HOBO ELEMENTS AND THEIR DELETION-DERIVATIVE SEQUENCES IN DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER AND ITS SIBLING SPECIES DROSOPHILA-SIMULANS, D-MAURITIANA AND D-SECHELLIA

Hobo elements are a family of transposable elements found in Drosophila melanogaster which present a specific deletion-derivative element (Th) in the majority of the current natural populations. Present data has resolved the Th element into two elements Th1 (1 510 bp) and Th2 (1 490 bp) and specified the regions within which the deletion breakpoints lie. Hobo homologous sequences were analysed in the sibling species D simulans, D mauritiana and D sechellia. In the full-sized element a PvuII site was shown in D simulans and D mauritiana as it exists in D melanogaster, but was not observed in D sechellia. Specific deleted-derivative elements were also characterized for the three sibling species: h del sim (1 080 bp), h del maur and h del sech (1 130 bp each) and their breakpoint regions plotted on a restriction map. The functioning of these elements is discussed.