Removal of the bloom syndrome DNA helicase extends the utility of imprecise transposon excision for making null mutations in Drosophila.

Abstract

Transposable elements are frequently used in Drosophila melanogaster for imprecise excision screens to delete genes of interest. However, these screens are highly variable in the number and size of deletions that are recovered. Here, we show that conducting excision screens in mus309 mutant flies that lack DmBlm, the Drosophila ortholog of the Bloom syndrome protein, increases the percentage and overall size of flanking deletions recovered after excision of either P or Minos elements.

• Authors: Alice Witsell, Daniel P Kane, Sarah Rubin, Mitch McVey
• Journal: Genetics (Genetics) Vol. 183 Issue 3 Pg. 1187-93 (Nov 2009) ISSN: 1943-2631 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19687136 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• DNA Transposable Elements
• Drosophila Proteins
• DNA Helicases
• blm protein, Drosophila

Topics

• Animals
• DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
• DNA Helicases (genetics)
• DNA Repair
• DNA Transposable Elements (genetics)
• Drosophila Proteins
• Drosophila melanogaster (enzymology, genetics)
• Female
• Fertility (genetics)
• Gene Deletion
• Genome, Insect (genetics)
• Male
• Mutagenesis, Insertional (methods)
• Mutation