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Transposons, mobile DNA, or jumping genes are chromosomal segments that can undergo transposition (translocation) in the genome. They are a class of genetic elements that can “jump” to different locations within a genome. Although these elements are frequently called “jumping genes,” they are always maintained in an integrated site in the genome. In addition, most transposons eventually become inactive and no longer move.
Transposons were first discovered in corn (maize) during the 1940s and 50s by American scientist Barbara McClintock, whose work won her the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1983.
Most, if not all, of these elements encode an enzyme called transposase, which acts to cleave the ends of the transposon, freeing it from its initial location in the genome. Transposase also cleaves target sites where the element is to be inserted.
Retrotransposons represent a highly unique group of transposable elements and form large portions of the genomes of many eukaryotes. Retrotransposons function by a “copy and paste” mechanism. Thus, they leave behind the original copy and generate a second copy that is inserted elsewhere in the genome. This process results in the insertion of repetitive sequences of DNA throughout the genome. The transposable DNA is copied into RNA. The RNA segment then jumps to another location in the genome. The RNA is copied back into DNA by reverse transcriptase. There are several different types of retrotransposons, including long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs). About 20 percent of the human genome is made up of LINEs.
Transposon | genetics | Britannica
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Transposable elements (TEs) or transposons are defined as DNA sequences that are able to move from one location to another in the genome. TEs have been identified in all organisms, prokaryotic and eukaryotic, and can occupy a high proportion of a species’ genome. For example, transposable elements comprise approximately 10% of several fish species, 45% of the human genome, and up to >80% of the genome of some plants like maize.
DNA transposons consist of a transposase gene that is flanked by two Terminal Inverted Repeats (TIRs). The transposase recognizes these TIRs to perform the excision of the transposon DNA body, which is inserted into a new genomic location.
DNA Transposons: Nature and Applications in Genomics – PMC (nih.gov)
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Transposons, mobile DNA, or jumping genes are chromosomal segments that can undergo transposition (translocation) in the genome.
Transposase is the enzyme that catalyzes the transposition of a transposon.
Transposome is the set of genetic transpositions (or of the transposases and transposons) in an organism.
Bioinformatics Terms – Glossary – Bioinformatics Hub
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