The medaka fish Tol2 transposable element can undergo excision in human and mouse cells.
Tol2 is an active DNA-based transposable element identified in the medaka fish, Oryzias latipes. Originating from a vertebrate and belonging to the hAT ( hobo/ Activator/ Tam3) transposable element family, featuring a wide distribution among organisms, Tol2 would be expected to be active if introduced into mammals. We, therefore, examined if excision, one part of the transposition reaction, can occur in human and mouse culture cells. A Tol2 clone was introduced into cells and, after incubation, recovered. PCR and sequencing analysis provided evidence for precise and near precise excision in these cells. Tol2 can thus be expected to serve as a material for developing a gene transfer vector and other genetic tools applicable to mammals. It was also suggested that an intact Tol2 element could retain autonomy as a transposable element in mammalian cells.
Koga
Akihiko
A
Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan. koga@bio.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
Iida
Atsuo
A
Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Kamiya
Megumi
M
Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Hayashi
Ryoko
R
Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Hori
Hiroshi
H
Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
Ishikawa
Yuji
Y
National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan.
Tachibana
Akira
A
Radiation Biology Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009990:Oryzias / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements