Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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...

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...

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

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...

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...

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Nanoengineering Systems for Gene Therapy: Mechanisms, Modalities, and Future Directions.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same author

Diverse Processes Drive the Origination and Maturation of an Array of Enhancers and Silencers During a Vast Evolutionary Timescale of a Bicistronic Gene.

Genes·2026

Same author

Chronic Co-administration of Methylphenidate and Fluoxetine Reduces Striatal NMDA Receptor Binding in Adolescent Rats.

Neurochemical research·2026

Same author

Mustn1 ablation in male mice results in fiber type and gene expression alterations during skeletal muscle regeneration.

Physiological reports·2026

Same author

The Scientific Case for Animal Models: A Perspective From Musculoskeletal Researchers.

FASEB bioAdvances·2026

Same author

Attenuation of Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling Promotes Complete Recovery of Trabecular Bone Structure Following Immobilization With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

Published on: January 20, 2023

The intertwining of transposable elements and non-coding RNAs.

Michael Hadjiargyrou¹, Nicholas Delihas

¹Department of Life Sciences, Theobald Science Center, Room 420, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA. Nicholas.delihas@stonybrook.edu.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

|June 28, 2013

Summary

Transposable elements (TEs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are closely linked, with TEs regulating gene expression and impacting diseases. Understanding this TE-ncRNA interplay is crucial for advancing molecular biology and medicine.

More Related Videos

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

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

Published on: May 19, 2019

Identification of Functionally-Relevant Lentivirus Integration Sites in an Insertional Mutagenesis Cell Library

Identification of Functionally-Relevant Lentivirus Integration Sites in an Insertional Mutagenesis Cell Library

Published on: January 10, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

Published on: January 20, 2023

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

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

Published on: May 19, 2019

Identification of Functionally-Relevant Lentivirus Integration Sites in an Insertional Mutagenesis Cell Library

Identification of Functionally-Relevant Lentivirus Integration Sites in an Insertional Mutagenesis Cell Library

Published on: January 10, 2025

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
RNA Biology

Background:

Growing evidence highlights the association between transposable elements (TEs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).
A significant proportion of small ncRNAs originate from TEs, playing crucial roles in gene regulation.
Alu elements, a type of TE, are particularly important in gene regulation and molecular pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the intricate relationship between transposable elements and non-coding RNAs.
To elucidate the regulatory functions of ncRNAs associated with TE sequences.
To investigate the role of TE-ncRNA interactions in human diseases.

Main Methods:

Analysis of ncRNA sequences and their association with TEs.
Investigation of base-pairing interactions between ncRNAs and target RNAs.
Examination of TE-derived regulatory signals in ncRNA genes.
Study of TE-ncRNA roles in epigenetic regulation and disease etiology.

Main Results:

ncRNAs linked with TE sequences, especially Alu elements, participate in diverse regulatory functions, including targeted mRNA decay.
TEs can provide regulatory signals for long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs).
Circular ncRNAs act as miRNA sponges, with Alu sequences potentially mediating circularization.
TE/ncRNA interactions are implicated in various diseases, such as brainstem atrophy and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Conclusions:

The interplay between TEs and ncRNAs is fundamental to gene regulation and cellular processes.
TE-derived ncRNAs have significant roles in gene silencing, mRNA decay, and epigenetic modifications.
Dysregulation of TE-ncRNA interactions contributes to the etiology of numerous human diseases.
Further research into TE-ncRNA associations promises new insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.