DNA transposon

DNA transposons are a group of transposable elements (TEs) that can move in the DNA of an organism via a single- or double-stranded DNA intermediate.^[1]

There are autonomous, as well as nonautonomous DNA transposons. The former use the enzymatic machinery of the latter for their amplification in a genome. It is estimated, that there are around 300,000 copies of DNA transposon fossils in the human genome and they make up around 3 % of it.^[2]

Examples of DNA Transposons

There are nine superfamilies of DNA Transposons defined.^[3] The following is a list of these superfamilies, with some group members:

Tc1-mariner^[4]
- Tigger
hAT (name is derived from hobo transposon of Drosophila melanogaster)
- Charlie
Mutator
Merlin
Transib
P
piggyBac (first discovered in Trichoplusia ni^[5])
PIF/Harbinger
CACTA

Activity

Today, there are no active DNA Transposons in the human genome anymore.^[6] Therefore, the elements found in the human genome are called "fossils".

References

^ Feschotte, Cédric; Pritham, Ellen J. (December 2007). "DNA Transposons and the Evolution of Eukaryotic Genomes". Annual Review of Genetics. 41 (1): 331–368. doi:10.1146/annurev.genet.40.110405.090448.
^ "Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome". Nature. 409 (6822): 860–921. Feb 2001. doi:10.1038/35057062. PMID 11237011. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
^ Sinzelle, L; Izsvák, Z; Ivics, Z (March 2009). "Molecular domestication of transposable elements: from detrimental parasites to useful host genes". Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS. 66 (6): 1073–93. doi:10.1007/s00018-009-8376-3. PMID 19132291.
^ Oosumi, T; Belknap, WR; Garlick, B (14 December 1995). "Mariner transposons in humans". Nature. 378 (6558): 672. doi:10.1038/378672a0. PMID 7501013.
^ Fraser, MJ; Smith, GE; Summers, MD (August 1983). "Acquisition of Host Cell DNA Sequences by Baculoviruses: Relationship Between Host DNA Insertions and FP Mutants of Autographa californica and Galleria mellonella Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses". Journal of Virology. 47 (2): 287–300. PMC 255260. PMID 16789244.
^ Pace JK, 2nd; Feschotte, C (April 2007). "The evolutionary history of human DNA transposons: evidence for intense activity in the primate lineage". Genome Research. 17 (4): 422–32. doi:10.1101/gr.5826307. PMC 1832089. PMID 17339369.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[1] Feschotte, Cédric; Pritham, Ellen J. (December 2007). "DNA Transposons and the Evolution of Eukaryotic Genomes". Annual Review of Genetics. 41 (1): 331–368. doi:10.1146/annurev.genet.40.110405.090448.

[IHSGC2001-2] "Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome". Nature. 409 (6822): 860–921. Feb 2001. doi:10.1038/35057062. PMID 11237011. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)

[3] Sinzelle, L; Izsvák, Z; Ivics, Z (March 2009). "Molecular domestication of transposable elements: from detrimental parasites to useful host genes". Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS. 66 (6): 1073–93. doi:10.1007/s00018-009-8376-3. PMID 19132291.

[4] Oosumi, T; Belknap, WR; Garlick, B (14 December 1995). "Mariner transposons in humans". Nature. 378 (6558): 672. doi:10.1038/378672a0. PMID 7501013.

[5] Fraser, MJ; Smith, GE; Summers, MD (August 1983). "Acquisition of Host Cell DNA Sequences by Baculoviruses: Relationship Between Host DNA Insertions and FP Mutants of Autographa californica and Galleria mellonella Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses". Journal of Virology. 47 (2): 287–300. PMC 255260. PMID 16789244.

[6] Pace JK, 2nd; Feschotte, C (April 2007). "The evolutionary history of human DNA transposons: evidence for intense activity in the primate lineage". Genome Research. 17 (4): 422–32. doi:10.1101/gr.5826307. PMC 1832089. PMID 17339369.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

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