SLACS retrotransposon from Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is similar to mammalian LINEs.
We have characterized a retrotransposon in Trypanosoma brucei gambiense uniquely associated with the spliced-leader (SL) RNA gene cluster (Spliced Leader Associated Conserved Sequence, SLACS). There are nine copies of SLACS and DNA sequence analysis of one shows the hallmarks of Line-1 like elements. SLACS has generated a 49 bp target DNA duplication at its insertion site and its 3'-end is preceded by a poly(A) stretch. Two putative open reading frames (ORFs) span 75% of the element. ORF1 has CysHis motif associated with the retroviral gag polypeptide while ORF2 shows homology with reverse transcriptase sequences. Its 5'-end contains a repeated segment of a 185 bp that varies in copy number in different SLACS insertions. Retrotransposon-like sequences inserted into the SL-RNA genes occur in several hemoflagellates. These elements may represent a related family which has maintained its target site specificity.
Aksoy
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Yale MacArthur Center for Molecular Parasitology, New Haven, CT 06510.
Williams
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Chang
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Richards
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008322:Mammals; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D005810:Multigene Family; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / Q000235:genetics*
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012333:RNA, Messenger