Transcription of Drosophila mobile element gypsy (mdg4) in heat-shocked cells

Drosophila melanogaster Schneider 2 line cultured cells were subjected to stable transformation by co-transfection with two plasmids, one of which conferred G418 resistance and another which contained the Drosophila retrotransposon, gypsy (mdg4), under the control of the heat-shock protein 70 promoter. Transcription of the introduced constructs, as well as of endogenous gypsy, was examined under the condition of heat shock. Active degradation of pre-existing gypsy transcripts was observed. During recovery, gypsy transcription was restored, but its termination and/or 3'-end processing became aberrant.