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. 1988 Feb 11;16(3):1143–1151. doi: 10.1093/nar/16.3.1143

Human transposon-like elements insert at a preferred target site: evidence for a retrovirally mediated process.

N Deka 1, C R Willard 1, E Wong 1, C W Schmid 1
PMCID: PMC334743  PMID: 2830591

Abstract

Members of the human transposon-like family of repetitive sequences (called THE 1 repeats) like many other repetitive DNA sequences are flanked by short direct repeats. Comparison of the base sequences of twelve examples of these flanking direct repeats indicates that THE 1 repeats insert into a preferred genomic target site. In one case, we have identified the sequence of an empty site into which a THE 1 element inserted. The sequence of this empty site and sequences of truncated THE 1 LTRs are consistent with a retroviral mechanism for the insertion of THE 1 elements. Truncated transposon structures illustrate for the first time that intermediate structures of retrotransposition may also be integrated into the genome.

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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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