Table 1.

Classification and characteristics of eukaryotic DNA transposons

Superfamily	Related IS	TSD	Length1 (kb)	TIRs1 (bp)	Terminal motif (5′-3′)	TPase1 (aa)	Catalytic motif	DNA-binding motif	Additionnal proteins
Tc1/mariner	IS630	TA	1.2–5.0	17–1100	variable	300–550	DD(30–41)D/E	HTH (cro/paired)
hAT	nd	8 bp	2.5–5	10–25	YARNG	600–850	D(68)D(324)E2	ZnF (BED)
P element	nd	7/8 bp	3–11	13–150	CANRG	800–900	D(83)D(2)E(13)D3	ZnF (THAP)
MuDR/Foldback	IS256	7–10 bp	1.3–7.4	0-sev. Kb	variable	450–850	DD(~110)E	ZnF (WRKY/GCM1)
CACTA	nd	2/3 bp	4.5–15	10–54	CMCWR	500–1,200	Nd	nd	TNPA (DNA-binding protein)
PiggyBac	IS1380	TTAA	2.3–6.3	12–19	CCYT	550–700	DDE?	nd
PIF/Harbinger	IS5	TWA	2.3–5.5	15–270	GC-rich	350–550	DD(35–37/47–48)E	HTH	PIF2p (Myb/SANT domain)
Merlin	IS1016	8/9 bp	1.4–3.5	21–462	GGNRM	270–330	DD(36–38)E	nd
Transib	nd	5-bp	3–4	9–60	CACWATG	650–700	DD(206–214)E	nd
Banshee	IS481	4/15 bp	3.5	41–950	TGT	300–4004	DD(34)E	HTH
Helitron	IS91	none	5.5–17	none	5′-TC…CTAR-3′	1,400–3,0005	HHYY (‘REP motif’)	ZnF-like	RPA (in Plants)
Maverick	none	5/6 bp	15–25	150–700	simple repeat	350–4504	DD(33–35)E	ZnF (HHCC)	4–10 DNA virus-like proteins

¹refers to potentially complete, autonomous element

²motif in Hermes Tpase

³motif in Drosophila P element Tpase

⁴RVE integrase-like

⁵REP-Helicase

nd= not determined