Retrotransposons and evolution in phlebotomines.

The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify a segment of the reverse transcriptase (RT) gene of putative retrotransposons from Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perniciosus, P. (L.) perfiliewi, P. (Phlebotomus) papatasi and Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis. Based on amino acid sequence comparisons with known RT genes, the amplified products of these species were shown to be derived from non-LTR retrotransposons related to the F element of Drosophila melanogaster. The usefulness of this technique is discussed in relation to taxonomy and genetic manipulation.