Mobile introns: retrohoming by complete reverse splicing.
A mobile bacterial group II intron can integrate into DNA by the reverse splicing into a target site of its RNA transcript, which then acts as a template for DNA synthesis by an encoded reverse transcriptase. Mobility does not require homologous recombination, which has important practical and evolutionary implications.
Eickbush
T H
TH
Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D018626:Retroelements / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; C099786:LtrB protein, Lactococcus lactis; D018626:Retroelements