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Related Experiment Videos

Mutator transposase is widespread in the grasses.

D R Lisch1, M Freeling, R J Langham

  • 1Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, 111 Koshland Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. dlisch@uclink4.berkeley.edu

Plant Physiology
|March 13, 2001
PubMed
Summary

The Mutator (Mu) transposon system, known in maize, shows widespread mudrA gene presence across diverse grasses. Evidence suggests potentially active Mu-like systems in species like rice and wheat.

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Plant Transposon Systems

Background:

  • The Mutator (Mu) transposon system is highly mutagenic and well-characterized in maize (Zea mays).
  • Mu activity is regulated by the MuDR class of elements, including the mudrA gene, which shares similarity with bacterial transposases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and diversity of Mutator (Mu) transposon system components in various grass species beyond maize.
  • To assess the potential activity and conservation of Mu-like elements across different graminoids.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analyses of existing sequence databases (genomic and cDNA).
  • Comparative sequence analysis of mudrA-like genes in various grass species.
  • Identification of characteristic transposon features such as terminal inverted repeats and direct repeat sequences.

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Main Results:

  • mudrA sequences are ubiquitous and diverse across numerous grass species, often with multiple paralogs within a single genome.
  • mudrA-like sequences are present in cDNA databases for wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa), indicating potential transcription.
  • In rice and sorghum, mudrA-like genes exhibit structural features (terminal inverted and host direct repeats) indicative of active transposons.

Conclusions:

  • Systems related to the maize Mutator (Mu) transposon are potentially active in a wide range of grass species.
  • While mudrA is conserved, the mudrB gene, crucial for Mu activity in maize, may not be a universal component in other grasses.