Transposon-free insertions for insect genetic engineering

Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Jul;24(7):820-1. doi: 10.1038/nbt1221. Epub 2006 Jun 25.

Abstract

Methods involving the release of transgenic insects in the field hold great promise for controlling vector-borne diseases and agricultural pests. Insect transformation depends on nonautonomous transposable elements as gene vectors. The resulting insertions are stable in the absence of suitable transposase, however, such absence cannot always be guaranteed. We describe a method for post-integration elimination of all transposon sequences in the pest insect Medfly, Ceratitis capitata. The resulting insertions lack transposon sequences and are therefore impervious to transposase activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Ceratitis capitata / genetics*
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics*
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Genetic Engineering / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Genomic Instability / genetics*
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed / methods*
  • Transposases / genetics

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Transposases