Genetics, Vol 139, 1411-1419, Copyright © 1995


INVESTIGATIONS

Molecular Evolution of the Ac/Ds Transposable-Element Family in Pearl Millet and Other Grasses

G. A. Huttley, A. F. MacRae and M. T. Clegg
Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521

We report an Ac-like sequence from pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and deletion derivative Ac-like sequences from pearl millet and another grass species, Bambusa multiplex. Sequence relationships between the pearl millet and maize Ac elements suggest the Ac/Ds transposable-element family is ancient. Further, the sequence identity between the Bambusa Ac-like sequence and maize Ac implies that the Ac/Ds transposable-element family has been in the grass family since its inception. The Ac-like sequences reported from pearl millet and maize Ac are statistically heterogeneous in pair-wise distance comparisons to each other. Yet, we are unable to discriminate between differential selection or ectopic exchange (recombination and conversion) between nonidentical transposable element homologues, as the cause of the heterogeneity. However, the more extreme heterogeneity exhibited between the previously described pearl millet element and maize Ac seems likely to derive from ectopic exchange between elements with different levels of divergence.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Mol Biol EvolHome page
G. A. Huttley, M. J. Wakefield, and S. Easteal
Rates of Genome Evolution and Branching Order from Whole Genome Analysis
Mol. Biol. Evol., August 1, 2007; 24(8): 1722 - 1730.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
M. T. Clegg, M. P. Cummings, and M. L. Durbin
The evolution of plant nuclear genes
PNAS, July 22, 1997; 94(15): 7791 - 7798.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]