TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN LEPIDOPTERA - HOBO-LIKE TRANSPOSONS IN HELIOTHIS-VIRESCENS AND HELICOVERPA-ZEA

In the present study, a PCR-based approach was undertaken to determine if members of the hobo-like family of transposable elements were iden tifiable within the genomes of a number of diverse species, including Heliothis virescens and Helicoverpa tea. The amplified products derive d from both H. virescens and H. tea were cloned and characterized. Ana lysis of the DNA sequence and the single open reading frame found with in these fragments clearly demonstrates that these elements are closel y related to the hobo transposon from Drosophila melanogaster. In addi tion, amino acid sequence analysis of the members of this family defin es consensus, specific amino acids found within similar regions of all members of this transposon family. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.