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Transposons

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 Retrotransposons

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 Recombination

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...

DNA-only Transposons

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...

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...

LTR Retrotransposons

LTR Retrotransposons

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...

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Transposable elements in human cancers by genome-wide EST alignment.

Dae-Soo Kim¹, Jae-Won Huh, Heui-Soo Kim

¹PBBRC, Interdisciplinary Research Program of Bioinformatics, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea.

Genes & Genetic Systems

|May 18, 2007

Summary

Transposable elements influence human gene expression and are found in tumors. This study identified 999 cancer-related genes linked to transposable elements, aiding cancer mechanism understanding.

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Area of Science:

Genomics
Molecular Biology
Cancer Research

Background:

Transposable elements (TEs) can alter gene function, including coding sequences, splicing, and transcriptional regulation.
TE particles have been identified in various human tissues and tumors, suggesting a role in disease.

Purpose of the Study:

To perform a genome-wide analysis of gene expression regulated by transposable elements in human cancers.
To develop a database (TECESdb) for understanding the role of TEs in cancer development.

Main Methods:

Utilized an analysis pipeline to screen expressed human sequences for cancer-specific expression.
Analyzed the EST (Expressed Sequence Tag) database to identify genes fused with transposable elements.

Main Results:

Identified 999 cancer-related genes fused with transposable elements.
Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these genes are predominantly associated with gene receptor, DNA binding, and kinase activity.

Conclusions:

The findings highlight the significant role of transposable elements in regulating cancer-specific genes.
The developed TECESdb and identified gene set offer valuable insights into the mechanisms of human cancer development.