π2, the distribution of these cloned elements indicates that when the genomic library was made, the strain was polymorphic with respect to element location. The distribution and structures of the element are discussed with respect to models for regulation of P-element transposition.

Transposable elements and fitness in Drosophila melanogaster

Genome ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 284-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trudy F. C. Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Insertional Mutagenesis ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
P Element ◽  
Induced Mutations ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Genomic Locations

Transposable elements constitute a significant fraction of the Drosophila melanogaster genome. The five families of moderately repeated transposable elements identified to date occupy dispersed and variable genomic locations, but have relatively constant copy numbers per individual. What effect to these elements have on the fitness of the individuals harboring them? Experimental evidence relating to this question is reviewed. The relevant data fall into two broad categories. The first involves the determination of the distribution of transposable elements in natural populations, by restriction mapping or in situ hybridization, and the comparison of the observed distribution with different theoretical expectations. The second approach is to study directly the effects of new transposable element-induced mutations on fitness. The P family of transposable elements is a particularly efficient mutagen, and the results of experiments in which initially P-free chromosomes are contaminated with P elements are discussed with regard to P-induced fitness mutations.Key words: transposable elements, Drosophila melanogaster, insertional mutagenesis, fitness, P element mutagenesis, hybrid dysgenesis.

scholarly journals A hobo Transgene That Encodes the P-Element Transposase in Drosophila melanogaster: Autoregulation and Cytotype Control of Transposase Activity

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 161 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Simmons ◽  
Kevin J Haley ◽  
Craig D Grimes ◽  
John D Raymond ◽  
Jarad B Niemi
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Gonadal Dysgenesis ◽  
P Element ◽  
Hsp70 Gene ◽  
Alternate Splicing ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Male Germline ◽  
Female Germline ◽  
Transposase Expression

Abstract Drosophila were genetically transformed with a hobo transgene that contains a terminally truncated but otherwise complete P element fused to the promoter from the Drosophila hsp70 gene. Insertions of this H(hsp/CP) transgene on either of the major autosomes produced the P transposase in both the male and female germlines, but not in the soma. Heat-shock treatments significantly increased transposase activity in the female germline; in the male germline, these treatments had little effect. The transposase activity of two insertions of the H(hsp/CP) transgene was not significantly greater than their separate activities, and one insertion of this transgene reduced the transposase activity of P(ry+, Δ2-3)99B, a stable P transgene, in the germline as well as in the soma. These observations suggest that, through alternate splicing, the H(hsp/CP) transgene produces a repressor that feeds back negatively to regulate transposase expression or function in both the somatic and germline tissues. The H(hsp/CP) transgenes are able to induce gonadal dysgenesis when the transposase they encode has P-element targets to attack. However, this ability and the ability to induce P-element excisions are repressed by the P cytotype, a chromosomal/cytoplasmic state that regulates P elements in the germline.

scholarly journals The Regulatory Properties of Autonomous Subtelomeric P Elements Are Sensitive to a Suppressor of variegation in Drosophila melanogaster

Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 143 (4) ◽  
pp. 1663-1674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Ronsseray ◽  
Monique Lehmann ◽  
Danielle Nouaud ◽  
Dominique Anxolabéhère
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Genetic Recombination ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
P Element ◽  
Single Element ◽  
Heterochromatin Protein 1 ◽  
X Chromosomes ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Associated Sequences ◽  
Regulatory Properties

Abstract Genetic recombination was used in Drosophila melanogaster to isolate P elements, inserted at the telomeres of X chromosomes (cytological site 1A) from natural populations, in a genetic background devoid of other P elements. We show that complete maternally inherited P repression in the germline (P cytotype) can be elicited by only two autonomous P elements at 1A and that a single element at this site has partial regulatory properties. The analysis of the surrounding chromosomal regions of the P elements at 1A shows that in all cases these elements are flanked by Telomeric Associated Sequences, tandemly repetitive noncoding sequences that have properties of heterochromatin. In addition, we show that the regulatory properties of P elements at 1A can be inhibited by some of the mutant alleles of the Su(var)205 gene and by a deficiency of this gene. However, the regulatory properties of reference P strains (Harwich and Texas 007) are not impaired by Su(var)205 mutations. Su(var)205 encodes Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1). These results suggest that the HP1 dosage effect on the P element properties is sitedependent and could involve the structure of the chromatin.

scholarly journals hobo enhancer trapping mutagenesis in Drosophila reveals an insertion specificity different from P elements.

Genetics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
pp. 1063-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Smith ◽  
J Wohlgemuth ◽  
B R Calvi ◽  
I Franklin ◽  
W M Gelbart
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Transposable Element ◽  
Enhancer Trap ◽  
P Element ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Element Insertion ◽  
Enhancer Trapping ◽  
Indispensable Tool

Abstract P element enhancer trapping has become an indispensable tool in the analysis of the Drosophila melanogaster genome. However, there is great variation in the mutability of loci by these elements such that some loci are relatively refractory to insertion. We have developed the hobo transposable element for use in enhancer trapping and we describe the results of a hobo enhancer trap screen. In addition, we present evidence that a hobo enhancer trap element has a pattern of insertion into the genome that is different from the distribution of P elements in the available database. Hence, hobo insertion may facilitate access to genes resistant to P element insertion.

scholarly journals Chromosomal Distribution of Transposable Elements in Drosophila melanogaster Test of the Ectopic Recombination Model for Maintenance of Insertion Site Number

Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 144 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-204
Author(s):  
Christine Hoogland ◽  
Christian Biémont
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Dna Content ◽  
Recombination Rate ◽  
Alternative Hypothesis ◽  
Insertion Site ◽  
Polytene Chromosomes ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Site Number

Abstract Data of insertion site localization and site occupancy frequency of P, hobo, I, copia, mdg1, mdg3, 412, 297, and roo transposable elements (TEs) on the polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster were extracted from the literature. We show that TE insertion site number per chromosomal division was significantly correlated with the amount of DNA. The insertion site number weighted by DNA content was not correlated with recombination rate for all TEs except hobo, for which a positive correlation was detected. No global tendency emerged in the relationship between TE site occupancy frequency, weighted by DNA content, and recombination rate; a strong negative correlation was, however, found for the 3L arm. A possible dominant deleterious effect of chromosomal rearrangements due to recombination between TE insertions is thus not the main factor explaining the dynamics of TEs, since this hypothesis implies a negative relationship between recombination rate and both TE insertion site number and site occupancy frequency. The alternative hypothesis of selection against deleterious effects of insertional mutations is discussed.

scholarly journals A novel repressor of P element transposition in Drosophila melanogaster

1998 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICHARD M. BADGE ◽  
JOHN F. Y. BROOKFIELD
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Inbred Line ◽  
Gonadal Dysgenesis ◽  
Full Length ◽  
P Element ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
P Elements

We have discovered, in an inbred line (Loua) of Drosophila melanogaster from Zaïre, a third chromosome showing unusual P element repression. Repression of P element transposition by this chromosome, named Loua3, is dominant zygotic and has three unusual properties. Firstly, its repression of the gonadal dysgenesis caused by a strong P haplotype is strongly temperature-dependent, being most evident at higher rearing temperatures. Secondly, subdivision of Loua3 by recombination abolishes repression: the effect is apparently a function of the intact chromosome. Finally, Loua3 also diminishes somatic lethality when chromosomes carrying many ‘ammunition’ elements (Birmingham2) are exposed to the constitutive transposase source Δ2-3(99B). The chromosome has 17 P elements, none full-length, located in at least 12 dispersed positions.

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