Sinzelle L, Izsvák Z, Ivics Z
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2009 Mar;66(6):1073-93. doi: 10.1007/s00018-009-8376-3.
Transposable elements (TEs) are commonly viewed as molecular parasites producing mainly neutral or deleterious effects in host genomes through their ability to move. However, during the past two decades, major interest has been focusing on the positive contribution of these elements in the evolution of gene regulation and in the creation of diverse structural host genes. Indeed, DNA transposons carry an attractive and elaborate enzymatic machinery as well as DNA components that have been co-opted in several cases by the host genome via an evolutionary process referred to as molecular domestication. A large number of transposon-derived genes known to date have been recruited by the host to function as transcriptional regulators; however, the biological role of the majority of them remains undetermined. Our knowledge on the structure, distribution, evolution and mechanism of transposons will continue to provide important contributions to our understanding of host genome functions.
转座元件（TEs）通常被视为分子寄生虫，它们通过移动能力在宿主基因组中主要产生中性或有害影响。然而，在过去二十年中，主要的研究兴趣集中在这些元件在基因调控进化和多样化结构宿主基因创造中的积极贡献。事实上，DNA转座子携带了一套引人关注且精巧的酶促机制以及DNA组件，在某些情况下，宿主基因组通过一个被称为分子驯化的进化过程对这些组件进行了征用。迄今为止已知的大量转座子衍生基因已被宿主招募来充当转录调节因子；然而，它们中大多数的生物学作用仍未确定。我们对转座子的结构、分布、进化和机制的了解将继续为我们理解宿主基因组功能提供重要贡献。
