CCMAR1, A FULL-LENGTH MARINER ELEMENT FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT-FLY, CERATITIS-CAPITATA

Using a PCR primer specific to the ITR sequence of a deleted mariner e lement we amplified a fragment of similar to 1300 bp from the genome o f Ceratitis capitata. Analysis of four clones showed that they differe d by similar to 4.6% in nucleotide sequence and exhibited high homolog y to mariner elements of the mellifera subfamily. One clone in particu lar, Ccmar1.18, was found to possess an ORF of 338 amino acids togethe r with many of the features typical of mariner elements. The consensus sequence, Ccmar1, derived from these clones is presented. Maximum par simony phylogenetic analysis of the Ccmar1 element confirms its positi on at the periphery of the mariner mellifera subfamily. The Ccmar1 ele ment is estimated to be present in about 500 copies in the genome. The evolutionary history of the element in relation to the colonization h istory of the medfly is discussed.