TY - JOUR
T1 - Testing transposable elements as genetic drive mechanisms using Drosophila P element constructs as a model system
AU - Carareto, Claudia M.A.
AU - Kim, Wook
AU - Wojciechowski, Martin F.
AU - O'Grady, Patrick
AU - Prokchorova, Alla V.
AU - Silva, Joana C.
AU - Kidwell, Margaret G.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by grants to Margaret G. Kidwell from the World Bank/UNDP/WHO Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, and the John T. and Catherine D. MacArthur Foundation, by a Fellowship from FAPESP (Fundac¸ão de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) to Clau-dia M. A. Carareto, by a fellowship from the Robert S. Flinn Foundation to Patrick O’Grady, and by a fellowship from JNICT (Junta Nacional de Investigac¸ão Cientifica e Tecnologica) to Joana C. Silva.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - The use of transposable elements (TEs) as genetic drive mechanisms was explored using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system. Alternative strategies, employing autonomous and nonautonomous P element constructs were compared for their efficiency in driving the ry+ allele into populations homozygous for a ry- allele at the genomic rosy locus. Transformed flies were introduced at 1%, 5%, and 10% starting frequencies to establish a series of populations that were monitored over the course of 40 generations, using both phenotypic and molecular assays. The transposon-borne ry+ marker allele spread rapidly in almost all populations when introduced at 5% and 10% seed frequencies, but 1% introductions frequently failed to become established. A similar initial rapid increase in frequency of the ry+ transposon occurred in several control populations lacking a source of transposase. Constructs carrying ry+ markers also increased to moderate frequencies in the absence of selection on the marker. The results of Southern and in situ hybridization studies indicated a strong inverse relationship between the degree of conservation of construct integrity and transposition frequency. These finding have relevance to possible future applications of transposons as genetic drive mechanisms.
AB - The use of transposable elements (TEs) as genetic drive mechanisms was explored using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system. Alternative strategies, employing autonomous and nonautonomous P element constructs were compared for their efficiency in driving the ry+ allele into populations homozygous for a ry- allele at the genomic rosy locus. Transformed flies were introduced at 1%, 5%, and 10% starting frequencies to establish a series of populations that were monitored over the course of 40 generations, using both phenotypic and molecular assays. The transposon-borne ry+ marker allele spread rapidly in almost all populations when introduced at 5% and 10% seed frequencies, but 1% introductions frequently failed to become established. A similar initial rapid increase in frequency of the ry+ transposon occurred in several control populations lacking a source of transposase. Constructs carrying ry+ markers also increased to moderate frequencies in the absence of selection on the marker. The results of Southern and in situ hybridization studies indicated a strong inverse relationship between the degree of conservation of construct integrity and transposition frequency. These finding have relevance to possible future applications of transposons as genetic drive mechanisms.
KW - Drosophila melanogaster
KW - P elements
KW - Population studies
KW - Transposable elements
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U2 - 10.1023/A:1018339603370
DO - 10.1023/A:1018339603370
M3 - Article
C2 - 9465407
AN - SCOPUS:0031424594
SN - 0016-6707
VL - 101
SP - 13
EP - 33
JO - Genetica
JF - Genetica
IS - 1
ER -