TY - JOUR TI - Genomic DNA transposition induced by human PGBD5 AU - Henssen, Anton G AU - Henaff, Elizabeth AU - Jiang, Eileen AU - Eisenberg, Amy R AU - Carson, Julianne R AU - Villasante, Camila M AU - Ray, Mondira AU - Still, Eric AU - Burns, Melissa AU - Gandara, Jorge AU - Feschotte, Cedric AU - Mason, Christopher E AU - Kentsis, Alex A2 - Botchan, Michael R VL - 4 PY - 2015 DA - 2015/09/25 SP - e10565 C1 - eLife 2015;4:e10565 DO - 10.7554/eLife.10565 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10565 AB - Transposons are mobile genetic elements that are found in nearly all organisms, including humans. Mobilization of DNA transposons by transposase enzymes can cause genomic rearrangements, but our knowledge of human genes derived from transposases is limited. In this study, we find that the protein encoded by human PGBD5, the most evolutionarily conserved transposable element-derived gene in vertebrates, can induce stereotypical cut-and-paste DNA transposition in human cells. Genomic integration activity of PGBD5 requires distinct aspartic acid residues in its transposase domain, and specific DNA sequences containing inverted terminal repeats with similarity to piggyBac transposons. DNA transposition catalyzed by PGBD5 in human cells occurs genome-wide, with precise transposon excision and preference for insertion at TTAA sites. The apparent conservation of DNA transposition activity by PGBD5 suggests that genomic remodeling contributes to its biological function. KW - DNA transposition KW - genome remodeling KW - recombination JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -