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Published Online April 16, 2009
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1170023

Reports

Submitted on December 19, 2008
Accepted on April 1, 2009

A Functional Role for Transposases in a Large Eukaryotic Genome

Mariusz Nowacki 1, Brian P. Higgins 1, Genevieve M. Maquilan 1, Estienne C. Swart 1, Thomas G. Doak 2, Laura F. Landweber 1*

1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
2 Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Laura F. Landweber , E-mail: lfl{at}princeton.edu

Although comprising much of the eukaryotic genome, few transposons are active, and they usually confer no benefit to the host. Through an exaggerated process of genome rearrangement, Oxytricha trifallax destroys 95% of its germline genome during development. This includes elimination of all transposon DNA. We show that germline-limited transposase genes play key roles in this process of genome-wide DNA excision, suggesting that transposases function in large eukaryotic genomes containing thousands of active transposons. We show that transposase gene expression occurs during germline-soma differentiation and that silencing of transposase by RNAi leads to abnormal DNA rearrangement in the offspring. This study suggests a new, important role in Oxytricha for this large portion of genomic DNA previously thought of as junk.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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J. A. Motl and D. L. Chalker (2009)
Genes & Dev. 23, 2455-2460
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PiggyMac, a domesticated piggyBac transposase involved in programmed genome rearrangements in the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia.
C. Baudry, S. Malinsky, M. Restituito, A. Kapusta, S. Rosa, E. Meyer, and M. Betermier (2009)
Genes & Dev. 23, 2478-2483
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)