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. 1997 Jul;146(3):919–937. doi: 10.1093/genetics/146.3.919

Topological Constraints on Transvection between White Genes within the Transposing Element Te35b in Drosophila Melanogaster

D Gubb 1, J Roote 1, J Trenear 1, D Coulson 1, M Ashburner 1
PMCID: PMC1208061  PMID: 9215897

Abstract

The transposable element TE35B carries two copies of the white (w) gene at 35B1.2 on the second chromosome. These w genes are suppressed in a zeste-1 (z(1)) mutant background in a synapsis-dependent manner. Single-copy derivatives of the original TE35B stock give red eyes when heterozygous, but zeste eyes when homozygous. TE35B derivatives carrying single, double or triple copies of w were crossed to generate flies carrying from two to five ectopic w genes. Within this range, z(1)-mediated suppression is insensitive to copynumber and does not distinguish between w genes that are in cis or in trans. Suppression does not require the juxtaposition of even numbers of w genes, but is extremely sensitive to chromosomal topology. When arranged in a tight cluster, in triple-copy TE derivatives, w genes are nonsuppressible. Breakpoints falling within TE35B and separating two functional w genes act as partial suppressors of z(1). Similarly, breakpoints immediately proximal or distal to both w genes give partial suppression. This transvection-dependent downregulation of w genes may result from mis-activation of the X-chromosome dosage compensation mechanism.

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Selected References

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