The activator/dissociation transposable elements comprise a two-component gene regulatory switch that controls endogenous gene expression in maize.

ABSTRACT: The maize Activator/Dissociation (Ac/Ds) elements are able to replicate and transpose throughout the maize genome. Both elements preferentially insert into gene-rich regions altering the maize genome by creating unstable insertion alleles, stable derivative or excision alleles, or by altering the spatial or temporal regulation of gene expression. Here, we characterize an Ac insertion in the 5'-UTR of the Pink Scutellum1 (Ps1) gene and five Ds derivatives generated through abortive transposition events. Characterization of Ps1 transcription initiation sites in this allelic series revealed several that began within the terminus of the Ac and Ds elements. Transcripts originating within Ds or Ac accumulated to lower levels than the wild-type Ps1 allele, but were often sufficient to rescue the

SUBMITTER: Bai L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3063669 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature