Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2025
11:52
Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level
Published on: April 23, 2016
8.4K
Schlafen-5 inhibits LINE-1 retrotransposition
Jiwei Ding1, Shujie Wang1, Qipeng Liu1
1Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Iscience
|October 9, 2023
Summary
Schlafen5 (SLFN5) protein inhibits Long interspersed element 1 (LINE-1) retrotransposition by disrupting LINE-1 ribonucleoprotein particle formation. This discovery reveals a novel host defense mechanism against mobile genetic elements and potential genomic instability.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Long interspersed element 1 (LINE-1) is the only active autonomous transposon in humans.
- LINE-1 retrotransposition can disrupt genome structure and function, leading to genetic diseases.
- Host cells possess defense mechanisms to suppress LINE-1 activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of IFN-inducible Schlafen5 (SLFN5) in restricting LINE-1 retrotransposition.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which SLFN5 inhibits LINE-1 mobilization.
Main Methods:
- Demonstration of SLFN5's inhibitory effect on LINE-1 retrotransposition.
- Mechanistic studies involving LINE-1 ribonucleoprotein particle (RNP) formation.
- Analysis of SLFN5's interaction with LINE-1 RNA and its helicase domain activity.
Main Results:
- SLFN5 was shown to inhibit LINE-1 retrotransposition.
- SLFN5 interrupts the formation of LINE-1 RNPs, preventing nuclear entry of LINE-1 RNA.
- SLFN5 binds to LINE-1 RNA and, via its helicase activity, dissociates ORF1p, impairing RNP formation.
Conclusions:
- SLFN5 acts as a novel host defense factor against LINE-1 mobilization.
- The mechanism involves SLFN5-mediated disruption of LINE-1 RNP assembly.
- This finding provides new insights into cellular strategies for maintaining genome integrity against transposon activity.
Related Concept Videos
03:18Non-LTR Retrotransposons
11.6K
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...
11.6K
01:52Eukaryotic Transcription Inhibitors
9.9K
Certain biochemical processes, such as embryonic development and cell growth regulation, depend on the repression of specific genes. DNA binding proteins known as eukaryotic transcription inhibitors regulate the repression of gene expression in eukaryotes. The presence of these inhibitors at the required location and time in the cell is triggered by the presence of hormones and additional signals from other cells.
Eukaryotic transcription inhibitors usually contain two distinct domains, a...
Eukaryotic transcription inhibitors usually contain two distinct domains, a...
9.9K
03:08LTR Retrotransposons
17.6K
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...
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
17.6K
02:42Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes
15.4K
Transcriptional attenuation occurs when RNA transcription is prematurely terminated due to the formation of a terminator mRNA hairpin structure. Bacteria use these hairpins to regulate the transcription process and control the synthesis of several amino acids including histidine, lysine, threonine, and phenylalanine. Transcription attenuation takes place in the non-coding regions of mRNA.
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...
15.4K
02:15Experimental RNAi
6.2K
RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
6.2K
02:57DNA-only Transposons
14.5K
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...
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
14.5K