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Related Concept Videos

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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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

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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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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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piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

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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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LTR Retrotransposons03:08

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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.
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Updated: Aug 10, 2025

Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
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Transposable elements and their role in aging.

Elena Yushkova1, Alexey Moskalev2

  • 1Laboratory of Geroprotective and Radioprotective Technologies, Institute of Biology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 28 Kommunisticheskaya st., 167982 Syktyvkar, Russian Federation.

Ageing Research Reviews
|February 11, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transposable elements (TEs) are key to eukaryotic genomes, influencing aging and disease. Their activity can drive evolution or decrease longevity, with species-specific TE features impacting aging dynamics.

Keywords:
Age-related pathologiesAgingDerepressionGermline cellsSomatic genomeTransposable elementsTranspositions

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Area of Science:

  • Genomics and Molecular Biology
  • Aging Research
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic sequences comprising a significant portion of eukaryotic genomes.
  • Somatic transposition by TEs has been implicated in aging, carcinogenesis, and other age-related diseases.
  • Understanding TE interactions with cellular processes is crucial for deciphering their impact on organismal genetics and epigenetics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the fundamental properties of TEs and their complex interactions with cellular mechanisms.
  • To assess the contribution of derepressed TEs to age-dependent effects across different organisms.
  • To discuss conflicting information on TE activity under stress and TE-related aging theories.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on transposable elements, genetics, epigenetics, and aging.
  • Analysis of TE interactions with recombination, replication, repair, and chromosomal regulation.
  • Examination of TE effects on gene creation, RNA expression, DNA damage, and regulatory networks.

Main Results:

  • TEs interact with key cellular processes, influencing genome stability and gene expression.
  • Derepressed TEs contribute to age-dependent cellular and tissue changes.
  • TE activity under stress presents a duality: adaptive evolution at the population level versus reduced longevity at the individual level.
  • Somatic TE activation correlates with age-related changes in heterochromatin maintenance and longevity proteins.

Conclusions:

  • TEs play a multifaceted role in aging, with both beneficial evolutionary and detrimental individual-level consequences.
  • Species-specific TE characteristics may influence aging dynamics.
  • Further research into TE regulation and their impact on somatic genomes is essential for understanding age-related pathologies.