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The maize En-1/Spm element transposes in potato

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Summary

The maize transposable element En-1 has been introduced into a diploid potato line via transformation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The element is transcriptionally active in potato. Numerous En specific RNAs are observed, including a 6 kb transcript characteristic of an active En-1 element in maize. In contrast to maize, where the 6.0 kb transcript is hardly detectable, this transcript is very abundant in the transgenic potato. Transposition of En-1 in the potato clone was analysed by Southern blot hybridization and confirmed by molecular isolation of En-1 excision and integration events. Sequence data of excision and integration sites revealed footprints and target site duplications similar to the ones described for En-1 in maize.

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Communicated by R.G. Hermann

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Frey, M., Tavantzis, S.M. & Saedler, H. The maize En-1/Spm element transposes in potato. Mol Gen Genet 217, 172–177 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330958

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330958

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