Abstract
The cloning and characterization of Gandalf, a new DNA-transposing mobile element obtained from the Drosophila koepferae (repleta group) genome is described. A fragment of Gandalf was found in a middle repetitive clone that shows variable chromosomal localization. Restriction, Southern blot, PCR and sequencing analyses have shown that most Gandalf copies are about 1 kb long, are flanked by 12 by inverted terminal repeats and contain subterminal repetitive regions on both sides of the element. As with other elements of the DNA-transposing type (known as the 'Ac family'), the Gandalf element generates 8 by direct duplications at the insertion point. Coding region analysis has shown that the longer open reading frame found in Gandalf copies could encode part of a protein. However, whether or not the 1 kb copies of the element are actually the active transposons remains to be elucidated. Gandalf shows a very low copy number in D. buzzatii, a sibling species of D. koepferae. An attempt to induce interspecific hybrid dysgenesis in hybrids of these two species has been unsuccessful. © 1995 Springer-Verlag.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 423-433 |
Journal | Molecular and General Genetics |
Volume | 248 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 1995 |
Keywords
- Ac family
- Drosophila
- Hybrid instability
- repleta group
- Transposable elements