Testing the palindromic target site model for DNA transposon insertion using the Drosophila melanogaster P-element.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the molecular mechanisms that influence transposable element target site preferences is a fundamental challenge in functional and evolutionary genomics. Large-scale transposon insertion projects provide excellent material to study target site preferences in the absence of confounding effects of post-insertion evolutionary change. Growing evidence from a wide variety of prokaryotes and eukaryotes indicates that DNA transposons recognize staggered-cut palindromic target site motifs (TSMs). Here, we use over 10 000 accurately mapped P-element insertions in the Drosophila melanogaster genome to test predictions of the staggered-cut palindromic target site model for DNA transposon insertion. We provide evidence that the P-element targets a 14-bp palindromic motif that can be ident

SUBMITTER: Linheiro RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2577343 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature