Summary
A mouse dihydrofolate reductase gene (DHFR), encoding an enzyme conferring methotrexate (MTX) resistance, under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35 S promoter, was inserted within a maize nonautonomous Ds transposable element. The presence of at least one element (Ds-DHFR) can easily be monitored using methotrexate selection in plants. This chimeric element is able to transpose at a frequency similar to its unmodified progenitor in transgenic tobacco callus containing an autonomous Ac element. The orientation of the selectable marker cassette in the Ds element does not affect relative excision frequencies. Approximately two-thirds of these elements can be detected after excision while the remaining one-third cannot. The Ds-DHFR element is useful in elucidating the mechanism by which Ac/Ds transposition occurs, and allows for a rapid identification of mutants in which methotrexate resistance cosegregates with a mutant phenotype.
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Communicated by H. Saedler
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Masterson, R.V., Furtek, D.B., Grevelding, C. et al. A maize Ds transposable element containing a dihydrofolate reductase gene transposes in Nicotiana tabacum and Arabidopsis thaliana . Mol Gen Genet 219, 461–466 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00259620
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00259620