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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

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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 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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Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

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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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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...
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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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tRNA-derived small RNAs target transposable element transcripts.

German Martinez1,2, Sarah G Choudury1,3,4, R Keith Slotkin1,4

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210 OH, USA.

Nucleic Acids Research
|March 24, 2017
PubMed
Summary

tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tRFs) are small RNAs found in plant male gametes. These tRFs, processed like microRNAs, target and cleave transposable element mRNAs, maintaining genome stability.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant molecular biology
  • RNA biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tRFs) are small RNAs generated from mature tRNA transcripts.
  • Their functions and targets remain largely unknown, though they accumulate in stressed cells.
  • tRFs are found at high levels in the male gametes of flowering and non-flowering plants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of tRFs in plant male gametes.
  • To determine the mechanism by which tRFs regulate gene expression.
  • To explore the role of tRFs in maintaining genome stability.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of tRF processing and incorporation into Argonaute1 (AGO1) in Arabidopsis thaliana.
  • Utilizing small RNA-mediated cleavage assays to identify tRF targets.
  • Investigating the targeting of transposable element (TE) mRNAs by the tRF-AGO1 complex.

Main Results:

  • tRFs are processed by Dicer-like 1 and associate with AGO1 in Arabidopsis male gametes, similar to microRNAs.
  • The tRF-AGO1 complex specifically targets and cleaves messenger RNAs (mRNAs) derived from active transposable elements.
  • This mechanism demonstrates a role for tRFs in regulating genome stability.

Conclusions:

  • tRFs function as microRNA-like small RNAs in plant male gametes.
  • tRFs play a crucial role in genome stability by targeting and degrading transposable element transcripts.
  • This discovery reveals a novel regulatory pathway in plant reproductive biology.