Transposable elements in lepidoptera: hobo-like transposons in Heliothis virescens and Helicoverpa zea.

In the present study, a PCR-based approach was undertaken to determine if members of the hobo-like family of transposable elements were identifiable within the genomes of a number of diverse species, including Heliothis virescens and Helicoverpa zea. The amplified products derived from both H. virescens and H. zea were cloned and characterized. Analysis of the DNA sequence and the single open reading frame found within these fragments clearly demonstrates that these elements are closely related to the hobo transposon from Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, amino acid sequence analysis of the members of this family defines consensus, specific amino acids found within similar regions of all members of this transposon family.