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Updated: Jul 8, 2025

Detection of Retrotransposition Activity of Hot LINE-1s by Long-Distance Inverse PCR
Published on: July 27, 2019
LINE-1 retrotransposition and its deregulation in cancers: implications for therapeutic opportunities
Carlos Mendez-Dorantes1,2,3, Kathleen H Burns1,2,3
1Department of Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; kathleenh_burns@dfci.harvard.edu carlos_mendez-dorantes@dfci.harvard.edu.
Abstract:
Long interspersed element 1 (LINE-1) is the only protein-coding transposon that is active in humans. LINE-1 propagates in the genome using RNA intermediates via retrotransposition. This activity has resulted in LINE-1 sequences occupying approximately one-fifth of our genome. Although most copies of LINE-1 are immobile, ∼100 copies are retrotransposition-competent. Retrotransposition is normally limited via epigenetic silencing, DNA repair, and other host defense mechanisms. In contrast, LINE-1 overexpression and retrotransposition are hallmarks of cancers. Here, we review mechanisms of LINE-1 regulation and how LINE-1 may promote genetic heterogeneity in tumors. Finally, we discuss therapeutic strategies to exploit LINE-1 biology in cancers.
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