Gene Marker Loss Induced by the Transposable Element, En, in Maize |
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| Authors: | J. Cormack and P. A. Peterson |
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| Affiliation: | Present address: ICI Seeds Inc., P.O. Box 500, Slater, Iowa 50244. |
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| Abstract: | The En/Spm transposable element system in maize includes the functional element, En/Spm and the receptor element I/dSpm. An En receptor has been found that shows En-induced breakage. This En-responsive receptor (designated 1836518) is located on the short arm of chromosome 9, proximal to Wx. In the presence of En, markers distal to the receptor show a loss of gene expression. Kernels heterozygous for aleurone and endosperm marker genes have a variegated appearance. The hypothesis is advanced that this variegation represents a physical loss of the chromosome segments carrying the genes distal to the receptor position. It is the first case of an En-controlled breakage event. |
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