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LTR Retrotransposons

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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.
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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...

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The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...

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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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Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level

Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level

Published on: April 23, 2016

GIN transposons: genetic elements linking retrotransposons and genes.

Ignacio Marín¹

¹Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain. imarin@ibv.csic.es

Molecular Biology and Evolution

|March 16, 2010

Summary

Researchers discovered novel animal-specific DNA transposons, termed GIN elements, which likely gave rise to the Gypsy Integrase 1 (GIN1) and GIN2 genes. These GIN elements may represent a crucial evolutionary link between retrotransposons and animal genes.

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Evolutionary Biology
Genomics

Background:

The Gypsy Integrase 1 (GIN1) gene encodes a protein similar to integrases found in Gypsy/Ty3 retrotransposons.
GIN1 and its paralog, GIN2, are present in vertebrates and urochordates.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the evolutionary origin of GIN1 and GIN2 genes.
To identify and characterize novel animal-specific DNA transposons related to these genes.

Main Methods:

Phylogenetic analysis
Structural analysis
Comparative genomics

Main Results:

Identification of a novel family of animal-specific DNA transposons, termed GIN elements.
Phylogenetic and structural analyses indicate GIN genes originated from GIN elements, not directly from retrotransposons.
Integrases encoded by GIN elements are more similar to GIN1 and GIN2 integrases than to retrotransposon integrases.
Intron positions are conserved between GIN elements and GIN genes.

Conclusions:

GIN elements likely co-opted retrotransposon integrases early in animal evolution and subsequently gave rise to the GIN genes.
GIN transposons represent a potential evolutionary 'missing link' explaining the origin of GIN genes from retrotransposons.
GIN1 and GIN2 may play a role in regulating the expansion of GIN elements and Gypsy/Ty3 retrotransposons in chordates.