The transposable element Tam1 of Antirrhinum majus is 17 kb long

✍ Scribed by Bonas, Ulla ;Sommer, Hans ;Harrison, Brian J. ;Saedler, Heinz

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 847 KB
• Volume: 194
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0026-8925
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00383508

✦ Synopsis

The nivea locus of Antirrhinum majus encodes chalcone synthase, a key enzyme in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Genetic instability is known to occur at this locus. In vitro cloning and characterization of genomic DNA fragments from the unstable nivea-recurrens allele T53 revealed that the instability of nivea-reeurrens is due to the presence of a 17 kb DNA insert in the nivea locus. Somatic instability leading to the variegated phenotype, i.e. highly spotted flowers, is due to frequent excision of the 17 kb Taml element (Transposon antirrhinum majus) during development of the plant. Excision of Tam/ is not tissue specific, but occurs with similar frequencies in leaves and blossoms.