DNA representation of variegating heterochromatic P-element inserts in diploid and polytene tissues of Drosophila melanogaster

Authors

Lori L. Wallrath, Washington University in St. Louis
Vamsi P. Guntur, Washington University in St. Louis
L Rosman
Sarah C.R. Elgin, Washington University in St. LouisFollow

Author's School

Arts & Sciences

Author's Department

Biology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1996

Originally Published In

Wallrath LL, Guntur VP, Rosman LE, Elgin SC. DNA representation of variegating heterochromatic P-element inserts in diploid and polytene tissues of Drosophila melanogaster. Chromosoma. 1996;104(7):519–527. doi:10.1007/bf00352116

Abstract

Position-effect variegation (PEV) is the mosaic expression of a euchromatic gene brought into juxtaposition with heterochromatin. Fourteen different transformed Drosophila melanogaster lines with variegating P-element inserts were used to examine the DNA levels of these transgenes. Insert sites include pericentric, telomeric and fourth chromosome regions. Southern blot analyses showed that the heterochromatic hsp26 transgenes are underrepresented 1.3- to 33-fold in polytene tissue relative to the endogenous euchromatic hsp26 gene. In contrast, the heterochromatic hsp26 transgenes are present in approximately the same copy number as the endogenous euchromatic hsp26 gene in diploid tissue. It appears unlikely that DNA loss could account for the lack of gene expression in diploid tissues seen with these examples of PEV.

Comments

©Springer-Verlag 1996

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5176-2510 [Elgin]

Recommended Citation

Wallrath, Lori L.; Guntur, Vamsi P.; Rosman, L; and Elgin, Sarah C.R., "DNA representation of variegating heterochromatic P-element inserts in diploid and polytene tissues of Drosophila melanogaster" (1996). Biology Faculty Publications & Presentations. 218.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/bio_facpubs/218