Tel-1 transposon-like elements of Tetrahymena thermophila are associated with micronuclear genome rearrangements.
The micronuclear genome of Tetrahymena thermophila contains Tel-1 elements that structurally resemble transposons. Here we present molecular evidence that Tel-1 transposon-like elements are mobile. The arrangements of Tel-1 elements in the micronuclear genomes of several T. thermophila strains and cell lines were assayed by Southern blotting. The molecular evidence for Tel-1 transposition is most striking in strains that have undergone unusual laboratory-induced meioses. The genetic history of the strains exhibiting evidence of Tel-1 transposition is consistent with periods of genome restructuring in response to genomic "shock" that B. McClintock has suggested could result in transposon activation.
Wyman
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Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Blackburn
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EH
D000818:Animals; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000235:genetics*
D015342:DNA Probes; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S