Open AccessRepression of Hybrid Dysgenesis in Drosophila melanogaster by Heat-Shock-Inducible Sense and Antisense P-Element Constructs
Author(s) -
Michael Simmons,
John D. Raymond,
Craig D. Grimes,
Carina Belinco,
Bret C. Haake,
M. Colin Jordan,
C. Lund,
Todd A. Ojala,
David S. Papermaster
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.792
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1943-2631
pISSN - 0016-6731
DOI - 10.1093/genetics/144.4.1529
Subject(s) - sense (electronics) , biology , psychological repression , p element , gonadal dysgenesis , genetics , drosophila melanogaster , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , drosophilidae , endocrinology , chemistry
Sets of sense and antisense P-element constructs controlled by a heat-shock-inducible promoter were tested for their ability to repress manifestations of P-element activity in vivo. As a group, the antisense constructs repressed pupal lethality, a somatic manifestation of P activity, and this repression was significantly enhanced by heat shock. Three of the 11 antisense constructs also repressed gonadal dysgenesis, a manifestation of P activity in the female germ line; however, none had any effect on P-element-mediated mutability in the male germ line. Among the 13 different heat-shock-inducible sense constructs that were tested, those containing the KP and DP elements were strong repressors of pupal lethality, gonadal dysgenesis and P-element-mediated mutability; however, individual lines carrying these constructs varied in their ability to repress each of these traits, presumably because of genomic position effects. With the exception of the sense construct that contained a complete P element, none of the sense or antisense constructs repressed a lacZ reporter gene driven by the P-element promoter. Overall, the experimental results suggest that in nature, P-element activity could be regulated by P-encoded polypeptides and by antisense P RNAs.