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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
Transposons01:24

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 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...
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...

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Generation of Enterobacter sp. YSU Auxotrophs Using Transposon Mutagenesis
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Structure and evolution of chlorate reduction composite transposons.

Iain C Clark1, Ryan A Melnyk, Anna Engelbrektson

  • 1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.

Mbio
|August 8, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Newly discovered composite transposons reveal how bacteria acquire chlorate reduction genes. These mobile genetic elements, flanked by insertion sequences, facilitate the spread of this important metabolic pathway across different bacterial strains.

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Determination of the Optimal Chromosomal Location(s) for a DNA Element in Escherichia coli Using a Novel Transposon-mediated Approach
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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and Genomics
  • Bacterial Metabolism
  • Horizontal Gene Transfer

Background:

  • Chlorate reduction is a crucial metabolic process in various bacteria.
  • The genetic basis and evolutionary pathways of chlorate reduction are not fully understood.
  • Previous studies have identified key enzymes but lacked insight into the broader genetic architecture.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the genetic organization and evolutionary history of chlorate reduction pathways in bacteria.
  • To identify mobile genetic elements associated with chlorate reduction genes.
  • To understand the role of horizontal gene transfer in the dissemination of chlorate metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Genome sequencing of four bacterial strains, including a newly isolated Shewanella algae ACDC.
  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify repeat regions and flanking insertion sequences.
  • Phylogenetic analysis of key enzymes like chlorate reductase and chlorite dismutase (cld).
  • Comparative genomics to identify accessory genes and potential host system reliance.

Main Results:

  • Discovery of composite transposons flanking chlorate reduction genes in all four newly sequenced strains.
  • Insertion sequences vary in type and orientation, suggesting multiple independent formation events.
  • Phylogenetic analysis supports the independent evolution of chlorate reduction from dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reductases.
  • Evidence suggests chlorite dismutase (cld) was co-opted from perchlorate reduction islands.

Conclusions:

  • Composite transposons are key mobile elements driving the dissemination of chlorate reduction.
  • The evolution of chlorate respiration likely involved multiple independent gene acquisition events.
  • Accessory genes are minimal, indicating reliance on host systems for efficient chlorate metabolism.
  • This study provides a significant advancement in understanding the genetics and evolution of bacterial chlorate reduction.