BEHAVIOR OF P FACTORS: MOVABLE ELEMENTS IN DROSOPHILA

长期目标：转座基因元件普遍存在 在真核生物基因组中。 目标是 了解这些元素如何能够插入到新的 基因组位置，从旧的位置切除， 活动 具体目标： 转座：一些转座因子通过复制转座 自己在新的位置，而其他人跳“保守”， 供体位点在过程中被删除。 提出 实验将确定流动性的机制，为P 黑腹果蝇转座因子家族。 调控：已知一些P元件产生基因产物 来调节它们的流动性。 实验将确定 基因调控的要求及其与 元素的基因表达。 健康相关性：转座因子插入被认为 是自发突变的主要来源。 这些实验 将提供关于P元素如何起作用的基本数据， 有助于了解和控制有害的 突变。 此外，P元素被广泛用作遗传因子， 用于研究基因功能的一般问题的载体。 结果 的建议实验可以用来提高这些 技术. 最后，据认为，昆虫转座 这些元素最终将被证明在对抗害虫方面是有用的。 了解他们的基本生物学，将获得从 这些实验对任何此类努力都至关重要。 方法：标准遗传学和分子生物学相结合， 将采用技术。 果蝇将被培养在 实验室和筛选表型的遗传变异， 兴趣 分子技术包括DNA测序和 聚合酶链反应扩增特异性DNA

Long-Term Objectives: Transposable genetic elements are ubiquitous in eukaryotic genomes. The goal is to understand how such elements are able to insert into new genomic positions, excise from old ones, and regulate these activities. Specific Aims: Transposition: Some transposable elements transpose by replicating themselves in new positions, whereas others jump "conservatively", with the donor site being deleted in the process. Proposed experiments will determine the mechanism of mobility for the P family of transposable elements in Drosophila melanogaster. Regulation: Some P elements are known to produce a gene product that regulates their own mobility. Experiments will determine the genetic requirements for this regulation and its relationship to the element's gene expression. Health Relatedness: Transposable element insertions are thought to be a major source of spontaneous mutations. These experiments will provide the basic data on how P elements function, and thus contribute to the understanding of the rate and control of harmful mutations. In addition, P elements are widely used as genetic vectors for studying general questions of gene function. Results of the proposed experiments can be used to enhance these techniques. Finally, it is thought that insect transposable elements will eventually prove useful in fighting insect pests. An understanding of their basic biology, as will be obtained from these experiments, will be essential for any such effort. Methods: A combination of standard genetic and molecular techniques will be employed. Drosophila will be cultured in the laboratory and screened by phenotype for the genetic variations of interest. Molecular techniques include DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction for amplification of specific DNA se-