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Overview of Transposition and Recombination

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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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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Recombineering Homologous Recombination Constructs in Drosophila

Recombineering Homologous Recombination Constructs in Drosophila

Published on: July 13, 2013

Drosophila P element transposase recognizes internal P element DNA sequences.

P D Kaufman¹, R F Doll, D C Rio

¹Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Nine Cambridge Center, Massachusetts 02142.

|October 20, 1989

Summary

Purified Drosophila P element transposase binds specifically to internal DNA sequences, not terminal repeats, influencing transposition. This binding may also affect P element transcription, suggesting other protein factors are involved.

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Drosophila melanogaster research

Background:

Drosophila P transposable elements are mobile genetic sequences.
The P element transposase protein is essential for P element transposition and excision.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the DNA binding properties of purified P element transposase.
To identify the specific DNA sequences recognized by transposase.
To explore the potential impact of transposase binding on P element transcription.

Main Methods:

Purification of Drosophila P element transposase.
Site-specific DNA binding assays.
In vitro transcription assays.

Main Results:

Purified P element transposase is a site-specific DNA binding protein.
Transposase binds to a 10 bp internal consensus sequence at both ends of P element DNA, not the terminal inverted repeats.
The transposase binding site overlaps with sequences critical for P element promoter activity in vitro.
Transposase exhibits high non-specific DNA binding affinity.

Conclusions:

P element transposase specifically recognizes internal DNA sequences crucial for transposition.
Transposase binding may regulate P element transcription, potentially involving other protein factors.
The P element transposition process likely requires additional Drosophila protein factors interacting with terminal DNA sequences.