Tuned for Transposition: Molecular Determinants Underlying the Hyperactivity of a Stowaway MITE

Miniature inverted repeat transposable elements (MITEs) are widespread in eukaryotic genomes, where they can attain high copy numbers despite a lack of coding capacity. However, little is known about how they originate and amplify. We performed a genome-wide screen of functional interactions between...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2009-09, Vol.325 (5946), p.1391-1394
Main Authors: Yang, Guojun, Nagel, Dawn Holligan, Feschotte, Cédric, Hancock, C. Nathan, Wessler, Susan R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Base Sequence
Biological and medical sciences
Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA Transposable Elements
Eukaryotes
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetic mutation
Genetic transposition
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Genome, Plant
Genomes
Genomics
Inverted Repeat Sequences
Molecular biology
Molecular Sequence Data
Mutagenesis
Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
Oryza - genetics
Oryza - metabolism
Oryza sativa
Plant biology
Polymerase chain reaction
Pteridophyta, spermatophyta
Rice
Stowaways
Transposases - genetics
Transposases - metabolism
Transposons
Vegetals
Yeasts
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Summary:Miniature inverted repeat transposable elements (MITEs) are widespread in eukaryotic genomes, where they can attain high copy numbers despite a lack of coding capacity. However, little is known about how they originate and amplify. We performed a genome-wide screen of functional interactions between Stowaway MITEs and potential transposases in the rice genome and identified a transpositionally active MITE that possesses key properties that enhance transposition. Although not directly related to its autonomous element, the MITE has less affinity for the transposase than does the autonomous element but lacks a motif repressing transposition in the autonomous element. The MITE contains internal sequences that enhance transposition. These findings suggest that MITEs achieve high transposition activity by scavenging transposases encoded by distantly related and self-restrained autonomous elements.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1175688