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

Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

20.4K
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...
20.4K
Transposons01:24

Transposons

2.8K
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...
2.8K
DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

18.1K
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...
18.1K
LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

20.3K
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...
20.3K
Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

13.9K
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...
13.9K
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

7.8K
PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
7.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Spatial remodeling of bone marrow architecture defines tissue-state signatures of disease activity and therapeutic response in myelodysplastic neoplasms.

Leukemia·2026
Same author

A Patient-Derived Xenograft Repository Capturing Clinical and Molecular Heterogeneity of Large B-cell Lymphoma.

Blood cancer discovery·2026
Same author

Pathogenesis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma proteogenotypes.

Cancer cell·2026
Same author

Can we target CTCL clonal evolution and improve outcomes?

Blood·2026
Same author

MDM2 Drives Proteasome Inhibitor Resistance and Represents a TP53-Independent Therapeutic Vulnerability in Multiple Myeloma.

Cells·2026
Same author

Tet2 deficiency alters CD4+ T cell function and promotes T cell lymphoma with a TFH cell immunophenotype.

The Journal of experimental medicine·2026
Same journal

Multidisciplinary Characterization of Rare MPL Y591 and R592 Variants in Myeloid Disorders: From Clinical Correlation and Literature-Based Evidence to In Silico Predictors and Structural Bioinformatics.

Experimental hematology·2026
Same journal

Integrin alpha 4 inhibition prolongs the survival of NSG mice engrafted with CD19-negative post-CART19 relapsed B-ALL.

Experimental hematology·2026
Same journal

RNA Binding Protein PCBP1 Functions in the Endothelial-to-Hematopoietic Transition During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Formation.

Experimental hematology·2026
Same journal

Image-enabled cell sorting permits prospective isolation of primitive hematopoietic stem cell subsets with distinct functional potential.

Experimental hematology·2026
Same journal

Inhibition of MLLT1 Limits Growth of KMT2A::AFF1 Leukemias Without Killing Healthy Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Experimental hematology·2026
Same journal

Adaptive Immune Remodeling in Sickle Cell Disease: Linking Hemolysis-Driven Inflammation to Immune Dysfunction.

Experimental hematology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
04:04

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

Published on: January 20, 2023

2.9K

Transposable elements: The enemies within.

Irene Scarfò1, Elisa Pellegrino1, Elisabetta Mereu1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences; Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.

Experimental Hematology
|July 6, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transposable elements (TEs), like long terminal repeats and long interspersed nuclear elements, can drive cancer by acting as promoters when epigenetic control is lost. This highlights TEs as an underestimated factor in oncogenesis, suggesting new therapeutic avenues.

More Related Videos

Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma
10:58

Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma

Published on: February 22, 2015

13.6K
Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level
11:52

Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level

Published on: April 23, 2016

8.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
04:04

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity

Published on: January 20, 2023

2.9K
Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma
10:58

Transposon Mediated Integration of Plasmid DNA into the Subventricular Zone of Neonatal Mice to Generate Novel Models of Glioblastoma

Published on: February 22, 2015

13.6K
Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level
11:52

Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level

Published on: April 23, 2016

8.9K

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Cancer research is exploring non-genetic mechanisms driving tumor development.
  • The role of transposable elements (TEs) in cancer is not well understood.
  • Emerging evidence links epigenetic dysregulation to TE reactivation and cancer-promoting transcription.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and discuss key examples of transposable element-driven oncogenesis.
  • To highlight the significance of TEs in tumor development.
  • To explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting TEs in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing studies on TEs and cancer.
  • Analysis of experimental data implicating specific TEs in oncogenic transcription.
  • Discussion of the role of epigenetic control in TE activity.

Main Results:

  • Loss of epigenetic control leads to the reactivation of TEs.
  • Reactivated TEs, particularly long terminal repeats (LTRs) and long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs), can function as alternative promoters.
  • These repetitive elements are experimentally confirmed as significant contributors to oncogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Transposable elements are a potent, underestimated force in cancer development.
  • Epigenetic mechanisms play a crucial role in controlling TE activity and their oncogenic potential.
  • Understanding TEs opens new possibilities for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.