Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level
Published on: April 23, 2016
Retrotransposon Alu is enriched in the epichromatin of HL-60 cells
Ada L Olins1, Naveed Ishaque2, Sasithorn Chotewutmontri3
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences; College of Pharmacy; University of New England; Portland, ME USA.
Abstract:
Epichromatin, the surface of chromatin facing the nuclear envelope in an interphase nucleus, reveals a "rim" staining pattern with specific mouse monoclonal antibodies against histone H2A/H2B/DNA and phosphatidylserine epitopes. Employing a modified ChIP-Seq procedure on undifferentiated and differentiated human leukemic (HL-60/S4) cells,>95% of assembled epichromatin regions overlapped with Alu retrotransposons. They also exhibited enrichment of the AluS subfamily and of Alu oligomers. Furthermore, mapping epichromatin regions to the human chromosomes revealed highly similar localization patterns in the various cell states and with the different antibodies. Comparisons with available epigenetic databases suggested that epichromatin is neither "classical" heterochromatin nor highly expressing genes, implying another function at the surface of interphase chromatin. A modified chromatin immunoprecipitation procedure (xxChIP) was developed because the studied antibodies react generally with mononucleosomes and lysed chromatin. A second fixation is necessary to securely attach the antibodies to the epichromatin epitopes of the intact nucleus.
Related Concept Videos
Non-LTR Retrotransposons
LTR Retrotransposons
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
Position-effect Variegation
Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
DNA-only Transposons
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...

