TY - JOUR T1 - Genomic DNA transposition induced by human PGBD5 JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/023887 SP - 023887 AU - Anton G. Henssen AU - Elizabeth Henaff AU - Eileen Jiang AU - Amy R. Eisenberg AU - Julianne R. Carson AU - Camila M. Villasante AU - Mondira Ray AU - Eric Still AU - Melissa Burns AU - Jorge Gandara AU - Cedric Feschotte AU - Christopher E. Mason AU - Alex Kentsis Y1 - 2015/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2015/08/03/023887.abstract N2 - Transposons are mobile genetic elements that are found in nearly all organisms, including humans. Mobilization of DNA transposons by transposase enzymes can cause genomic rearrangements, but our knowledge of human genes derived from transposases is limited. Here, we find that the protein encoded by human PGBD5, the most evolutionarily conserved transposable element-derived gene in chordates, can induce stereotypical cut-and-paste DNA transposition in human cells. Genomic integration activity of PGBD5 requires distinct aspartic acid residues in its transposase domain, and specific DNA sequences with inverted terminal repeats with similarity to piggyBac transposons. DNA transposition catalyzed by PGBD5 in human cells occurs genome-wide, with precise transposon excision and preference for insertion at TTAA sites. The apparent conservation of DNA transposition activity by PGBD5 raises the possibility that genomic remodeling may contribute to its biological function. ER -