LINE-1 protein localization and functional dynamics during the cell cycle
- NYU Langone Medical Center, United States
- The Rockefeller University, United States
Abstract
LINE-1/L1 retrotransposon sequences comprise 17% of the human genome. Among the many classes of mobile genetic elements, L1 is the only autonomous retrotransposon that still drives human genomic plasticity today. Through its co-evolution with the human genome, L1 has intertwined itself with host cell biology. However, a clear understanding of L1's lifecycle and the processes involved in restricting its insertion and intragenomic spread remains elusive. Here we identify modes of L1 proteins' entrance into the nucleus, a necessary step for L1 proliferation. Using functional, biochemical, and imaging approaches, we also show a clear cell cycle bias for L1 retrotransposition that peaks during the S phase. Our observations provide a basis for novel interpretations about the nature of nuclear and cytoplasmic L1 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) and the potential role of DNA replication in L1 retrotransposition.
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Funding
National Institutes of Health (P50GM107632)
- Jef D Boeke
National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI P30CA16087)
- Chi Y Yun
National Institutes of Health (1S10OD010582)
- Chi Y Yun
NYSTEM (Contract C026719)
- Chi Y Yun
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Copyright
© 2018, Mita et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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LINE-1 protein localization and functional dynamics during the cell cycle
eLife 7:e30058.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.30058
Further reading
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- Cell Biology
- Genetics and Genomics
The mechanisms by which a retrotransposon called LINE-1 duplicates itself and spreads through the human genome are becoming clearer.
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- Cancer Biology
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