Method
A reverse genetic screen in Drosophila using a deletion-inducing mutagen
1 Zoologisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
2 Institut für Molekularbiologie, Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
3 Massachusetts General Hospital, Jackson 1402, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Genome Biology 2004, 5:R83 doi:10.1186/gb-2004-5-10-r83
Published: 28 September 2004Abstract
We report the use of the cross-linking drug hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA), which introduces small deletions, as a mutagen suitable for reverse genetics in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. A compatible mutation-detection method based on resolution of PCR fragment-length polymorphisms on standard DNA sequencers is implemented. As the spectrum of HMPA-induced mutations is similar in a variety of organisms, it should be possible to transfer this mutagenesis and detection procedure to other model systems.
