FB elements can promote exon shuffling: a promoter-less white allele can be reactivated by FB mediated transposition in Drosophila melanogaster

Foldback ( FB) elements are transposable elements found in many eukaryotic genomes; they are thought to contribute significantly to genome plasticity. In Drosophila melanogaster, FBs have been shown to be involved in the transposition of large chromosomal regions and in the genetic instability of so...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG 2004-05, Vol.271 (4), p.394-401
Main Authors: Moschetti, R, Marsano, R.M, Barsanti, P, Caggese, C, Caizzi, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Animals
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - genetics
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters - metabolism
DNA Transposable Elements
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster - genetics
Drosophila Proteins - genetics
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
exon shuffling
exons
Exons - genetics
Eye Proteins - genetics
Eye Proteins - metabolism
Gene Deletion
Genes
Genetics
Introns
Mutation
promoter regions
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Selection, Genetic
transposition (genetics)
transposons
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Summary:Foldback ( FB) elements are transposable elements found in many eukaryotic genomes; they are thought to contribute significantly to genome plasticity. In Drosophila melanogaster, FBs have been shown to be involved in the transposition of large chromosomal regions and in the genetic instability of some alleles of the white gene. In this report we show that FB mediated transposition of w(67C23), a mutation that deletes the promoter of the white gene and its first exon, containing the start codon, can restore expression of the white gene. We have characterized three independent events in which a 14-kb fragment from the w(67C23) locus was transposed into an intron region in three different genes. In each case a local promoter drives the expression of white, producing a chimeric mRNA. These findings suggest that, on an evolutionary timescale, FB elements may contribute to the creation of new genes via exon shuffling.
ISSN:1617-4615
1617-4623
DOI:10.1007/s00438-004-1007-7