Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetic techniques

A universal marker for transgenic insects

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

Genetic manipulation of insects and other arthropods may enable better control strategies to be developed against agricultural pests and disease vectors. Transposon-based transformation techniques have been implemented in Drosophila1 and other insects2 such as medflies3,4 and mosquitoes5,6. A major obstacle in the use of these transposons, however, has been the difficulty in obtaining marker genes that will allow easy and reliable identification of transgenic animals. Here we describe a marker system that is suitable for following gene transfer in most arthropods and in many other phyla.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1: Transgenic fruitflies and flour beetles identified by the universal marker 3xP3-EGFP.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rubin, G. M. & Spradling, A. C. Science 218, 348–353 (1982).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. O'Brochta, D. A. & Atkinson, P. W. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 26, 739–753 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Loukeris, T. G. et al. Science 270, 2002–2005 (1995).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Handler, A. M., McCombs, S. D., Fraser, M. L. & Saul, S. H. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 95, 7520–7525 (1998).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Coates, C. J., Jasinskiene, N., Miyashiro, L. & James, A. A. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 95, 3748–3751 (1998).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Jasinskiene, N. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 95, 3743–3747 (1998).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tsien, R. Y. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 67, 509–544 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Sheng, G., Thouvenot, E., Schmucker, D., Wilson, D. S. & Desplan, C. Genes Dev. 11, 1122–1131 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Callaerts, P., Halder, G. & Gehring, W. J. Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 20, 483–532 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Warren, W. D., Atkinson, P. W. & O'Brochta, D. A. Genet. Res. 64, 87–97 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Cary, L. C. et al. Virology 172, 156–169 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Medhora, M. M., MacPeek, A. H. & Hartl, D. L. EMBO J. 7, 2185–2189 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut, Universität München, Luisenstrasse 14, München, 80333, Germany

    Andreas J. Berghammer & Martin Klingler

  2. Lehrstuhl für Genetik, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95447, Germany

    Ernst A. Wimmer

Authors
  1. Andreas J. Berghammer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin Klingler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ernst A. Wimmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ernst A. Wimmer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Berghammer, A., Klingler, M. & A. Wimmer, E. A universal marker for transgenic insects. Nature 402, 370–371 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/46463

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/46463

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation