MLE-1, A MARINER-LIKE TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENT IN THE NEMATODE TRICHOSTRONGYLUS-COLUBRIFORMIS

A mariner-like element termed mle-l was discovered in the parasitic ne matode Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The mle-l has features which su pport its assignment as a mariner-like transposable element. Cloned ml e-1 was derived from an intron of the tar-1 gene. It comprises 893 bp, includes two 27 bp flanking perfect inverted repeats and is present a t approximately 50 copies in the genome. The element contains a coding region which displays homology to transposases, with the greatest ami no acid similarity to a Caenorhabditis elegans mariner-like transposas e. The coding region contains two 12 bp repeats; these repeats flank a n II bp segment which accounts for a frameshift in this region. As a c andidate transposon, mle-1 provides potential for genetic manipulation of this and related organisms. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.