SPREAD OF THE AUTONOMOUS TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENT HOBO IN THE GENOME OF DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER

The transposable element hobo has been introduced into the previously empty Drosophila melanogaster strain Hikone so that its dynamics can b e followed and it can be compared with the P element. Five transformed lines were followed over 58 generations. The results were highly depe ndent on the culture temperature, the spread of hobo element being mor e efficient at 25 degrees C than at 21 degrees C. The multiplication o f hobo sequences resulted in a change in the features of these lines i n the hobo system of hybrid dysgenesis. The number of hobo elements re mained low (two to seven copies) and the insertions always corresponde d to complete sequences. Our findings suggest that, despite their gene tic similarities, P and hobo elements differ in many aspects, such as mobility and regulation mechanisms.