Specificity of Tn5 insertions into a 36-bp DNA sequence repeated in tandem seven times

The target junction sequences of six independent Tn5 insertions into a 36-bp tandemly repeated DNA segment have been determined. In all instances Tn5 preferentially inserts near one end of the tandem repeat, but in four out of six cases the insertion is between different nucleotides. The target sequence shares some similarity (8 out of 11 bp) with the ends of Tn5. All six insertions are accompanied by duplication of 9 bp of target DNA. The data imply that, even though Tn5 appears to insert randomly on a macro scale, at the nucleotide sequence level insertion into target DNA, which has limited similarity to the Tn5 end reactive sequences, may be a preferred event.