title: Transposon-mediated genome manipulation in vertebrates.
abstract: Transposable elements are DNA segments with the unique ability to move about in the genome. This inherent feature can be exploited to harness these elements as gene vectors for genome manipulation. Transposon-based genetic strategies have been established in vertebrate species over the last decade, and current progress in this field suggests that transposable elements will serve as indispensable tools. In particular, transposons can be applied as vectors for somatic and germline transgenesis, and as insertional mutagens in both loss-of-function and gain-of-function forward mutagenesis screens. In addition, transposons will gain importance in future cell-based clinical applications, including nonviral gene transfer into stem cells and the rapidly developing field of induced pluripotent stem cells. Here we provide an overview of transposon-based methods used in vertebrate model organisms with an emphasis on the mouse system and highlight the most important considerations concerning genetic applications of the transposon systems.
authors.affiliation: Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany. zivics@mdc-berlin.de
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ivics
authors.forename: Meng Amy
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mátés
authors.forename: Jef D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Boeke
authors.forename: Andras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Izsvák
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements