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Lateral Root Inducible System in Arabidopsis and Maize

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The Ac and Uq transposable element systems in maize: interactions among components.

E E Caldwell¹, P A Peterson

¹Zoology and Genetics Department, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.

|July 1, 1992

Summary

Interactions between maize transposable element systems Ac and Uq show a lack of reciprocity. Different Ds and ruq elements respond uniquely to Ac and Uq, suggesting heterogeneity in these systems.

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Area of Science:

Genetics
Molecular Biology
Plant Science

Background:

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic sequences.
Ac (Activator) and Uq (Uncommon) are two well-studied TE systems in maize.
Understanding TE interactions is crucial for maize genetics and genome stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the interaction patterns between components of the Ac and Uq transposable element systems in maize.
To determine the reciprocity of interactions between Ac, Uq, and their associated Ds and ruq elements.
To examine atypical Ac and Uq elements (Ac2 and Uq-Mn) for their interaction specificities.

Main Methods:

Testing a large sample of Ds-containing and ruq-containing alleles against Uq and Ac.
Assessing mutable responses elicited by Uq and Ac elements.
Examining the responses of Ds and ruq elements to atypical Ac2 and Uq-Mn elements.

Main Results:

Uq elicited mutable responses from only Ds1 elements within the Ac family, mirroring ruq-Uq interactions.
Ac elicited mutable responses from all tested Ds and ruq elements, indicating nonreciprocal interactions.
Atypical Ac2 responded to all tested ruq and Ds elements, while Uq-Mn only responded to ruq (Ds1) elements, with other Ds elements being nonresponsive.

Conclusions:

The interactions between Ac and Uq components are not reciprocal, suggesting distinct regulatory mechanisms.
The differential responses of Ds elements to Ac and Uq highlight the heterogeneity within maize transposable element systems.
These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of TE dynamics and genome evolution in maize.