Alternative Ac/Ds transposition induces major chromosomal rearrangements in maize.
Barbara McClintock reported that the Ac/Ds transposable element system can generate major chromosomal rearrangements (MCRs), but the underlying mechanism has not been determined. Here, we identified a series of chromosome rearrangements derived from maize lines containing pairs of closely linked Ac transposable element termini. Molecular and cytogenetic analyses showed that the MCRs in these lines comprised 17 reciprocal translocations and two large inversions. The breakpoints of all 19 MCRs are delineated by Ac termini and characteristic 8-base-pair target site duplications, indicating that the MCRs were generated by precise transposition reactions involving the Ac termini of two closely linked elements. This alternative transposition mechanism may have contributed to chromosome evolution and may also occur during V(D)J recombination resulting in oncogenic translocations.
Zhang
Jianbo
J
Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, and Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Yu
Chuanhe
C
Pulletikurti
Vinay
V
Lamb
Jonathan
J
Danilova
Tatiana
T
Weber
David F
DF
Birchler
James
J
Peterson
Thomas
T
D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D007446:Chromosome Inversion; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements