An RFLP adjacent to the maize waxy gene has the structure of a transposable element

Two maize inbred lines harbor non-mutant waxy (Wx) genes that display restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) upstream from the start of Wx transcription. Sequencing of this region in the two strains revealed a DNA insertion with the structural features of a transposable element. The insertion is 316 bp in length, has 15 bp imperfect inverted repeats and is flanked by a 5 bp direct repeat generated upon insertion. Sequences homologous to this insertion are present in multiple copies in maize and its relatives teosinte and Tripsacum but not in the more distantly related dicot tobacco. Finally, this element is not homologous with any previously described maize DNA insertion.