Abstract
The hsp70 genes is among the main systems underlying the adaptation of organisms to adverse environmental factors. The ever increasing amount of data in literature demonstrates an important adaptive role of mobile genetic elements in microevolution. Drosophila hsp70 genes are potential target for transpositions of various mobile elements in natural populations. We have analyzed the frequency and localization of a P element-based genetic construction, EPgy2, in the region of Drosophila melanogaster hsp70 genes. A hot spot for the transposition was discovered in the promoter regions of genes hsp70Aa and hsp70Ab. No insertions of this construction in the coding or 3'-flanking regions of hsp70 genes have been recorded. It was demonstrated that the region of 161 to 7800 bp adjacent to the original construction is in certain cases also involved in the transposition. No transpositions of any other mobile elements have been observed. The inserts were shown to change the activity of hsp70 genes and the thermotolerance of transgenic strains.
