Transposition of Mutator-like transposable elements (MULEs) resembles hAT and Transib elements and V(D)J recombination.

ABSTRACT: Mutator-like transposable elements (MULEs) are widespread across fungal, plant and animal species. Despite their abundance and importance as genetic tools in plants, the transposition mechanism of the MULE superfamily was previously unknown. Discovery of the Muta1 element from Aedes aegypti and its successful transposition in yeast facilitated the characterization of key steps in Muta1 transposition. Here we show that purified transposase binds specifically to the Muta1 ends and catalyzes excision through double strand breaks (DSB) and the joining of newly excised transposon ends with target DNA. In the process, the DSB forms hairpin intermediates on the flanking DNA side. Analysis of transposase proteins containing site-directed mutations revealed the importance of the conserved DDE motif

SUBMITTER: Liu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5499845 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature