RRC ID 3356
Author Fujiwara H, Osanai M, Matsumoto T, Kojima KK.
Title Telomere-specific non-LTR retrotransposons and telomere maintenance in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.
Journal Chromosome Res
Abstract Most insects have telomeres that consist of pentanucleotide (TTAGG) telomeric repeats, which are synthesized by telomerase. However, all species in Diptera so far examined and several species in other orders of insect have lost the (TTAGG)n repeats, suggesting that some of them recruit telomerase-independent telomere maintenance. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, retains the TTAGG motifs in the chromosomal ends but expresses quite a low level of telomerase activity in all stages of various tissues. Just proximal to a 6-8-kb stretch of the TTAGG repeats in B. mori, more than 1000 copies of non-LTR retrotransposons, designated TRAS and SART families, occur among the telomeric repeats and accumulate. TRAS and SART are abundantly transcribed and actively retrotransposed into TTAGG telomeric repeats in a highly sequence-specific manner. They have three possible mechanisms to ensure specific integration into the telomeric repeats. This article focuses on the telomere structure and telomere-specific non-LTR retrotransposons in B. mori and discusses the mechanisms for telomere maintenance in this insect.
Volume 13(5)
Pages 455-67
Published 2005-1-1
DOI 10.1007/s10577-005-0990-9
PMID 16132811
MeSH Animals Bombyx / genetics* Bombyx / physiology Evolution, Molecular Models, Genetic Phylogeny Retroelements / genetics* Reverse Transcription / genetics Telomerase / metabolism Telomere / chemistry Telomere / genetics Telomere / physiology* Terminal Repeat Sequences / genetics Terminal Repeat Sequences / physiology
IF 3.413
Times Cited 60
WOS Category GENETICS & HEREDITY BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Resource
Silkworms