Homologue destabilization by a putative transposable element in Drosophila melanogaster.

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Abstract
The presence of a transposable element, designated the L factor, is postulated to explain the properties of an unstable X chromosome and its derivatives. These chromosomes generate recessive lethal mutations at high rates, as does a stable X chromosome that was associated with them for only one generation. The stable X chromosome does not become highly mutable in the absence of the unstable X chromosome, even when autosomes from the unstable stock are present. The L factor is evidently confined to the X chromosome and it transposes to other X chromosomes paired with it. The term homologue destabilization is postulated to denote the change in the stable chromosome brought about by this transposition. The lethal mutations caused by the L factor occur preferentially in the region around the cut wing locus (ct) and are sometimes associated with recognizable chromosome aberrations. The breakpoints of these aberrations are most often in the vicinity of ct, implying that the L factor is located near ct on the unstable chromosome, but it may reside at other sites as well. The ct region may simply be a preferred target for the insertion of this transposable element.