Identification of trans-dominant modifiers of Prat expression in Drosophila melanogaster

The first committed step in the purine de novo synthesis pathway is performed by amidophosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.14) or Prat. Drosophila melanogaster Prat is an essential gene with a promoter that lacks a TATA-box and initiator element and has multiple transcription start sites with a predominant start site. To study the regulation of Prat expression in the adult eye, we used the Prat:bw reporter gene, in which the Prat coding region was replaced with the brown (bw) coding region. The pale-orange eye color of a single copy of Prat:bw prompted us to use a multicopy array of Prat:bw that was derived using P transposase mutagenesis and produces a darker-orange eye color in a bw(D); st genetic background. We used a 13-copy array of Prat:bw as a tool to recover dominant EMS-induced mutations that affect the expression of the transgene. After screening 21,000 F(1)s for deviation from the orange eye color, we isolated 23 dominant modifiers: 21 suppressors (1 Y-linked, 5 X-linked, 4 2-linked, and 11 3-linked) and 2 enhancers (1 2-linked and 1 3-linked). Quantification of their effect on endogenous Prat gene expression, using RT-PCR in young adult fly heads, identifies a subset of modifiers that are candidates for genes involved in regulating Prat expression.