Mutator Transportable Elements of Maize

描述（由申请人提供）：转座子产生等位基因多样性， 细菌真菌植物和动物新的等位基因传递给后代 提供多样性，自然选择的行为，因此转座子是一个 进化的潜在机制。此外，在时间尺度上， 在单个生物体中，转座子可以在细胞内创造基因表达的多样性。 身体包括人类在内的哺乳动物中免疫球蛋白多样性的产生， 取决于转座子的切除，转座子将抗体基因分成 几个非功能部分;只有在转座子切除后，基因 连接起来形成一个功能性等位基因。加入是一个容易出错的过程 产生数百万种抗体产生等位基因的组合这 等位基因的多样性对我们的生存至关重要，因为我们可以使用一个小的 许多遗传基因动态地产生广泛的等位基因， 抵御病原体。本研究的主要目的是了解 一个发展开关，导致不同的易位结果， 与严格的体细胞相比，含有可遗传的等位基因多样性的配子 在身体中创造的多样性。玉米的MuDR/Mu（Mutator）转座子移动 在发育的晚期，通过体细胞组织中的“剪切和粘贴”机制 从而在植物体中形成一个很好的嵌合体，形成一个新等位基因的宽谱。 这与抗体基因的例子相似。相比之下，玉米配子含有 由插入而非切除等位基因引起的新突变， 一个特定基因的多样性。分子和生化机制 编程事件的高度调节的定时和换位中的开关 结果将通过分析蛋白质（MURA转座酶和MURB 辅助蛋白）。宿主因素， 调节MuDR/Mu活动也将被表征，因为转座 元素活动是transDoson及其宿主的一种进化的nartnershiD。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Transposons generate allelic diversity in bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. New alleles transmitted to progeny provide diversity upon which natural selection acts, hence transposons are one of the underlying mechanisms of evolution. In addition, on the time scale of a single organism, transposons can create diversity of gene expression within the body. The generation of immunoglobin diversity in mammals, including humans, depends on the excision of transposons that divide the antibody genes into several non-functional parts; only after transposon excisions are the gene parts joined to make a functional allele. Joining is an error-prone process that generates millions of combinations of antibody-producing alleles. This diversity of alleles is crucial to our survival,-because we can use a small number of inherited genes to dynamically generate a wide spectrum of alleles to defend against pathogens. The principal aim of this study is to understand a developmental switch that results in a different transpositional outcome in gametes containing heritable allelic diversity compared to strictly somatic diversity created in the body. The MuDR/Mu (Mutator) transposons of maize move by a "cut and paste" mechanism in somatic tissues, very late in development resulting in a wide spectrum of new alleles in a fine mosaic in the plant body. This parallels the antibody gene example. In contrast, maize gametes contain new mutations caused by insertion but no excision alleles that generate diversity in a particular gene. The molecular and biochemical mechanisms programming the highly regulated timing of events and switch in transpositional outcome will be elucidated by analyzing proteins (MURA transposases and MURB helper proteins) encoded by the regulatory transposon MuDR. Host factors that regulate MuDR/Mu activities will also be characterized, because transposable element activities are an evolved nartnershiD of the transDoson and its host.