scholarly journals Targeted transposition at the vestigial locus of Drosophila melanogaster.

Genetics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 1127-1135
Author(s):  
T R Heslip ◽  
R B Hodgetts
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Position Effect ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Current Method ◽  
P Element ◽  
Opposite Orientation ◽  
Position Effects ◽  
P Elements ◽  
In Trans ◽  
In Cis

Abstract Targeted transposition is the replacement of one P element with another. We are exploiting this unique property of P elements to study the complex regulatory domain of the Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) gene in Drosophila melanogaster. P element constructs targeted to the same site in the genome will be subjected to the same position effect. This allows the subtle effects typical of most mutations in the Ddc regulatory region to be measured in the absence of the variable influences of position effects which are associated with the current method of germline transformation. We have investigated some of the parameters affecting targeted transposition of a Ddc transposon, P[Ddc], into a P element allele at the vestigial locus. These events were detected by an increased mutant vg phenotype. The location of the donor transposon in cis or in trans to the target had little effect on the frequency of targeting. Likewise, the mobility of different donor elements, as measured by their rate of transposition to a different chromosome, varied nearly 20-fold, while the rate of targeted transposition was very similar between them. All targeted alleles were precise replacements of the target P element by P[Ddc], but in several cases the donor was inserted in the opposite orientation. The targeted alleles could be described as the result of a replicative, conversion-like event.

The Effect of Heterologous Insertions on Gene Conversion in Mitotically Dividing Cells in Drosophila melanogaster

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 161 (1) ◽  
pp. 249-258
Author(s):  
Angela M Coveny ◽  
Tammy Dray ◽  
Gregory B Gloor
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Gene Conversion ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
Double Strand Break ◽  
P Element ◽  
Double Strand Break Repair ◽  
Break Site ◽  
In Trans ◽  
Break Repair ◽  
In Cis

Abstract We examined the influence that heterologous sequences of different sizes have on the frequency of double-strand-break repair by gene conversion in Drosophila melanogaster. We induced a double-strand break on one X chromosome in female flies by P-element excision. These flies contained heterologous insertions of various sizes located 238 bp from the break site in cis or in trans to the break, or both. We observed a significant decrease in double-strand-break repair with large heterologous insertions located either in cis or in trans to the break. Reestablishing the homology by including the same heterologous sequence in cis and in trans to the double-strand break restored the frequency of gene conversion to wild-type levels. In one instance, an allelic nonhomologous insertion completely abolished repair by homologous recombination. The results show that the repair of a double-strand break by gene conversion requires chromosome pairing in the local region of the double-strand break.

Mutations in ash1 and trx enhance P-element-dependent silencing in Drosophila melanogaster

Genome ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 527-540
Author(s):  
Allen McCracken ◽  
John Locke
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Spontaneous Mutation ◽  
Position Effect ◽  
P Element ◽  
Position Effect Variegation ◽  
Genetic Modifiers ◽  
Gypsy Element ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Opposite Action ◽  
Dose Dependent

In Drosophila melanogaster, the mini-w+ transgene in Pci is normally expressed throughout the adult eye; however, when other P or KP elements are present, a variegated-eye phenotype results, indicating random w+ silencing during development called P-element-dependent silencing (PDS). Mutant Su(var)205 and Su(var)3-7 alleles act as haplo-suppressors/triplo-enhancers of this variegated phenotype, indicating that these heterochromatic modifiers act dose dependently in PDS. Previously, we recovered a spontaneous mutation of P{lacW}ciDplac called P{lacW}ciDplacE1 (E1) that variegated in the absence of P elements, presumably due to the insertion of an adjacent gypsy element. From a screen for genetic modifiers of E1 variegation, we describe here the isolation of five mutations in ash1 and three in trx that enhance the E1 variegated phenotype in a dose-dependent and cumulative manner. These mutant alleles enhance PDS at E1, and in E1/P{lacW}ciDplac, but suppress position effect variegation (PEV) at In(1)wm4. This opposite action is consistent with a model where ASH1 and TRX mark transcriptionally active chromatin domains. If ASH1 or TRX function is lost or reduced, heterochromatin can spread into these domains creating a sink that diverts heterochromatic proteins from other variegating locations, which then may express a suppressed phenotype.

scholarly journals Unusual properties of regulatory DNA from the Drosophila engrailed gene: three "pairing-sensitive" sites within a 1.6-kb region.

Genetics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 1025-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Kassis
Keyword(s):  
Marker Gene ◽  
P Element ◽  
Drosophila Genome ◽  
Trithorax Group ◽  
Eye Color ◽  
P Elements ◽  
In Trans ◽  
Insertion Sites ◽  
Regulatory Dna ◽  
In Cis

Abstract We have previously shown that a 2-kb fragment of engrailed DNA can suppress expression of a linked marker gene, white, in the P element vector CaSpeR. This suppression is dependent on the presence of two copies of engrailed DNA-containing P elements (P[en]) in proximity in the Drosophila genome (either in cis or in trans). In this study, the 2-kb fragment was dissected and found to contain three fragments of DNA which could mediate white suppression [called "pairing-sensitive sites" (PS)]. A PS site was also identified in regulatory DNA from the Drosophila escargot gene. The eye colors of six different P[en] insertions in the escargot gene suggest an interaction between P[en]-encoded and genome-encoded PS sites. I hypothesize that white gene expression from P[en] is repressed by the formation of a protein complex which is initiated at the engrailed PS sites and also requires interactions with flanking genomic DNA. Genes were sought which influence the function of PS sites. Mutations in some Polycomb and trithorax group genes were found to affect the eye color from some P[en] insertion sites. However, different mutations affected expression from different P[en] insertion sites and no one mutation was found to affect expression from all P[en] insertion sites examined. These results suggest that white expression from P[en] is not directly regulated by members of the Polycomb and trithorax group genes, but in some cases can be influenced by them. I propose that engrailed PS sites normally act to promote interactions between distantly located engrailed regulatory sites and the engrailed promoter.

scholarly journals P-element-induced interallelic gene conversion of insertions and deletions in Drosophila melanogaster.

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 7006-7018 ◽  
Author(s):  
D M Johnson-Schlitz ◽  
W R Engels
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Gene Replacement ◽  
P Element ◽  
Element Mobility ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Insertions And Deletions ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
White Locus ◽  
In Cis ◽  
P Transposon

We studied the process by which whd, a P-element insertion allele of the Drosophila melanogaster white locus, is replaced by its homolog in the presence of transposase. These events are interpreted as the result of double-strand gap repair following excision of the P transposon in whd. We used a series of alleles derived from whd through P-element mobility as templates for this repair. One group of alleles, referred to collectively as whd-F, carried fragments of the P element that had lost some of the sequences needed in cis for mobility. The other group, whd-D, had lost all of the P insert and had some of the flanking DNA from white deleted. The average replacement frequencies were 43% for whd-F alleles and 7% for the whd-D alleles. Some of the former were converted at frequencies exceeding 50%. Our data suggest that the high conversion frequencies for the whd-F templates can be attributed at least in part to an elevated efficiency of repair of unexpanded gaps that is possibly caused by the closer match between whd-F sequences and the unexpanded gap endpoints. In addition, we found that the gene substitutions were almost exclusively in the direction of whd being replaced by the whd-F or whd-D allele rather than the reverse. The template alleles were usually unaltered in the process. This asymmetry implies that the conversion process is unidirectional and that the P fragments are not good substrates for P-element transposase. Our results help elucidate a highly efficient double-strand gap repair mechanism in D. melanogaster that can also be used for gene replacement procedures involving insertions and deletions. They also help explain the rapid spread of P elements in populations.

scholarly journals Cytotype control of Drosophila melanogaster P element transposition: genomic position determines maternal repression.

Genetics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 785-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Misra ◽  
R M Buratowski ◽  
T Ohkawa ◽  
D C Rio
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Maternal Effect ◽  
Maternal Inheritance ◽  
Position Effect ◽  
P Element ◽  
Regulatory State ◽  
Repressor Protein ◽  
Genomic Position ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Repressor Element

Abstract P element transposition in Drosophila is controlled by the cytotype regulatory state: in P cytotype, transposition is repressed, whereas in M cytotype, transposition can occur. P cytotype is determined by a combination of maternally inherited factors and chromosomal P elements in the zygote. Transformant strains containing single elements that encoded the 66-kD P element protein zygotically repressed transposition, but did not display the maternal repression characteristic of P cytotype. Upon mobilization to new genomic positions, some of these repressor elements showed significant maternal repression of transposition in genetic assays, involving a true maternal effect. Thus, the genomic position of repressor elements can determine the maternal vs. zygotic inheritance of P cytotype. Immunoblotting experiments indicate that this genomic position effect does not operate solely by controlling the expression level of the 66-kD repressor protein during oogenesis. Likewise, P element derivatives containing the hsp26 maternal regulator sequence expressed high levels of the 66-kD protein during oogenesis, but showed no detectable maternal repression. These data suggest that the location of a repressor element in the genome may determine maternal inheritance of P cytotype by a mechanism involving more than the overall level of expression of the 66-kD protein in the ovary.

scholarly journals THE UNDERLYING BASES OF GENE EXPRESSION DIFFERENCES IN STABLE TRANSFORMANTS OF THE ROSY LOCUS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Genetics ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-285
Author(s):  
Stephen B Daniels ◽  
Margaret McCarron ◽  
Carol Love ◽  
Stephen H Clark ◽  
Arthur Chovnick
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Experimental System ◽  
P Element ◽  
Breeding Line ◽  
Position Effects ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Stable Transformants ◽  
True Breeding

ABSTRACT This report represents a continuation of our laboratory's effort to understand the major phenomena associated with P-M dysgenesis-mediated transformation in Drosophila. A group of stable transformants are characterized with respect to rosy gene expression. Stable, true-breeding, line-specific variants in gene expression are described. These are shown to be associated with single transposons present in each line, and the lines are free of functional P elements. The effects on expression are cis-acting, and there are no identifiable rosy DNA sequence lesions associated with these transposons. Evidence is presented that demonstrates that two features of the transformation experimental system are responsible for such variation. The first relates to the fact that the transposons insert at numerous genomic sites. Both heterochromatic and euchromatic position effects are characterized. The second relates to the fact that transformation involves dysgenic mobilization of a P-element transposon. This process is mutagenic, and such a mutation is characterized.

P-element-induced interallelic gene conversion of insertions and deletions in Drosophila melanogaster

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 7006-7018
Author(s):  
D M Johnson-Schlitz ◽  
W R Engels
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Gene Replacement ◽  
P Element ◽  
Element Mobility ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Insertions And Deletions ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
White Locus ◽  
In Cis ◽  
P Transposon

We studied the process by which whd, a P-element insertion allele of the Drosophila melanogaster white locus, is replaced by its homolog in the presence of transposase. These events are interpreted as the result of double-strand gap repair following excision of the P transposon in whd. We used a series of alleles derived from whd through P-element mobility as templates for this repair. One group of alleles, referred to collectively as whd-F, carried fragments of the P element that had lost some of the sequences needed in cis for mobility. The other group, whd-D, had lost all of the P insert and had some of the flanking DNA from white deleted. The average replacement frequencies were 43% for whd-F alleles and 7% for the whd-D alleles. Some of the former were converted at frequencies exceeding 50%. Our data suggest that the high conversion frequencies for the whd-F templates can be attributed at least in part to an elevated efficiency of repair of unexpanded gaps that is possibly caused by the closer match between whd-F sequences and the unexpanded gap endpoints. In addition, we found that the gene substitutions were almost exclusively in the direction of whd being replaced by the whd-F or whd-D allele rather than the reverse. The template alleles were usually unaltered in the process. This asymmetry implies that the conversion process is unidirectional and that the P fragments are not good substrates for P-element transposase. Our results help elucidate a highly efficient double-strand gap repair mechanism in D. melanogaster that can also be used for gene replacement procedures involving insertions and deletions. They also help explain the rapid spread of P elements in populations.

scholarly journals P-element-induced male recombination can be produced in Drosophila melanogaster by combining end-deficient elements in trans.

Genetics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 139 (4) ◽  
pp. 1601-1610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y H Svoboda ◽  
M K Robson ◽  
J A Sved
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
P Element ◽  
Male Recombination ◽  
P Elements ◽  
In Trans

Abstract Male recombination, not normally present in Drosophila melanogaster, can be produced at high rates when target P elements at homologous sites are combined in the presence of transposase protein. We have produced a set of elements by in situ deletion of a particular insertion and have found elements that have deletions stretching into either end. Elements were tested in pairs to see whether they complement each other in their ability to induce recombination. The combination of elements that are deficient for the same end produces very little recombination, but the combination of a right-end and a left-end element can generate recombination values higher than given by two complete P[CaSpeR] elements at homologous sites. This strongly suggests that "hybrid" P elements, containing ends from two different elements, can be recognized by transposase protein. We have also examined genotypes containing a normal and an end-deficient element and found that they yield reasonably high levels of recombination. We interpret the resultant gametes from such genotypes as showing that the majority of events in this genotype derive from the association of complementary ends from the same element, whereas the complementary ends from elements in trans associate in only a minority of cases.

scholarly journals P-Element Repression in Drosophila melanogaster by Variegating Clusters of P-lacZ-white Transgenes

Genetics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 159 (4) ◽  
pp. 1631-1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Ronsseray ◽  
Antoine Boivin ◽  
Dominique Anxolabéhère
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Maternal Effect ◽  
P Element ◽  
Lacz Reporter ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Subtelomeric Heterochromatin ◽  
P Elements ◽  
In Trans ◽  
Element Activity

Abstract In Drosophila, clusters of P transgenes (P-lac-w) display a variegating phenotype for the w marker. In addition, X-ray-induced rearrangements of chromosomes bearing such clusters may lead to enhancement of the variegated phenotype. Since P-lacZ transgenes in subtelomeric heterochromatin have some P-element repression abilities, we tested whether P-lac-w clusters also have the capacity to repress P-element activity in the germline. One cluster (T-1), located on a rearranged chromosome (T2;3) and derived from a line bearing a variegating tandem array of seven P-lac-w elements, partially represses the dysgenic sterility (GD sterility) induced by P elements. This cluster also strongly represses in trans the expression of P-lacZ elements in the germline. This latter suppression shows a maternal effect. Finally, the combination of variegating P-lac-w clusters and a single P-lacZ reporter inserted in subtelomeric heterochromatic sequences at the X chromosome telomere (cytological site 1A) leads to strong repression of dysgenic sterility. These results show that repression of P-induced dysgenic sterility can be elicited in the absence of P elements encoding a polypeptide repressor and that a transgene cluster can repress the expression of a single homologous transgene at a nonallelic position. Implications for models of transposable element silencing are discussed.

scholarly journals A novel transvection phenomenon affecting the white gene of Drosophila melanogaster.

Genetics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-176
Author(s):  
D Gubb ◽  
M Ashburner ◽  
J Roote ◽  
T Davis
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Homologous Chromosome ◽  
Tandem Duplication ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Insertion Site ◽  
Hairpin Loop ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Inverted Order ◽  
In Trans ◽  
In Cis

Abstract The zeste mutation of Drosophila melanogaster suppresses the expression of white genes in the eye. This suppression is normally dependent on there being two copies of w+ located close to each other in the genome--they may either be in cis (as in a tandem duplication of w+) or in trans, i.e. on homologous chromosomes. Duplicated w+ genes carried by a giant transposing element, TE146(Z), are suppressed by z whether they are in direct (tandem) or inverted order. The tandem form of the TE is very sensitive to a rearrangement on the homologous chromosome--many rearrangements with breakpoints "opposite" the TE's insertion site prevent the interaction between the white genes on a z background. These aberrations act as dominant suppressors of zeste that are specific to the tandemly duplicated form of TE146(Z). The inverted form of the TE146(Z) presumably pairs as a hairpin loop; this is more stable than the tandem form by the criterion that its zeste phenotype is unaffected by any of the aberrations. This effect of rearrangements has been used as the basis for a screen, gamma-ray induced aberrations with at least one breakpoint opposite the TE site were recovered by their suppression of the zeste phenotype.

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