Transposable elements in South American populations of Drosophila simulans

Abstract

This study investigated the occurrence of four transposable elements (mariner, gypsy, hobo and 412) in South American populations of Drosophila simulans. The genomic hybridization patterns of 12 different populations were determined by Southern blot analyses. Even though a low number of mariner copies was observed, each population presented a characteristic hybridization pattern, suggesting that the element is active. The number of gypsy copies was also low, but all populations bore a similar hybridization pattern. In this paper we describe the occurrence of an almost gypsy-free strain, which had not yet been found for D. simulans nor D. melanogaster. In the case of hobo, we did not detect the 1.1-kb-long deleted hobo element in any of the South American populations while this element is present in all strains originating from other geographical sites that were analysed up to now, suggesting that the hobo element may have very recently invaded the genome of South American D. simulans populations. The 412 element presented some population-specific band patterns, indicating that this element may have some transposition activity in the different populations.