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Related Concept Videos

LTR Retrotransposons03:08

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...
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...
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
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...
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

RNA Next-Generation Sequencing and a Bioinformatics Pipeline to Identify Expressed LINE-1s at the Locus-Specific Level
11:04

RNA Next-Generation Sequencing and a Bioinformatics Pipeline to Identify Expressed LINE-1s at the Locus-Specific Level

Published on: May 19, 2019

Retrotransposons and non-protein coding RNAs.

Tobias Mourier1, Eske Willerslev

  • 1Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. tmourier@snm.ku.dk

Briefings in Functional Genomics & Proteomics
|September 5, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Retrotransposons, abundant in mammalian genomes, generate functional RNAs, not just noise. Small RNAs also regulate these mobile genetic elements, revealing a complex interplay.

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RNA Next-Generation Sequencing and a Bioinformatics Pipeline to Identify Expressed LINE-1s at the Locus-Specific Level
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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • Retrotransposons comprise a substantial portion of mammalian genomes.
  • Widespread transcriptional activity suggests retrotransposons contribute significantly to the cellular RNA pool.
  • This transcriptional output is increasingly recognized as functional, not merely spurious.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review functional RNAs transcribed from retrotransposons.
  • To discuss non-protein coding RNAs derived from transposable elements, including microRNAs and BC RNAs.
  • To explore the regulatory role of small RNAs in controlling retrotransposon activity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of retrotransposon transcription and function.
  • Analysis of non-coding RNA databases and literature.
  • Synthesis of current research on small RNA-mediated retrotransposon regulation.

Main Results:

  • Retrotransposons yield functional RNAs, including microRNAs and neuronal BC RNAs.
  • Transposable element sequences are sources of diverse non-protein coding RNAs.
  • Small RNAs play a crucial role in the epigenetic regulation of retrotransposons.

Conclusions:

  • Retrotransposon transcription is a source of functional non-coding RNAs.
  • Small RNAs are key regulators of retrotransposon activity and genome stability.
  • Understanding these interactions is vital for comprehending genome dynamics and evolution.