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

Transposons01:24

Transposons

2.5K
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...
2.5K
DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

17.8K
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...
17.8K
Mutations in Microorganisms01:18

Mutations in Microorganisms

911
Mutations are heritable changes in an organism’s genome involving alterations in the base sequence of DNA or RNA. These changes can influence cellular processes and phenotypic traits, potentially transforming the unaltered wild type into a mutant form. Such changes, termed forward mutations, are pivotal in shaping the genetic diversity of organisms.RNA viruses exhibit the highest mutation rates due to the absence of robust proofreading mechanisms during genome replication. In contrast,...
911
Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

19.9K
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...
19.9K
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

7.1K
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...
7.1K
In-vitro Mutagenesis01:16

In-vitro Mutagenesis

17.5K
To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
17.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Comparative Genomics of Viral Genomes and Identification of Three Novel Viroporin-Like Superfamilies.

Microbial physiology·2025
Same author

Investigating the Trans Effects of IS<italic>1</italic> Transposases on Intragenomic DNA Movements in <italic>Escherichia coli</italic>.

Microbial physiology·2025
Same author

Microbiome: Friend or Friendly Foe.

Microbial physiology·2025
Same author

Examining the Roles of Genomic Context and Endogenous Regulatory Elements on IS<i>1</i> Transposition Within the <i>Escherichia coli</i> Genome.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025
Same author

Transcriptional mechanism by which IS5 activates the fucAO operon in Escherichia coli.

Nucleic acids research·2025
Same author

Key role of <i>Desulfobacteraceae</i> in C/S cycles of marine sediments is based on congeneric catabolic-regulatory networks.

Science advances·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Generation of Enterobacter sp. YSU Auxotrophs Using Transposon Mutagenesis
13:31

Generation of Enterobacter sp. YSU Auxotrophs Using Transposon Mutagenesis

Published on: October 31, 2014

14.5K

Transposon-mediated directed mutation in bacteria and eukaryotes.

Milton H Saier1, Chika Kukita2, Zhongge Zhang2

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0116, msaier@ucsd.edu.

Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition)
|February 16, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Transposon mutations occur more frequently when beneficial, helping microbes adapt to stress. In E. coli, Insertion Sequence-5 (IS5) insertion into the glpFK operon facilitates glycerol utilization under stress.

More Related Videos

Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing
08:19

Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing

Published on: July 7, 2020

11.5K
Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri
11:36

Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri

Published on: September 23, 2017

16.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Generation of Enterobacter sp. YSU Auxotrophs Using Transposon Mutagenesis
13:31

Generation of Enterobacter sp. YSU Auxotrophs Using Transposon Mutagenesis

Published on: October 31, 2014

14.5K
Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing
08:19

Generating Transposon Insertion Libraries in Gram-Negative Bacteria for High-Throughput Sequencing

Published on: July 7, 2020

11.5K
Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri
11:36

Creation of a Dense Transposon Insertion Library Using Bacterial Conjugation in Enterobacterial Strains Such As Escherichia Coli or Shigella flexneri

Published on: September 23, 2017

16.8K

Area of Science:

  • Microbial Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Bacterial Adaptation

Background:

  • Transposon-mediated mutations can be directed and occur at higher frequencies when beneficial, aiding stress adaptation.
  • The Insertion Sequence-5 (IS5) element in Escherichia coli provides a model for studying stress-induced, directed transposition.
  • Regulation of glycerol utilization operon (glpFK) by IS5 insertion is influenced by the phosphotransferase system (PTS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms controlling IS5 insertion frequency and its role in bacterial adaptation.
  • To investigate the interplay between DNA structure, DNA-binding proteins, and transposon activity.
  • To explore the broader implications of directed transposition in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of IS5 insertion sites and frequencies in Escherichia coli under various stress conditions.
  • Investigated the role of DNA duplex destabilization (SIDD) structures and their interaction with DNA-binding proteins (GlpR, Crp).
  • Examined the influence of cytoplasmic metabolites (glycerol-3-phosphate, cyclic AMP) on IS5 insertion.

Main Results:

  • IS5 insertion into the glpFK operon is regulated by specific DNA target sequences and counteracted by GlpR and Crp proteins.
  • Insertion frequency is modulated by cytoplasmic glycerol-3-phosphate and cyclic AMP levels, linked to PTS activity.
  • Directed transposition mechanisms involving DNA conformation and binding proteins are conserved across different organisms.

Conclusions:

  • Directed transposon activity provides a mechanism for rapid adaptation to environmental stress by upregulating beneficial genes.
  • The study highlights a sophisticated regulatory network involving DNA structure, protein-DNA interactions, and metabolic status.
  • Findings suggest that controlled transposon mobility is a significant evolutionary force in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.