Terminal-repeat retrotransposons in miniature (TRIM) are involved in restructuring plant genomes.

ABSTRACT: A new group of long terminal repeats (LTR) retrotransposons, termed terminal-repeat retrotransposons in miniature (TRIM), are described that are present in both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plant. TRIM elements have terminal direct repeat sequences between approximately 100 and 250 bp in length that encompass an internal domain of approximately 100-300 bp. The internal domain contains primer binding site and polypurine tract motifs but lacks the coding domains required for mobility. Thus TRIM elements are not capable of autonomous transposition and probably require the help of mobility-related proteins encoded by other retrotransposons. The structural organization of TRIM elements suggests an evolutionary relationship to either LTR retrotransposons or retroviruses. The past mobility

SUBMITTER: Witte CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC61118 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature