Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Transposons

Transposons

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...

DNA-only Transposons

DNA-only Transposons

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Outer membrane remodeling via lipid-peptidoglycan crosstalk enables lipooligosaccharide-deficient colistin resistance.

Cell reports·2026

Same author

Environmental context reveals a conditional role of the Tol-Pal system in envelope organization in <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Outer membrane remodeling via lipid-peptidoglycan crosstalk enables lipooligosaccharide-deficient colistin resistance.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

PBP1A and LdtJ support cell envelope homeostasis and impact selection of Colistin-resistance in <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Peptidoglycan DD-peptidases have distinct activities that impact fitness of <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>.

mBio·2026

Same author

Shielded by the dead: how killed bacteria shape the dynamics and evolution of innate immunity.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same journal

Reliability of A Vibration-Based Elastography Protocol For Assessing Achilles Tendon Stiffness Across Multiple Joint Angles In Elite Athletes.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2026

Same journal

Associations of Inflammatory and Coagulation Biomarkers with Kidney Injury Across Chronic and Acute Clinical Settings.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2026

Same journal

Intelligent Recommender Systems for Chinese Super League Fan Consumption Behavior Prediction.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2026

Same journal

A Battery of Quantitative Binocular Vision Tests for Adults: Testing Protocols.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2026

Same journal

Efficacy Analysis of Paiteling in Treating Persistent High-Risk Human Papillomavirus after Cervical Cancer Surgery.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2026

Same journal

Clinical Efficacy of Tissue-Bone Homeostasis Manipulation on Soft Tissue Balance and Function in Knee Osteoarthritis.

Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 13, 2025

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

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

Published on: July 7, 2020

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

Misha I Kazi¹, Richard D Schargel¹, Joseph M Boll²

¹Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington.

Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove

|July 28, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) offers a new, streamlined method for studying antimicrobial resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii. This approach enhances the analysis of colistin resistance mechanisms in Gram-negative bacteria.

More Related Videos

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

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

Transposon-insertion Sequencing as a Tool to Elucidate Bacterial Colonization Factors in a Burkholderia gladioli Symbiont of Lagria villosa Beetles

Transposon-insertion Sequencing as a Tool to Elucidate Bacterial Colonization Factors in a Burkholderia gladioli Symbiont of Lagria villosa Beetles

Published on: August 12, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 13, 2025

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

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

Published on: July 7, 2020

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

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

Transposon-insertion Sequencing as a Tool to Elucidate Bacterial Colonization Factors in a Burkholderia gladioli Symbiont of Lagria villosa Beetles

Transposon-insertion Sequencing as a Tool to Elucidate Bacterial Colonization Factors in a Burkholderia gladioli Symbiont of Lagria villosa Beetles

Published on: August 12, 2021

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) is a powerful tool for identifying genes and pathways influencing bacterial fitness.
Antimicrobial resistance, particularly to colistin in Gram-negative bacteria like Acinetobacter baumannii, is a growing global health concern.
Existing Tn-seq methods can be cumbersome, requiring multiple steps like restriction enzyme digestion and gel purification.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an efficient transposon mutagenesis method for Acinetobacter baumannii.
To streamline the generation of saturated transposon insertion and amplicon libraries.
To facilitate in-depth analysis of molecular determinants of colistin resistance in A. baumannii.

Main Methods:

Developed a novel transposon mutagenesis protocol for A. baumannii.
Eliminated the need for restriction enzymes, adapter ligation, and gel purification in library construction.
The method enables rapid generation of saturating transposon insertion libraries.

Main Results:

The proposed method significantly streamlines Tn-seq library preparation.
This efficiency allows for more in-depth analysis of bacterial fitness determinants.
The protocol is adaptable for other Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens.

Conclusions:

This optimized Tn-seq protocol provides an efficient means to study colistin resistance in A. baumannii.
The method facilitates the identification of key genetic factors contributing to antimicrobial resistance.
This approach has broad applicability for studying drug resistance in critical Gram-negative pathogens.