Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

22.3K
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
22.3K
Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

16.3K
Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
16.3K
DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

16.0K
DNA-only transposons are called autonomous transposons since they code for the enzyme transposase that is required for the transposition mechanism. Insertion of transposons can alter gene functions in multiple ways. They can mutate the gene, alter gene expression by introducing a novel promoter or insulator sequence, introduce new splice sites, and change the mRNA transcripts produced, or remodel chromatin structure.
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
16.0K
LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

18.1K
LTR retrotransposons are class I transposable elements with long terminal repeats flanking an internal coding region. These elements are less abundant in mammals compared to other class I transposable elements. About 8 percent of human genomic DNA comprises LTR retrotransposons. Some of the common examples of LTR retrotransposons are Ty elements in yeast and Copia elements in Drosophila.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
18.1K
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

5.7K
Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
5.7K
Transposons01:24

Transposons

3.3K
Transposons, or "jumping genes," are small mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that range from 700 to 40,000 base pairs in length. They are found in all organisms and can move within the same chromosome or transfer to different chromosomes. In some cases, transposons can also jump between different host DNA molecules, such as plasmids or viruses, contributing to genetic variability.Barbara McClintock first discovered these mobile genetic elements in the 1940s while studying maize genetics, and she...
3.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Fibroblast MrgprX2/B2 signaling drives hypertrophic scar fibrosis.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Efficient Extraction of Nicotine From Tobacco Absolute Oil by Ionic Liquid-Decorated Boron Nitride/Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Composite Hydrogel.

Journal of separation science·2026
Same author

An active Helitron transposon family in wheat.

Nature plants·2026
Same author

A Holistically Engineered Laccase Nanozyme With Enhanced Activity for Phenolic Compound Removal.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Predicting visual mental imagery: structural and transcriptomic signatures in the human brain.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Inhibitory Decay and Supercritical Brain Dynamics During Sleep Deprivation.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma
10:58

Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma

Published on: February 22, 2015

12.6K

Transposition of hAT elements links transposable elements and V(D)J recombination.

Liqin Zhou1, Rupak Mitra, Peter W Atkinson

  • 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.

Nature
|December 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary

The study reveals that the insect Hermes transposon forms hairpin DNA structures during transposition, similar to V(D)J recombination. This finding links transposon movement and V(D)J recombination mechanisms.

More Related Videos

Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level
11:52

Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level

Published on: April 23, 2016

7.8K
Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
04:04

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

Published on: January 20, 2023

2.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma
10:58

Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma

Published on: February 22, 2015

12.6K
Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level
11:52

Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level

Published on: April 23, 2016

7.8K
Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
04:04

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

Published on: January 20, 2023

2.3K

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Transposons are mobile DNA sequences that can alter genome structure and function.
  • The transposition mechanism of the eukaryotic hAT superfamily, including the Hermes element, was not well understood.
  • Divergent sequences in hAT transposases suggested a potentially unique transposition pathway.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vitro transposition mechanism of the insect hAT element, Hermes.
  • To compare the Hermes transposition mechanism with other known transposable elements and recombination processes.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro analysis of Hermes transposon transposition.
  • Characterization of DNA intermediates formed during transposition.
  • Comparative analysis of catalytic amino acid sequences between Hermes transposase and other related enzymes.

Main Results:

  • Hermes transposon excises from donor DNA via double-strand breaks, similar to other transposons.
  • Formation of hairpin DNA intermediates at the ends of donor double-strand breaks was observed.
  • These hairpin intermediates are analogous to those found in V(D)J recombination.

Conclusions:

  • The Hermes transposon utilizes a mechanism involving hairpin formation, linking it to V(D)J recombination.
  • Similarities in catalytic amino acids suggest a shared evolutionary origin or functional relationship between Hermes transposase, RAG recombinase, and retroviral integrases.
  • This study provides new insights into the diversity of transposon mechanisms and their relationship with eukaryotic recombination pathways.