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Hugo K. Dooner
Professor
Rutgers University
Dept. of Plant Science
Waksman Institute - Busch Campus
Piscataway. NJ 08854
(732) 445-4684
FAX -5735
dooner@waksman.rutgers.edu |
Meiotic recombination. transposons. and genome organization in plants
Homologous meiotic recombination and transposition of mobile genetic elements are common
events leading to chromosome changes in higher plants. We are using the highly recombinogenic bronze
(bz) locus of maize to study
meiotic recombination in plants. We
have generated and analyzed rare intragenic recombinants (IGRs) from various
combinations of bz mutations. The IGR chromosomes are being analyzed molecularly to determine
similarities and differences between the meiotic recombination process in plants
and in other model systems. such as yeast. The bz gene is a highly localized recombination hotspot in the maize genome. but unlike
yeast genes. it does not show an internal gradient in recombination frequency.
We are currently attempting to elucidate the basis for the extreme differences
between recombination inside and immediately outside of the bz gene. Our sequence analysis of BAC clones of the bz region suggests that recombination in maize may be restricted to genes. Transposons can move from one chromosomal location to another and often insert in genes. so
they can be used as gene searchers in complex genomes. We are interested not only in the biology of the maize transposon Activator (Ac)
in its native and transgenic hosts. but also in the utilization of Ac as a molecular tag for gene isolation. To
aid in the isolation of genes from maize and other plants that lack well-characterized
transposons. we have developed reliable systems for the detection of rare
transposition events. Taking
advantage of Ac 's preference to
transpose into genes. we are using it as a gene-searching engine in a large Ac
insertion library generated as part of our Maize Genome Project. We are also producing transgenic maize plants carrying an engineered Ac
that will serve as an improved gene tag in future tagging experiments.
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