Featured
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Letter |
An evolutionary arms race between KRAB zinc-finger genes ZNF91/93 and SVA/L1 retrotransposons
The authors show that two primate-specific genes encoding KRAB domain containing zinc finger proteins, ZNF91 and ZNF93, have evolved during the last 25 million years to repress retrotransposon families that emerged during this time period; according to the new data KZNF gene expansion limits the activity of newly emerged retrotransposons, which subsequently mutate to evade repression.
- Frank M. J. Jacobs
- , David Greenberg
- & David Haussler
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Letter |
Miwi catalysis is required for piRNA amplification-independent LINE1 transposon silencing
Piwi protein Miwi is shown to be a small RNA-guided RNase in mice; disrupting the catalytic activity of Miwi results in increased accumulation of LINE1 retrotransposon transcripts and male infertility.
- Michael Reuter
- , Philipp Berninger
- & Ramesh S. Pillai
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Letter |
Somatic retrotransposition alters the genetic landscape of the human brain
- J. Kenneth Baillie
- , Mark W. Barnett
- & Geoffrey J. Faulkner
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Letter |
The endonuclease activity of Mili fuels piRNA amplification that silences LINE1 elements
- Serena De Fazio
- , Nenad Bartonicek
- & Dónal O’Carroll
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Letter |
Pathogenic exon-trapping by SVA retrotransposon and rescue in Fukuyama muscular dystrophy
- Mariko Taniguchi-Ikeda
- , Kazuhiro Kobayashi
- & Tatsushi Toda
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Letter |
Protection of repetitive DNA borders from self-induced meiotic instability
- Gerben Vader
- , Hannah G. Blitzblau
- & Andreas Hochwagen
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Letter |
CENP-B preserves genome integrity at replication forks paused by retrotransposon LTR
Studies have indicated an undefined role in DNA replication for CENP-B, a DNA binding protein associated with heterochromatin, centromeres and retrotransposon long terminal repeats (LTRs). Here it is shown that Sap1, which binds LTRs, promotes genomic instability when CENP-B activity is absent. CENP-B facilitates replication fork progression through LTRs in a way that protects against rearrangements.
- Mikel Zaratiegui
- , Matthew W. Vaughn
- & Robert A. Martienssen
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News & Views |
Excessive mobility interrupted
Mobile DNA sequences called L1 contribute to the brain's genetic heterogeneity and may affect neuron function. The protein MeCP2, which is mutated in Rett syndrome, seems to regulate the activity of these genomic elements. See Letter p.443
- Lorenz Studer
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Letter |
L1 retrotransposition in neurons is modulated by MeCP2
Long interspersed nuclear elements-1 (L1) retrotransposons affect gene expression and neuronal function throughout brain development. These authors show that the absence of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, a modulator of DNA methylation implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders, increases L1 retrotransposon activity in rodent models, with this increase in susceptibility duplicated in patients with Rett syndrome. These correlations suggest that disease-related genetic mutations may influence L1 retrotransposon activity.
- Alysson R. Muotri
- , Maria C. N. Marchetto
- & Fred H. Gage
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Letter |
Regulation of heterochromatic DNA replication by histone H3 lysine 27 methyltransferases
DNA replication occurs only once per cell cycle, and numerous pathways prevent re-replication. Here it is shown that mutations in ARABIDOPSIS TRITHORAX-RELATED PROTEIN5 (ATXR5) and ATXR6 — which encode histone methyltransferases — lead to re-replication of specific genomic locations, notably those corresponding to transposons and other repetitive and silenced elements. ATXR5 and ATXR6 are proposed to be components of a pathway that prevents over-replication of heterochromatin in Arabidopsis.
- Yannick Jacob
- , Hume Stroud
- & Steven E. Jacobsen
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News |
Mapping methylation's mysterious background
Analysis of 17 species fills in evolutionary history of DNA modification process.
- Alla Katsnelson
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Letter |
A role for host–parasite interactions in the horizontal transfer of transposons across phyla
'Horizontal gene transfer' refers to the passage of genetic material between non-mating species. Transposable elements (transposons) may be especially prone to horizontal gene transfer, but the mechanisms by which they can spread across diverged species have been elusive. Here it is shown that transposons can spread by hitchhiking in the genomes of parasites. The amount of DNA that can be transferred in this way underscores the impact of horizontal gene transfer on genome evolution.
- Clément Gilbert
- , Sarah Schaack
- & Cédric Feschotte
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Article
| Open AccessComparative genomics reveals mobile pathogenicity chromosomes in Fusarium
Fungi from the genus Fusarium are important pathogens of animals and crop plants. Some have a wide host range, whereas others are more specific in the organisms they infect. Here, clues are provided as to how differences in specificity come about. The genomes of two Fusarium fungi with differing host ranges have been sequenced, and compared with the genome of a third species. Experiments show that transferring two whole chromosomes turns a non-pathogenic Fusarium strain into a pathogenic one.
- Li-Jun Ma
- , H. Charlotte van der Does
- & Martijn Rep
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Research Highlights |
Genetics: Gene guards
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Research Highlights |
Genetics: Male regulator switched
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Letter |
Hsp90 prevents phenotypic variation by suppressing the mutagenic activity of transposons
Phenotypic robustness in the face of genetic and environmental perturbations — known as canalization — relies on buffering mechanisms. Hsp90 chaperone machinery has been proposed to be an evolutionarily conserved buffering mechanism of phenotypic variance. Here, an additional, perhaps alternative, mechanism whereby Hsp90 influences phenotypic variation is proposed; Hsp90 mutations can generate new variation by transposon-mediated mutagenesis.
- Valeria Specchia
- , Lucia Piacentini
- & Maria P. Bozzetti