Isolation of dominant suppressor mutations for position-effect variegation in Drosophila melanogaster

Dominant suppressor mutations for position-effect variegation have been isolated by using a strongly variegated line carrying the wm4 chromosome (wm4h) and the dominant enhancer mutant En(var)c101. The use of an effective genetic test system made it possible to isolate more than 100 strongly dominant suppressor mutations for position-effect variegation. This suggests that the phenomenon of position-effect variegation is characterised by a complex genetic basis. The significance of the isolated mutants to genetic dissection of structural and regulatory functions of the eukaryotic chromosome is discussed.