Grinsted J, de la Cruz F, Schmitt R
Department of Microbiology, University of Bristol, Medical School, University Walk, U.K.
Plasmid. 1990 Nov;24(3):163-89. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(90)90001-s.
The Tn3 family of transposable elements is probably the most successful group of mobile DNA elements in bacteria: there are many different but related members and they are widely distributed in gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The Tn21 subgroup of the Tn3 family contains closely related elements that provide most of the currently known variation in Tn3-like elements in gram-negative bacteria and that are largely responsible for the problem of multiple resistance to antibiotics in these organisms. This paper reviews the structure, the mechanism of transposition, the mode of acquisition of accessory genes, and the evolution of these elements.
转座因子的Tn3家族可能是细菌中最成功的一类可移动DNA元件：存在许多不同但相关的成员，它们广泛分布于革兰氏阴性菌和革兰氏阳性菌中。Tn3家族的Tn21亚组包含紧密相关的元件，这些元件提供了革兰氏阴性菌中目前已知的大部分Tn3样元件变异，并且在很大程度上导致了这些生物体中抗生素多重耐药性的问题。本文综述了这些元件的结构、转座机制、辅助基因的获得方式以及进化情况。
