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. 1995 Sep;141(1):361–372. doi: 10.1093/genetics/141.1.361

Organization of Paramutagenicity in R-Stippled Maize

J L Kermicle 1, W B Eggleston 1, M Alleman 1
PMCID: PMC1206733  PMID: 8536983

Abstract

In heterozygotes, R-stippled (R-st) reduces the pigmenting potential of sensitive r alleles heritably (paramutation). R-st is comprised of four r genes arranged in direct orientation. Unequal crossing over within R-st generates deletion products retaining from one to three r genes. Paramutagenic strength decreased in parallel with copy number, both among internal and distal deletions. Single-gene R-st derivatives were nonparamutagenic. This was so whether or not the single gene retained the transposable element (I-R) responsible for seed spotting. Adding back r genes by intragenic recombination increased paramutagenicity in proportion to total gene number. Each member of a set of overlapping deletions retained moderately strong activity, showing that no single r gene or intragenic region is required for paramutagenicity. Proximal and distal loss R-st derivatives, each retaining two r genes, were less paramutagenic in trans than the corresponding four copy cis combination, indicating R-st's paramutagenic determinants function as a cis-interdependent unit in bringing about modification of a sensitive allele.

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Selected References

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