Miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) are nonautonomous elements that are abundant in plant genomes. The rice MITE mPing was shown to be mobilized by anther culture, and the associated transposon Pong was shown to transpose actively in an Oryza sativa 'indica' rice cell-culture line. We have identified 3 sequences in maize named ZmTPAPong-like 1, 2, and 3 that displayed homology with the transposase of Pong. Here, we show that these sequences are differentially expressed during the in vitro androgenetic process in maize. We also demonstrate that the ZmTPAPong-like I and 3 sequences reveal somaclonal variations among plants regenerated from the calli of a doubled haploid line. These data suggest that the ZmTPAPong-like sequences could form part of a Zea mays element related to the rice Pong element. The possible activation of this newly discovered element under stress conditions is discussed.
