Terminal Retrotransposons Activate a Subtelomeric white Transgene at the 2L Telomere in Drosophila

Corresponding author: James M. Mason, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 Alexander Dr., P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233., masonj{at}niehs.nih.gov (E-mail)

Communicating editor: S. HENIKOFF

Genetically marked P elements inserted into the subtelomeric satellites of Drosophila show repression and variegation of the reporter gene. One such white⁺ reporter, inserted between the subtelomeric satellite and the terminal HeT-A array in the left arm of chromosome 2 (2L), is sensitive to its context; changes in the structure of the telomere region can be identified by changes in eye color. Addition of HeT-A or TART elements to the 2L terminus increases w⁺ expression, and loss of sequence from the end decreases expression. This indicates that the telomeric retrotransposons in Drosophila have an activating influence on the repressed subterminal reporter gene. Changes in eye color due to altered expression of the transgene also allow the detection of interactions between homologous telomeres. The 2L arms that terminate in long HeT-A/TART arrays showed increased expression of the subterminal w⁺ transgene when the terminal repeats on the homologue are absent or markedly shorter. We propose that the chromatin structure of the terminal HeT-A/TART array and the activity of a putative promoter/enhancer element on HeT-A are affected by telomeric interactions. Such trans-activation may reflect control over HeT-A transcription and, thus, transposition activity.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. C. Frydrychova, J. M. Mason, and T. K. Archer HP1 Is Distributed Within Distinct Chromatin Domains at Drosophila Telomeres Genetics, September 1, 2008; 180(1): 121 - 131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Shpiz, D. Kwon, A. Uneva, M. Kim, M. Klenov, Y. Rozovsky, P. Georgiev, M. Savitsky, and A. Kalmykova Characterization of Drosophila Telomeric Retroelement TAHRE: Transcription, Transpositions, and RNAi-based Regulation of Expression Mol. Biol. Evol., November 1, 2007; 24(11): 2535 - 2545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Simmons, D.-F. Ryzek, C. Lamour, J. W. Goodman, N. E. Kummer, and P. J. Merriman Cytotype Regulation by Telomeric P Elements in Drosophila melanogaster: Evidence for Involvement of an RNA Interference Gene Genetics, August 1, 2007; 176(4): 1945 - 1955. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Frydrychova, H. Biessmann, A. Y. Konev, M. D. Golubovsky, J. Johnson, T. K. Archer, and J. M. Mason Transcriptional Activity of the Telomeric Retrotransposon HeT-A in Drosophila melanogaster Is Stimulated as a Consequence of Subterminal Deficiencies at Homologous and Nonhomologous Telomeres Mol. Cell. Biol., July 1, 2007; 27(13): 4991 - 5001. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Savitsky, D. Kwon, P. Georgiev, A. Kalmykova, and V. Gvozdev Telomere elongation is under the control of the RNAi-based mechanism in the Drosophila germline Genes & Dev., February 1, 2006; 20(3): 345 - 354. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. N. Andreyeva, E. S. Belyaeva, V. F. Semeshin, G. V. Pokholkova, and I. F. Zhimulev Three distinct chromatin domains in telomere ends of polytene chromosomes in Drosophila melanogaster Tel mutants J. Cell Sci., December 1, 2005; 118(23): 5465 - 5477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Biessmann, S. Prasad, V. F. Semeshin, E. N. Andreyeva, Q. Nguyen, M. F. Walter, and J. M. Mason Two Distinct Domains in Drosophila melanogaster Telomeres Genetics, December 1, 2005; 171(4): 1767 - 1777. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. J. Haley, J. R. Stuart, J. D. Raymond, J. B. Niemi, and M. J. Simmons Impairment of Cytotype Regulation of P-Element Activity in Drosophila melanogaster by Mutations in the Su(var)205 Gene Genetics, October 1, 2005; 171(2): 583 - 595. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Melnikova, H. Biessmann, and P. Georgiev The Ku Protein Complex Is Involved in Length Regulation of Drosophila Telomeres Genetics, May 1, 2005; 170(1): 221 - 235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Mason, J. Ransom, and A. Y. Konev A Deficiency Screen for Dominant Suppressors of Telomeric Silencing in Drosophila Genetics, November 1, 2004; 168(3): 1353 - 1370. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Boivin, C. Gally, S. Netter, D. Anxolabehere, and S. Ronsseray Telomeric Associated Sequences of Drosophila Recruit Polycomb-Group Proteins in Vivo and Can Induce Pairing-Sensitive Repression Genetics, May 1, 2003; 164(1): 195 - 208. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Savitsky, T. Kahn, E. Pomerantseva, and P. Georgiev Transvection at the End of the Truncated Chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster Genetics, April 1, 2003; 163(4): 1375 - 1387. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Mason, A. Y. Konev, M. D. Golubovsky, and H. Biessmann Cis- and trans-acting Influences on Telomeric Position Effect in Drosophila melanogaster Detected With a Subterminal Transgene Genetics, March 1, 2003; 163(3): 917 - 930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. George and M.-L. Pardue The Promoter of the Heterochromatic Drosophila Telomeric Retrotransposon, HeT-A, Is Active When Moved Into Euchromatic Locations Genetics, February 1, 2003; 163(2): 625 - 635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Rashkova, S. E. Karam, R. Kellum, and M.-L. Pardue Gag proteins of the two Drosophila telomeric retrotransposons are targeted to chromosome ends J. Cell Biol., November 7, 2002; 159(3): 397 - 402. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Melnikova and P. Georgiev Enhancer of terminal gene conversion, a New Mutation in Drosophila melanogaster That Induces Telomere Elongation by Gene Conversion Genetics, November 1, 2002; 162(3): 1301 - 1312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Savitsky, O. Kravchuk, L. Melnikova, and P. Georgiev Heterochromatin Protein 1 Is Involved in Control of Telomere Elongation in Drosophila melanogaster Mol. Cell. Biol., May 1, 2002; 22(9): 3204 - 3218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. M. Siriaco, G. Cenci, A. Haoudi, L. E. Champion, C. Zhou, M. Gatti, and J. M. Mason Telomere elongation (Tel), a New Mutation in Drosophila melanogaster That Produces Long Telomeres Genetics, January 1, 2002; 160(1): 235 - 245. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Ronsseray, A. Boivin, and D. Anxolabehere P-Element Repression in Drosophila melanogaster by Variegating Clusters of P-lacZ-white Transgenes Genetics, December 1, 2001; 159(4): 1631 - 1642. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]