Maternal repression of the P element promoter in the germline of Drosophila melanogaster: a model for the P cytotype.
The transposition of P elements in Drosophila melanogaster is regulated by products encoded by the P elements themselves. The P cytotype, which represses transposition and associated phenomena, exhibits both a maternal effect and maternal inheritance. The genetic and molecular mechanisms of this regulation are complex and not yet fully understood. In a previous study, using P-lacZ fusion genes, we have shown that P element regulatory products were able to inhibit the activity of the P promoter in somatic tissues. However, the repression observed did not exhibit the maternal effect characteristic of the P cytotype. With a similar approach, we have assayed in vivo the effect of P element regulatory products in the germline. We show that the P cytotype is able to repress the P promoter in the germline as well as in the soma. Furthermore, this repression exhibits a maternal effect restricted to the germline. On the basis of these new observations, we propose a model for the mechanism of P cytotype repression and its maternal inheritance.
Lemaitre
B
B
Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France.
Ronsseray
S
S
Coen
D
D
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007763:Lac Operon; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004247:DNA; D001616:beta-Galactosidase