Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

33.9K
Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
33.9K
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

1.4K
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
1.4K
Translesion DNA Polymerases02:10

Translesion DNA Polymerases

11.9K
Translesion (TLS) polymerases rescue stalled DNA polymerases at sites of damaged bases by replacing the replicative polymerase and installing a nucleotide across the damaged site. Doing so, TLS allows additional time for the cell to repair the damage before resuming regular DNA replication.
TLS polymerases are found in all three domains of life - archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes. Of the different classes of TLS polymerases, members of the Y family are fitted with specialized structures that...
11.9K
LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

20.5K
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...
20.5K
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

15.9K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
15.9K
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

7.4K
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...
7.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Pump- and Valve-Free Flow Injection Capillary Liquid Electrode Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry Coupled to a Droplet Array Platform.

Analytical chemistry·2016
Same author

QuEChERS Purification Combined with Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Simultaneous Quantification of 25 Mycotoxins in Cereals.

Toxins·2016
Same author

Exogenous expression of SAMHD1 inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma-derived HuT78 cells.

Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)·2016
Same author

Exendin-4 protects HUVECs from tunicamycin-induced apoptosis via inhibiting the IRE1a/JNK/caspase-3 pathway.

Endocrine·2016
Same author

MicroRNA-181 contributes to downregulation of SAMHD1 expression in CD4+ T-cells derived from Sèzary syndrome patients.

Leukemia research·2016
Same author

Association between ambient particulate matter exposure and semen quality in Wuhan, China.

Environment international·2016

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Reverse Genetics to Engineer Positive-Sense RNA Virus Variants
15:49

Reverse Genetics to Engineer Positive-Sense RNA Virus Variants

Published on: June 9, 2022

2.1K

An Unexplored Diversity of Reverse Transcriptases in Bacteria.

Steven Zimmerly1, Li Wu1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.

Microbiology Spectrum
|June 25, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial reverse transcriptases (RTs), once thought eukaryotic, are diverse and ancient. Many uncharacterized bacterial RTs, unlike group II introns, lack mobility but may play roles in phage resistance and other biological processes.

More Related Videos

Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells
13:07

Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells

Published on: January 30, 2019

10.0K
Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors
05:46

Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors

Published on: April 9, 2014

18.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Reverse Genetics to Engineer Positive-Sense RNA Virus Variants
15:49

Reverse Genetics to Engineer Positive-Sense RNA Virus Variants

Published on: June 9, 2022

2.1K
Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells
13:07

Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells

Published on: January 30, 2019

10.0K
Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors
05:46

Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors

Published on: April 9, 2014

18.5K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Reverse transcriptases (RTs) are typically associated with eukaryotic cells but are also found in bacteria.
  • Bacterial RTs likely originated in bacteria before migrating to eukaryotes.
  • Three main types of bacterial retroelements (group II introns, diversity-generating retroelements, retrons) have been characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current knowledge of characterized and uncharacterized RTs in bacteria.
  • To highlight the sequence diversity and domain structures of bacterial RTs.
  • To explore the potential biological functions of these RTs, particularly their roles beyond retrotransposition.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on bacterial reverse transcriptases.
  • Analysis of genomic data to identify and characterize uncharacterized RTs.
  • Comparison of sequence diversity and domain structures across different bacterial RTs.
  • Evaluation of evidence for functional roles, including retromobility and interactions with phages.

Main Results:

  • A vast number of uncharacterized RTs and RT-related sequences exist in bacterial genomes.
  • These bacterial RTs display significant sequence diversity and varied domain architectures.
  • Most putative bacterial RTs, excluding group II introns, do not show evidence of active retromobility.
  • Emerging evidence suggests roles in cellular processes, potentially including phage resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial reverse transcriptases represent a diverse and ancient group of enzymes with origins in bacteria.
  • Uncharacterized bacterial RTs are abundant and possess novel sequence and structural features.
  • These RTs likely perform functions beyond canonical retrotransposition, offering avenues for discovering new biological mechanisms.
  • Further research into bacterial RTs promises insights into novel biochemical reactions and biological phenomena, particularly in the context of phage-bacteria interactions.