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| Human L1 retrotransposon encodes a conserved endonuclease required for retrotransposition |
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| Author(s): Feng QH, Moran JV, Kazazian HH, Boeke JD |
| Source: CELL Volume: 87 Issue: 5 Pages: 905-916 Published: NOV 29 1996 |
| Times Cited: 386 References: 58 |
| Abstract: Human L1 elements are highly abundant poly(A) (non-LTR) retrotransposons whose second open reading frame (ORF2) encodes a reverse transcriptase (RT). We have identified an endonuclease (EN) domain at the L1 ORF2 N-terminus that is highly conserved among poly(A) retrotransposons and resembles the apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases. Purified L1 EN protein (L1 ENp) makes 5'-PO4, 3'-OH nicks in supercoiled plasmids, shows no preference for AP sites, and preferentially cleaves sequences resembling L1 in vivo target sequences. Mutations in conserved amino acid residues of L1 EN abolish its nicking activity and eliminate L1 retrotransposition. We propose that L1 EN cleaves the target site for L1 insertion and primes reverse transcription. |
| Document Type: Article |
| Language: English |
Addresses:
1. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV, DEPT MOL BIOL & GENET, SCH MED, BALTIMORE, MD 21205 USA
2. UNIV PENN, SCH MED, DEPT GENET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104 USA |
| Publisher: CELL PRESS, 1050 MASSACHUSETTES AVE, CIRCULATION DEPT, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138 |
| Subject Category: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Cell Biology |
| IDS Number: VV774 |
| ISSN: 0092-8674 |
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| | | | | | | | | Record from Web of Science® | | | | | | | | | |