Non-LTR retrotransposons with unique integration preferences downstream of Dictyostelium discoideum tRNA genes |
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Authors: | Szafranski K Glöckner G Dingermann T Dannat K Noegel A A Eichinger L Rosenthal A Winckler T |
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Institution: | Institut für Molekulare Biotechnologie, Jena, Germany. |
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Abstract: | Retrotransposable elements are genetic entities which move and replicate within host cell genomes. We have previously reported
on the structures and genomic distributions of two non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons, DRE and Tdd-3, in
the eukaryotic microorganism Dictyostelium discoideum. DRE elements are found inserted upstream, and Tdd-3 elements downstream, of transfer RNA (tRNA) genes with remarkable position
and orientation specificities. The data set currently available from the Dictyostelium Genome Project led to the characterisation of two repetitive DNA elements which are related to the D. discoideum non-LTR retrotransposon Tdd-3 in both their structural properties and genomic distributions. It appears from our data that
in the D. discoideum genome tRNA genes are major targets for the insertion of mobilised non-LTR retrotransposons. This may be interpreted as the
consequence of a process of coevolution, allowing a viable population of retroelements to transpose without being deleterious
to the small microbial host genome which carries only short intergenic DNA sequences. A new nomenclature is introduced to
designate all tRNA gene-targeted non-LTR retrotransposons (TREs) in the D. discoideum genome. TREs inserted 5′ and 3′ of tRNA genes are named TRE5 and TRE3, respectively. According to this nomenclature DRE and
Tdd-3 are renamed TRE5-A and TRE3-A, respectively. The new retroelements described in this study are named TRE3-B (formerly
RED) and TRE3-C.
Received: 27 May 1999 / Accepted: 23 July 1999 |
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Keywords: | Dictyostelium tRNA gene Retrotransposon Genome evolution Dictyostelium Genome Project |
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