title: nanos gene control DNA mediates developmentally regulated transposition in the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti.
abstract: Transposable elements (TEs) are proposed as a basis for developing drive systems to spread pathogen resistance genes through vector mosquito populations. The use of transcriptional and translational control DNA elements from genes expressed specifically in the insect germ line to mediate transposition offers possibilities for mitigating some of the concerns about transgene behavior in the target vector species and eliminating effects on nontarget organisms. Here, we describe the successful use of the promoter and untranslated regions from the nanos (nos) orthologous gene of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, to control sex- and tissue-specific expression of exogenously derived mariner MosI transposase-encoding DNA. Transgenic mosquitoes expressed transposase mRNA in abundance near or equal to the endogenous nos transcript and exclusively in the female germ cells. In addition, MosI mRNA was deposited in developing oocytes and localized and maintained at the posterior pole during early embryonic development. Importantly, four of five transgenic lines examined were capable of mobilizing a second MosI transgene into the mosquito genome, indicating that functional transposase was being produced. Thus, the nos control sequences show promise as part of a TE-based gene drive system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
authors.forename: Zach N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Adelman
authors.forename: Nijole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jasinskiene
authors.forename: Sedef
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onal
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juhn
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashikyan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salampessy
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: MacCauley
authors.forename: Anthony A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D019895:Transposases / Q000378:metabolism; D015004:Yellow Fever
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D019895:Transposases