Comparative analysis of the recently discovered hAT transposon TcBuster in human cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transposons are useful tools for creating transgenic organisms, insertional mutagenesis, and genome engineering. TcBuster, a novel hAT-family transposon system derived from the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, was shown to be highly active in previous studies in insect embryoes.

Methodology/principal findings

We tested TcBuster for its activity in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells. Excision footprints obtained from HEK-293 cells contained small insertions and deletions consistent with a hAT-type repair mechanism of hairpin formation and non-homologous end-joining. Genome-wide analysis of 23,417 piggyBac, 30,303 Sleeping Beauty, and 27,985 TcBuster integrations in HEK-293 cells revealed a uniquely different integration pattern when compared to other t

SUBMITTER: Woodard LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3499496 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature