The relationship between DNA structural variation and activities of P elements in P and Q strains of Drosophila melanogaster.
To characterize the relationship between P element activities and their structures, we cloned P elements from genomic libraries of three isogenic P and Q strains derived from natural populations in Japan. These P elements were mapped with BamHI, AvaII and PstI and were classified by their size. The majority of P elements cloned were classified as either complete or relatively small P elements rather than medium size. The numbers of full length (2.9 kb) P elements per haploid genome of NP280 (P), AK194 (weak P) and WY113 (Q) were at least four, five and one, respectively. However, the 2.9 kb P element of WY113 was thought to be defective since this strain has no transposase activity. In our previous work, we demonstrated that the ORF 3-deleted P element is essential for P cytotype determination in WY113. A similar P element also exists in NP280, and this may have an important role for P cytotype determination in this strain. Two and one copies of the KP element, a deletion derivative of the P element, were found in NP280 and AK194, respectively. One of four complete P elements in NP280 was fully sequenced, and the base sequence was completely identical to that of p pi 25.1 originally derived from the U.S.A. This result is consistent with the notion that these P elements have a relatively recent origin in Drosophila melanogaster.
Nitasaka
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E
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Yamazaki
T
T
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D013045:Species Specificity
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004247:DNA