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. 1985 Apr;4(4):979–987. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1985.tb03727.x

Cloning of the extra sex combs gene of Drosophila and its identification by P-element-mediated gene transfer

Erich Frei 1, Stefan Baumgartner 1, Jan-Erik Edström 1, Markus Noll 1
PMCID: PMC554288  PMID: 16453608

Abstract

A large region containing the extra sex combs (esc) gene of Drosophila has been cloned by microdissection from polytene chromosomes and chromosomal walking. Within this DNA, the segment comprising the esc gene has been narrowed down in several steps. First, a deletion of the esc+ gene, Df(2L)esc10, defined a region of 380 kb. Then, a duplication carrying the esc+ gene, Dp(2;2)GYL, and a deletion not eliminating esc+, Df(2L)prd1.7.20, further reduced this region to 160 kb. Finally, because esc transcripts are expected to be present in follicles but absent in adult males, mapping of follicle and adult male transcripts limited the esc region to ˜10 kb. Rigorous proof that this DNA contained the esc+ gene was obtained by P-element-mediated transformation. We conclude that the 12 kb of DNA used for transformation include the esc+ gene as well as all flanking sequences required for its proper regulation in the female germ line.

Keywords: homeotic gene, chromosomal walking, activity of Dp(2;2)GYL, transcript mapping, P-element-mediated transformation

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