title: Dynamic interactions between transposable elements and their hosts.
abstract: Transposable elements (TEs) have a unique ability to mobilize to new genomic locations, and the major advance of second-generation DNA sequencing has provided insights into the dynamic relationship between TEs and their hosts. It now is clear that TEs have adopted diverse strategies - such as specific integration sites or patterns of activity - to thrive in host environments that are replete with mechanisms, such as small RNAs or epigenetic marks, that combat TE amplification. Emerging evidence suggests that TE mobilization might sometimes benefit host genomes by enhancing genetic diversity, although TEs are also implicated in diseases such as cancer. Here, we discuss recent findings about how, where and when TEs insert in diverse organisms.
authors.affiliation: Section on Eukaryotic Transposable Elements, Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. henry_levin@nih.gov
authors.forename: Henry L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: John V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Moran
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D004260:DNA Repair; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D057890:Epigenomics / Q000379:methods*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015894:Genome, Human; D018745:Genome, Plant; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D006570:Heterochromatin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering