Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
J Hered. 2011 Sep-Oct;102 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S2-10. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esr051.
Short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) are a type of class 1 transposable element (retrotransposon) with features that allow investigators to resolve evolutionary relationships between populations and species while providing insight into genome composition and function. Characterization of a Carnivora-specific SINE family, Can-SINEs, has, has aided comparative genomic studies by providing rare genomic changes, and neutral sequence variants often needed to resolve difficult evolutionary questions. In addition, Can-SINEs constitute a significant source of functional diversity with Carnivora. Publication of the whole-genome sequence of domestic dog, domestic cat, and giant panda serves as a valuable resource in comparative genomic inferences gleaned from Can-SINEs. In anticipation of forthcoming studies bolstered by new genomic data, this review describes the discovery and characterization of Can-SINE motifs as well as describes composition, distribution, and effect on genome function. As the contribution of noncoding sequences to genomic diversity becomes more apparent, SINEs and other transposable elements will play an increasingly large role in mammalian comparative genomics.
短散在核元件（SINEs）是一类 1 类转座元件（逆转座子），具有使研究人员能够解决种群和物种之间进化关系的特征，同时深入了解基因组的组成和功能。对 Carnivora 特异性 SINE 家族 Can-SINEs 的特征进行了描述，通过提供稀有基因组变化和经常需要解决困难进化问题的中性序列变体，帮助比较基因组研究。此外，Can-SINEs 构成了 Carnivora 功能多样性的重要来源。犬、猫和大熊猫全基因组序列的发表为从 Can-SINEs 中得出的比较基因组推断提供了有价值的资源。预计新基因组数据的即将到来的研究将进一步推动这一领域的发展，本综述描述了 Can-SINE 基序的发现和特征描述，以及组成、分布和对基因组功能的影响。随着非编码序列对基因组多样性的贡献变得更加明显，SINEs 和其他转座元件将在哺乳动物比较基因组学中发挥越来越大的作用。
