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Related Concept Videos

LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

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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...
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Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

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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...
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DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

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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.
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
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Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

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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Transposons01:24

Transposons

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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...
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Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

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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’...
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Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level
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Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level

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Site-specific non-LTR retrotransposons.

Haruhiko Fujiwara1

  • 1Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8562, Japan.

Microbiology Spectrum
|June 25, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Site-specific non-LTR retrotransposons integrate into targeted genomic locations, unlike most random insertions. Their precise targeting mechanisms, particularly in restriction enzyme-like endonuclease (RLE) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE) elements, offer potential for gene therapy.

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RNA Next-Generation Sequencing and a Bioinformatics Pipeline to Identify Expressed LINE-1s at the Locus-Specific Level
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Detection of Retrotransposition Activity of Hot LINE-1s by Long-Distance Inverse PCR
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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements with diverse integration behaviors.
  • These elements are broadly classified into restriction enzyme-like endonuclease (RLE)-encoding and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE)-encoding groups.
  • While most non-LTR retrotransposons integrate randomly, some exhibit remarkable site- and sequence-specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms underlying sequence-specific integration in non-LTR retrotransposons.
  • To explore the evolutionary dynamics of site-specificity in these elements.
  • To assess the potential of site-specific non-LTR retrotransposons as tools for gene delivery.

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic analysis of non-LTR retrotransposon clades.
  • Structural comparison of RLE and APE domains.
  • Investigation of factors influencing integration specificity, including protein domains and DNA interactions.

Main Results:

  • Site-specificity is prevalent in RLE-encoding elements, while only a few APE-encoding clades (Tx1, R1) show this trait.
  • APE-encoding elements rely on the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease for target DNA nicking, influenced by mRNA-DNA interactions and nuclear access.
  • RLE-encoding elements appear to utilize DNA-binding motifs for sequence-specificity, distinct from the RLE domain itself.

Conclusions:

  • Site-specific non-LTR retrotransposons often target repetitive genomic regions like rRNA genes or telomeres, potentially minimizing host genome damage.
  • Integration specificity can evolve and vary even among closely related elements.
  • The precise integration capabilities of these retrotransposons present promising avenues for targeted gene delivery, especially in therapeutic applications for human diseases.