Transposition involves the integration of small In retrotransposition, the element is

segment of DNA into the chromosome (occurs in transcribed into RNA.

different location with genes)
 An enzyme called reverse
 The DNA segment that transpose transcriptase uses the RNA as a
themselves are transposable element (TEs) template to synthesize a DNA
(Jumping genes) molecule that is integrated into a
new region of the genome.

19.3 Transposition

Transposable Element Move by Different

Transposition Pathways

Simple Transposition

In simple transposition: the TE is removed from its

original site and transferred to a new target site
(Figure 19.8a)

Each Type of Transphobe Elements has

Characteristic pattern of DNA sequence

Figure 19.9 describe a few ways in which

DNA sequence within them TEs are
organized.

 All TEs are flanked by direct repeats

This mechanism is called a cut-and-paste because (DRs), (adjacent to both end of the
the element is cut out of its original site and pasted elemt) which are identical
into a new one. nucleotide sequence that are
 Transposable elements that move via oriented in the same direction and
simple transposition are widely found in repeated.
bacterial and eukaryotic species, called Insertion Elements
transposons
The simples TES are known as Insertion
Retrotransposition Elements (IS elements).
This form of transposition, termed It has two important characteristics:
retrotransposition(found in Eukaryotes).
1. Bothe end of the element contain
Transposable elements that move via Inverted repeats (IRs) – DNA
retrotransposon are known as retrotransposon sequences that are identical but run
(retroelements) in opposite directions.
IS elements may contain a central region that Non-LTR Retrotransposons
encodes the enzyme transposase, which
Non-LTR retrotransposons appear less like
catalyzes the transposition event.
retroviruses in their sequence. They may
contain a gene that encodes a protein that has
both reverse transcriptase and endonuclease
function (Figure 19.9b)

Transposase Catalyzes the Excision and

Insertion of Transposons.

Simple transposition (Figure 19.10a)

Simple Transposons

Simple transposons carry one or more genes

that are not required for transposition.

LTR retrotransposons

LTR retrotransposons: Evolutionarily related to

know retroviruses.

 LTR retrotransposon are so named

because they contain long terminal
repeats (LTRs) at both end of the
elements (Figure 19.9b)

1. Transposes monomer first bind to the

inverted repeat sequence at the end of
the TE
2. The monomer then dimerizes, which
brings the inverted repeat close
together.
3. The DNA is cleaved between the
inverted and direct repeats, excision the
TE from its original site within the
chromosome.
4. Transposase carries the TE to a new site
and cleaves the target DNA sequence at
staggered recognition site
 Retorontransposon Uses Reverse Trancriptase
for Retrotransposition

Retrotransposon use an RNA intermediate in

their transposition mechanism.

As shown in Figure 19.12, the movement of LTR

retrotransposons requires two key enzymes: --
As noted in Figure 19.10b, the ligation of reverse transcriptase and integrase.
transposable element into its new site initially
leavers short gaps in the target DNA.

 Therefore, when they are filled in by

DNA gap repair synthesis, this produce
direct repeat that flank both end of the
TE.

Simple transpositions increases the number in

genomes of TEs.

How can this happen? Transposition occurs

around the time of DNA replication
 After a replication fork has passed a
region contain a TE, two TEs will be
found behind the fork – one in each of
the replicated regions
 Two TEs will be found in one
chromosome and one TE in the other
chromosome. In this way, simple
transposition can lead to an Increase in
TEs
The cell already contains a retrotransposon
knows as Ty within the genome.
1. The retrotransposon is transcribed into RNA
2. Reverse transcriptase uses this RNA as a
template to synthesize a double-stranded
DNA molecule
3. The LTR at the end of the double-stranded
are then recognize by integrase – makes cut
at the target site.
The currently accepted model for the replication and
integration of non-LTR retrotransposons is called
target-site primed reverse transcription (TPRT)
(Figure 19.13)

1. The retrotransposon is first transcribed into

RNA with a polyA tail. The target DNA site is
recognized by an endonuclease – recognizes a
consensus sequence of 5’-TTTTA-3’ and initially
cuts just one of the DNA strands.
2. The 3’-polyA tail of the retrotransposon RNA
bind to the nicked site due to AT base pairing.
3. Reverse transcription then uses the target DNA
as a primer and makes a DNA copy of the RNA.

Transposable Elements may have

important influence on Mutation and
Evolution

In mammals, long interspersed elements

(LINEs) are usually 1000 to 10,000 bp in
length and found in a few thousand of
copies

 In humans, LINE-1 or L1 is found

in about 50,000 copes and
represent about 21% of total
DNA

4. To be fully integrated into the target DNA, the

endonuclease makes a cut in the other DNA
stand usually about 7-20 nucleotides away
from the first cut
5. The retrotransposon DNA is then ligated into
the target site within a chromosome by
nonhomologous end joining
Short interspersed element (SINEs) are
less than 500 bp in length
 An example of a SINE is the Alu
sequences, present in about 1
million copies in the human
genome (10%)