Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Identification of Sleeping Beauty Transposon Insertions in Solid Tumors using Linker-mediated PCR
10:34

Identification of Sleeping Beauty Transposon Insertions in Solid Tumors using Linker-mediated PCR

Published on: February 1, 2013

Hopping around the tumor genome: transposons for cancer gene discovery

Lara S Collier1, David A Largaespada

  • 1Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Transposon Research, The Cancer Center, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.

Cancer Research
|November 4, 2005
PubMed

Insights

The Sleeping Beauty transposon system enables efficient cancer gene discovery across various tissues in mice. This powerful tool aids in identifying new cancer genes and developing precise models for human cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Cancer Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Retroviruses are effective insertional mutagens for cancer gene discovery in model organisms.
  • Previous applications were restricted to specific tissues like the hematopoietic system and mammary gland.
  • The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system offers a novel approach to somatic cell mutagenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system for random somatic cell mutagenesis.
  • To assess the potential of SB for cancer gene discovery in diverse tissues.
  • To explore the utility of SB in generating mouse models of human cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system for random somatic mutagenesis in mice.
  • Induced or accelerated tumor formation in various tissues, including the hematopoietic system and sarcomas.
  • Analyzed tumors to identify genes tagged by SB transposons.

Main Results:

  • SB transposons successfully "tagged" specific genes within induced tumors.
  • Identified both known and novel cancer genes through transposon-mediated mutagenesis.
  • Demonstrated tumor formation in both hematopoietic system and sarcomas.

Conclusions:

  • The SB system is a versatile tool for random somatic cell mutagenesis in mice.
  • SB transposons facilitate the discovery of cancer genes across a wide range of tissues.
  • The SB system holds significant potential for creating accurate mouse models of human cancers.

More Related Videos

Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma10:58

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

Published on: February 22, 2015

Detection of Retrotransposition Activity of Hot LINE-1s by Long-Distance Inverse PCR10:54

Detection of Retrotransposition Activity of Hot LINE-1s by Long-Distance Inverse PCR

Published on: July 27, 2019

Related Concept Videos

DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

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...
Transposons01:24

Transposons

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...
Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

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...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...