FREQUENT IMPRECISE EXCISION AMONG REVERSIONS OF A P ELEMENT-CAUSED LETHAL MUTATION IN DROSOPHILA

Robert A. Voelker 1, Arno L. Greenleaf 2, Henrik Gyurkovics 1, G. Bruce Wisely 1, Shu-Mei Huang 1, and Lillie L. Searles 3

1 Laboratory of Genetics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
2 Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina 27710
3 Laboratory of Genetics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709; and Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina 27710

RpII215D50 (= D50) is a lethal mutation caused by the insertion of a 1.3-kb P element 5' to sequences encoding the largest (215 kilodaltons) subunit of Drosophila RNA polymerase II. In dysgenic males D50 reverted to nonlethality at frequencies ranging from 2.6 to 6.5%. These reversions resulted from loss of P element sequences. Genetic tests of function and restriction enzyme analysis of revertant DNAs revealed that 35% or more of the reversion events were imprecise excisions. Two meiotic mutations that perturb excision repair and postreplication repair (mei-9a and mei-41D5, respectively) had no influence on reversion frequency but may have increased the proportion of imprecise excisions. We suggest that these excisions are by-products of, rather than intermediates in, the transposition process.

Submitted on January 4, 1984
Accepted on February 7, 1984




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