Mu Array

The MuArray is being developed for the rapid identification of maize plants harbouring insertions within specific genes.

Mu flanking sequences are amplified from large numbers of individual Mu active plants and used to construct high density arrays. Hybridisation of these arrays with labelled cDNA identifies plants with Mu insertions within these genes.

Trials using arrays of Mu flanking sequences from 768 plants identify an average of one Mu active plant per cDNA. A Mu array representing over 3000 plants, estimated to detect an average of four mutant plants per cDNA, is under construction and should be available later this year.

This resource will be freely available for screening by the international Maize community. If you are interested in screening the MuArray you can download a request form in Word or Rich text Format. If you have any questions regarding the MuArray, feel free to contact Jane Coghill.

Graphical overview of MuArray

Amplify and array Mu
flanking sequences
Probe with labelled gene

Grow and characterise knockout plants

Mu flanking sequences were amplified from 768 maize plants using Mu AFLP and double spotted on to nylon membrane. This array was hybridised with a pool of five radio-labelled DNA inserts and washed under high stringency. Four maize plants were identified as having Mu insertions within genes homologous to these cDNAs

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Maintained by gary.barker@bristol.ac.uk Last updated Dec 2001