ENHANCER TRAP

enhancer trap: translation

Technique for mapping gene expression patterns, classically in Drosophila. A transposon element carrying a reporter gene (usually beta-galactosidase), linked to a very weak promoter, is induced to ‘jump’ within the genome. If the P-element re-inserts within the sphere of influence of promoters and enhancersof some (random) gene, then the reporter gene is also expressed in a similar tissue-specific manner. Usually, many lines of flies carrying such random insertions are studied; if a line shows "interesting" patterns of expression, it can be possible to clone the gene of interest.