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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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Mechanism of Conjugation

Mechanism of Conjugation

Bacterial conjugation is a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer that enables the exchange of genetic material between bacterial cells through direct contact. This process is facilitated by a donor cell carrying a conjugative plasmid, which encodes genes necessary for pilus formation, DNA replication, and transfer. The conjugative plasmid plays a central role in initiating and executing the transfer of genetic material.The tra region of the conjugative plasmid encodes proteins responsible for...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Screening Foodstuffs for Class 1 Integrons and Gene Cassettes

Screening Foodstuffs for Class 1 Integrons and Gene Cassettes

Published on: June 19, 2015

Preclinical class 1 integron with a complete Tn402-like transposition module.

Ammara Sajjad¹, Marita P Holley, Maurizio Labbate

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology

|November 2, 2010

Summary

Researchers identified integrons in prawn gut bacteria. A novel pseudomonad contained a class 1 integron with two gene cassettes, one matching a class 3 integron from Delftia tsuruhatensis.

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Screening Foodstuffs for Class 1 Integrons and Gene Cassettes

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Integrons are genetic elements conferring antibiotic resistance.
Prawns can harbor diverse gut bacteria.
Understanding integron distribution is crucial for tracking resistance genes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the presence and characteristics of integrons in gut bacteria of wild-caught prawns.
To identify novel integron structures and gene cassettes in this environment.

Main Methods:

Bacterial isolation from prawn gut microbiota.
Molecular analysis to detect and characterize integrons, including sequencing of gene cassettes.
Comparison of identified cassettes with known databases.

Main Results:

A pseudomonad species harboring a Tn402-like class 1 integron was isolated.
The identified class 1 integron possessed a complete transposition module and two gene cassettes.
One gene cassette was found to be identical to a previously described cassette from a Delftia tsuruhatensis class 3 integron.

Conclusions:

Wild-caught prawns can serve as reservoirs for mobile genetic elements like integrons.
The findings highlight the potential for horizontal gene transfer of resistance determinants between different bacterial species and integron classes.
This study contributes to understanding the dissemination of integrons in aquatic environments.