Identification of a minimal <i>Alu</i> domain required for retrotransposition.

ABSTRACT: Alu elements are primate-specific retrotransposon sequences that comprise ~11% of human genomic DNA. Alu sequences contain an internal RNA polymerase III promoter and the resultant Alu RNA transcripts mobilize by a replicative process termed retrotransposition. Alu retrotransposition requires the Long INterspersed Element-1 (LINE-1) open reading frame 2-encoded protein (ORF2p). Current models propose that Alu RNA binds to signal recognition particle proteins 9 and 14 (SRP9/14) and localizes to ribosomes, which allows Alu to 'hijack' L1 ORF2p. Here, we used HeLa cell-based retrotransposition assays to define a minimal Alu domain necessary for retrotransposition. We demonstrate that Alu transcripts expressed from a cytomegalovirus (CMV)

SUBMITTER: Moldovan JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11760393 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature