Nuclear Importation of Mariner Transposases among Eukaryotes: Motif Requirements and Homo-Protein Interactions
2011

Nuclear Importation of Mariner Transposases among Eukaryotes

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Demattei Marie-Véronique, Hedhili Sabah, Sinzelle Ludivine, Bressac Christophe, Casteret Sophie, Moiré Nathalie, Cambefort Jeanne, Thomas Xavier, Pollet Nicolas, Gantet Pascal, Bigot Yves

Primary Institution: PRC, UMR INRA-CNRS 6175, Nouzilly, France

Hypothesis

Does the ability of transposases encoded by Mos1, Himar1, and Mcmar1 to be actively imported into nuclei vary between hosts belonging to different eukaryotic taxa?

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that nuclear importation can restrict the host range of some mariner-like elements in certain eukaryotic lineages, depending on their expression level.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study shows that the nuclear importation of Mos1, Himar1, and Mcmar1 varies across different cell types.
  • Over-expression of the Mos1 transposase can prevent its nuclear importation due to the formation of aggregates in the cytoplasm.
  • Sequence analyses revealed that the dimerization moiety is conserved among MLE transposases.

Takeaway

This study looks at how certain proteins from transposons can get into the nucleus of different types of cells, which helps us understand how they work in different organisms.

Methodology

The study involved transiently transfecting expression plasmids encoding full-length transposases fused with GFP into various cell types and analyzing their localization.

Limitations

The study did not identify specific residues or motifs in MCMAR1 that could explain its cytoplasmic localization in certain cell types.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0023693

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