Non-random distribution of transposable elements in the nuclear genome of plants
- Capel, J. 1
- Montero, L.M. 1
- Martinez-zapater, J.M. 1
- Salinas, J. 1
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1
Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria
info
Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria
Madrid, España
ISSN: 0305-1048
Año de publicación: 1993
Volumen: 21
Número: 10
Páginas: 2369-2373
Tipo: Artículo
Otras publicaciones en: Nucleic Acids Research
Resumen
We have studied the genomic distribution of five different families of plant transposable elements by analyzing their location in DNA fractions from maize and tobacco genomes fractionated according to base composition. The results show that each family of elements is preferentially integrated in one specific fraction of its respective host genome. This demonstrates that the distribution of transposable elements in the nuclear genome of plants is not random but compartimentalized, i.e., the elements are located in specific genomic compartments characterized by having a specific G + C content and representing a small proportion of the genomes. Furthermore, these compartments seem to correspond to the genomic regions where most of the plant genes are also located, suggesting a preferential integration of transposable elements in the transcriptionally active regions of the plant genome. The implications of these results on the current applications of transposon tagging techniques are discussed.