TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS AND GENE TRANSFORMATION IN NON-DROSOPHILID INSECTS

This review summarizes recent data on the development of non-drosophil id insect transformation systems, The discussion focuses on one partic ular approach to developing transformation systems that relies on the use of short inverted repeat-type transposable elements analogous to t hat employed for Drosophila melanogaster transformation, Representativ es from four families of short inverted repeat-type transposable eleme nts have been shown to either act as non-drosophilid gene vectors or t o have the ability to transpose accurately when introduced into non-ho st insect cells, Minos, a member of the Tcl family of elements isolate d originally from D. hydei has been successfully used as a germline tr ansformation vector in the Medfly, Ceratitis capitata. Hermes, a membe r of the hAT family of elements isolated originally from Musca domesti ca has been successfully used as a gene transformation vector in D, me lanogaster and has a host range that appears to include culicids. hobo , another member of the hAT family of elements isolated from D, melano gaster also has a broad host range that includes tephritid fruitflies, mariner(Mos), a member of the mariner family of elements isolated fro m D, mauritiana can transpose in calliphorids. Finally, piggyBac/IFP2, a member of the TTAA-specific family of elements isolated from Tricho plusia ni can transpose when introduced into Spodoptera frugiperda cel ls, Although routine transformation of insects other than D, melanogas ter is not possible it is clear that the raw materials for the develop ment of efficient transformation systems are now available. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd