Identification of a Regulatory Transposon That Controls the Mutator Transposable Element System in Maize

INVESTIGATIONS

Identification of a Regulatory Transposon That Controls the Mutator Transposable Element System in Maize

P. Chomet, D. Lisch, K. J. Hardeman, V. L. Chandler and M. Freeling
Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 Present address: Dekalb Plant Genetics, Eastern Point Rd., Groton, Connecticut 06340.

The Mutator system of maize consists of more than eight different classes of transposable elements each of which can be found in multiple copies. All Mu elements share the ~220-bp terminal inverted repeats, whereas each distinct element class is defined by its unique internal sequences. The regulation of instability of this system has been difficult to elucidate due to its multigenic inheritance. Here we present genetic experiments which demonstrate that there is a single locus, MuR1, which can regulate the transposition of Mu1 elements. We describe the cloning of members of a novel class of Mu elements, MuR, and demonstrate that a member of the class is the regulator of Mutator activity, MuR1. This conclusion is based on several criteria: MuR1 activity and a MuR-homologous restriction fragment cosegregate; when MuR1 undergoes a duplicative transposition, an additional MuR restriction fragment is observed, and MuR1 activity and the cosegregating MuR fragment are simultaneously lost within clonal somatic sectors. In addition, the MuR element hybridizes to transcripts in plants with Mutator activity. Our genetic experiments demonstrate that the MuR1 transposon is necessary to specify Mutator activity in our lines.

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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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				M. R. Woodhouse, M. Freeling, and D. Lisch The mop1 (mediator of paramutation1) Mutant Progressively Reactivates One of the Two Genes Encoded by the MuDR Transposon in Maize Genetics, January 1, 2006; 172(1): 579 - 592. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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				Z. Xu, X. Yan, S. Maurais, H. Fu, D. G. O'Brien, J. Mottinger, and H. K. Dooner Jittery, a Mutator Distant Relative with a Paradoxical Mobile Behavior: Excision without Reinsertion PLANT CELL, May 1, 2004; 16(5): 1105 - 1114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Settles, S. Latshaw, and D. R. McCarty Molecular analysis of high-copy insertion sites in maize Nucleic Acids Res., April 1, 2004; 32(6): e54 - e54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. K. Slotkin, M. Freeling, and D. Lisch Mu killer Causes the Heritable Inactivation of the Mutator Family of Transposable Elements in Zea mays Genetics, October 1, 2003; 165(2): 781 - 797. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. P. May, H. Liu, E. Vollbrecht, L. Senior, P. D. Rabinowicz, D. Roh, X. Pan, L. Stein, M. Freeling, D. Alexander, et al. Maize-targeted mutagenesis: A knockout resource for maize PNAS, September 30, 2003; 100(20): 11541 - 11546. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Chalvet, C. Grimaldi, F. Kaper, T. Langin, and M.-J. Daboussi Hop, an Active Mutator-like Element in the Genome of the Fungus Fusarium oxysporum Mol. Biol. Evol., August 1, 2003; 20(8): 1362 - 1375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Cui, A.-P. Hsia, F. Liu, D. A. Ashlock, R. P. Wise, and P. S. Schnable Alternative Transcription Initiation Sites and Polyadenylation Sites Are Recruited During Mu Suppression at the rf2a Locus of Maize Genetics, February 1, 2003; 163(2): 685 - 698. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Pooma, C. Gersos, and E. Grotewold Transposon Insertions in the Promoter of the Zea mays a1 Gene Differentially Affect Transcription by the Myb Factors P and C1 Genetics, June 1, 2002; 161(2): 793 - 801. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Lisch, C. C. Carey, J. E. Dorweiler, and V. L. Chandler A mutation that prevents paramutation in maize also reverses Mutator transposon methylation and silencing PNAS, April 30, 2002; 99(9): 6130 - 6135. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. R. Dietrich, F. Cui, M. L. Packila, J. Li, D. A. Ashlock, B. J. Nikolau, and P. S. Schnable Maize Mu Transposons Are Targeted to the 5' Untranslated Region of the gl8 Gene and Sequences Flanking Mu Target-Site Duplications Exhibit Nonrandom Nucleotide Composition Throughout the Genome Genetics, February 1, 2002; 160(2): 697 - 716. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. N. Raizada, G.-L. Nan, and V. Walbot Somatic and Germinal Mobility of the RescueMu Transposon in Transgenic Maize PLANT CELL, July 1, 2001; 13(7): 1587 - 1608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Singer, C. Yordan, and R. A. Martienssen Robertson's Mutator transposons in A. thaliana are regulated by the chromatin-remodeling gene Decrease in DNA Methylation (DDM1) Genes & Dev., March 1, 2001; 15(5): 591 - 602. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. N. Rudenko and V. Walbot Expression and Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Maize Transposable Element MuDR and Its Derivatives PLANT CELL, March 1, 2001; 13(3): 553 - 570. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. R. Lisch, M. Freeling, R. J. Langham, and M. Y. Choy Mutator Transposase Is Widespread in the Grasses Plant Physiology, March 1, 2001; 125(3): 1293 - 1303. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. M. Settles, A. Baron, A. Barkan, and R. A. Martienssen Duplication and Suppression of Chloroplast Protein Translocation Genes in Maize Genetics, January 1, 2001; 157(1): 349 - 360. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. N. Raizada and V. Walbot The Late Developmental Pattern of Mu Transposon Excision Is Conferred by a Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S -Driven MURA cDNA in Transgenic Maize PLANT CELL, January 1, 2000; 12(1): 5 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Girard and M. Freeling Mutator-Suppressible Alleles of rough sheath1 and liguleless3 in Genetics, January 1, 2000; 154(1): 437 - 446. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				X. Yan, I. M. Martínez-Férez, S. Kavchok, and H. K. Dooner Origination of Ds Elements From Ac Elements in Maize: Evidence for Rare Repair Synthesis at the Site of Ac Excision Genetics, August 1, 1999; 152(4): 1733 - 1740. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. P. Brutnell, R. J. H. Sawers, A. Mant, and J. A. Langdale BUNDLE SHEATH DEFECTIVE2, a Novel Protein Required for Post-Translational Regulation of the rbcL Gene of Maize PLANT CELL, May 1, 1999; 11(5): 849 - 864. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. Lisch, L. Girard, M. Donlin, and M. Freeling Functional Analysis of Deletion Derivatives of the Maize Transposon MuDR Delineates Roles for the MURA and MURB Proteins Genetics, January 1, 1999; 151(1): 331 - 341. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. Liu and N. M. Crawford Characterization of the Putative Transposase mRNA of Tag1, Which Is Ubiquitously Expressed in Arabidopsis and Can Be Induced by Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation With dTag1 DNA Genetics, June 1, 1998; 149(2): 693 - 701. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. de la Luz Gutierrez-Nava, C. A. Warren, P. Leon, and V. Walbot Transcriptionally Active MuDR, the Regulatory Element of the Mutator Transposable Element Family of Zea mays, Is Present in Some Accessions of the Mexican land race Zapalote chico Genetics, May 1, 1998; 149(1): 329 - 346. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Muehlbauer, J. Fowler, and M Freeling Sectors expressing the homeobox gene liguleless3 implicate a time-dependent mechanism for cell fate acquisition along the proximal-distal axis of the maize leaf Development, January 12, 1997; 124(24): 5097 - 5106. [Abstract] [PDF]