The human THAP9 gene encodes an active P-element DNA transposase.
The human genome contains ~50 genes that were derived from transposable elements or transposons, and many are now integral components of cellular gene expression programs. The human THAP9 gene is related to the Drosophila P-element transposase. Here, we show that human THAP9 can mobilize Drosophila P-elements in both Drosophila and human cells. Chimeric proteins formed between the Drosophila P-element transposase N-terminal THAP DNA binding domain and the C-terminal regions of human THAP9 can also mobilize Drosophila P elements. Our results indicate that human THAP9 is an active DNA transposase that, although "domesticated," still retains the catalytic activity to mobilize P transposable elements across species.
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3204, USA.
Sharmistha
S
Majumdar
Anita
A
Singh
Donald C
DC
Rio
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D015894:Genome, Human; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014162:Transfection; D019895:Transposases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C578085:THAP9 protein, human; D019895:Transposases