Summary
We have isolated more than 50 dominant suppressors and 3 dominant enhancers of position effect variegation in Drosophila melanogaster. To our surprise, genetic mapping studies revealed that the Su(var) mutations are not randomly dispersed throughout the genome of this organism. Rather they fall into very discrete clusters. Moreover, all of the induced Su(var) mutations which map to a major second chromosome cluster are recessive lethal, whereas all of those which map within any of several third chromosome clusters are viable. Complementation analysis involving Su(var) mutations located within the 2L cluster suggests that several different loci occupy this site. Thus, these clusters may represent groupings of functionally related but distinct Su(var) loci.
A subset of the suppressors were examined for their effects on several different variegating rearrangements. The results suggest that the suppressing ability of the mutants is general. Interestingly, the effects of the suppressors in males appears to be highly dependent upon the presence of the Y chromosome. Finally, examination of the Su(var) mutants at different developmental temperatures indicated that at least one of them is temperature-sensitive. These findings are discussed with respect to the potential for genetic and functional dissection of loci which encolde chromosomal components.
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Communicated by M.M. Green
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Sinclair, D.A.R., Mottus, R.C. & Grigliatti, T.A. Genes which suppress position-effect variegation in Drosophila melanogaster are clustered. Mol Gen Genet 191, 326–333 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334834
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334834