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. 1991 Feb 11;19(3):579–584. doi: 10.1093/nar/19.3.579

Somatic excision of the Mu1 transposable element of maize.

A Doseff 1, R Martienssen 1, V Sundaresan 1
PMCID: PMC333651  PMID: 1849263

Abstract

The Mu transposons of the Robertsons's Mutator transposable element system in maize are unusual in many respects, when compared to the other known plant transposon systems. The excision of these elements occurs late in somatic tissues and very rarely in the germ line. Unlike the other plant transposons, there is no experimental evidence directly linking Mu element excision and integration. We have analyzed the excision products generated by a Mu1 transposon inserted into the bronze 1 locus of maize. We find that the excision products or 'footprints' left by the Mu1 element resemble those of the other plant transposable elements, rather than those of the animal transposable element systems. We also find some novel types of footprints resembling recombinational events. We suggest that the Mu1 element can promote intrachromosomal crossovers and conversions near its site of insertion, and that this may be another mechanism by which transposons can accelerate the evolution of genomes.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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