title: Cytological visualization of DNA transposons and their transposition pattern in somatic cells of maize.
abstract: Global genomic analysis of transposable element distributions of both natural (En/Spm, Ac-Ds, and MuDR/Mu) and modified (RescueMu) types was performed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on somatic chromosomes coupled with karyotyping of each chromosome. In lines without an active transposable element, the locations of silent En/Spm, Ac-Ds, and MuDR/Mu elements were visualized, revealing variation in copy number and position among lines but no apparent locational bias. The ability to detect single elements was validated by using previously mapped active Ac elements. Somatic transpositions were documented in plants containing an engineered Mutator element, RescueMu, via use of the karyotyping system. By analyzing the RescueMu lines, we found that transposition of RescueMu in root-tip cells follows the cut-and-paste type of transposition. This work demonstrates the utility of FISH and karyotyping in the study of transposon activity and its consequences.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Weichang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jonathan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: Fangpu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Birchler
mesh_terms: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D010957:Plasmids; D019895:Transposases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D018744:DNA, Plant; D005819:Genetic Markers; D019895:Transposases