A novel mechanism for P element homing in Drosophila

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Jun 8;96(12):6856-61. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.12.6856.

Abstract

P element insertion is essentially random at the scale of the genome. However, P elements containing regulatory sequences from Drosophila engrailed and polyhomeotic genes and from the Bithorax and Antennapedia complexes show some insertional specificity by frequently inserting near the parent gene (homing) and/or near genes containing Polycomb group response elements (preferential insertion). This phenomenon is thought to be mediated by Polycomb group proteins. In this report, we describe a case of homing of P elements containing regulatory sequences of the linotte gene. This homing occurs with high frequency (up to 20% of the lines) and high precision (inserted into a region of <1 kilobase). We present evidence showing that it is not mediated by Polycomb group proteins but by a new, as yet unknown, mechanism. We also suggest that P element homing could be a more frequent phenomenon than generally assumed and that it could become a powerful tool of Drosophila reverse genetics, for which there is no other described gene targeting technique.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Transposable Elements*
  • Drosophila / genetics*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Targeting
  • Genes, Insect*
  • Genome
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Recombination, Genetic

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF147883