Abstract
An alcohol dehydrogenase allele AdhAAS44 isolated from an Australian natural population of Drosophila melanogaster is associated with low activity in adult flies. A 5.0 kb insertion in the first intron between the distal and proximal promoters has been partially sequenced and shown to be homologous to the retrotransposon Tirant. The insertion is the major change in the transcriptional unit of AdhAAS44, but there is also a single nucleotide change in the adult Adh enhancer. The main phenotypic effect associated with the Tirant insertion is a reduction in alcohol dehydrogenase activity and transcript level in adult flies. There is a very much smaller reduction in 3rd instar larvae. The data indicate that Tirant affects transcription from the distal promoter. The possible mechanisms for this differential effect on transcription are discussed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
