R2 and R2/R1 hybrid non-autonomous retrotransposons derived by internal deletions of full-length elements.

ABSTRACT:

Background

R2 is a non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposable element that inserts site specifically into the 28S genes of the ribosomal (r)RNA gene loci. Encoded at the 5' end is a ribozyme that generates the precise 5' end by self-cleavage of a 28S gene cotranscript. Sequences at the 3' end are necessary for the R2 protein to bind RNA and initiate the target primed reverse transcription (TPRT) reaction. These minimal RNA requirements suggested that if recombination/DNA repair conjoined the 5' and 3' ends of R2, the result would be a non-autonomous element that could survive as long as autonomous R2 elements supplied the TPRT activity.

Results

A PCR-based survey of 39 Drosophila species aided by genomic sequences from 12 of these species revealed two types of non-

SUBMITTER: Eickbush DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3414825 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature