Vol. 9, Issue 5, 471-481, May 1999

LETTER
Genetic Localization of a Drosophila melanogaster Resistance Gene to a Parasitoid Wasp and Physical Mapping of the Region

¹ Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Université F. Rabelais, 37200 Tours, France; ² Laboratoire Populations, Génétique et Evolution, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 91198 Gif/Yvette, France

Drosophila melanogaster larvae usually react against eggs of the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi by surrounding them with a multicellular melanotic capsule. The genetic determinism of this response has been studied previously using susceptible (non-capsule-forming) and resistant (capsule-forming) strains. The results suggest that differences in their encapsulation response involve a single gene, resistance to Leptopilina boulardi (Rlb), with two alleles, the resistant one being dominant. Rlb confers specific protection against Leptopilina boulardi and is thus probably involved in parasitoid recognition. Recent studies have localized this gene on the right arm of the second chromosome and our aim was to precisely determine its genetic and molecular location. Using strains bearing deletions, we demonstrated that resistance to Leptopilina boulardi is conferred by the 55C; 55F3 region and that the 55E2-E6; F3 region is particularly involved. A physical map of the 55C; 56A region was then constructed, based on a set of overlapping cosmid and P1 phage clones. Using single and double digests, cross hybridization of restriction fragments, and location of genetically mapped genes and STSs, a complete, five-enzyme restriction map of this 830-kb region was obtained.