Buck Institute for Age Research, Novato, CA 94945, USA.
Biochem Cell Biol. 2011 Oct;89(5):495-504. doi: 10.1139/o11-046. Epub 2011 Sep 14.
A typical eukaryotic genome harbors a rich variety of repetitive elements. The most abundant are retrotransposons, mobile retroelements that utilize reverse transcriptase and an RNA intermediate to relocate to a new location within the cellular genomes. A vast majority of the repetitive mammalian genome content has originated from the retrotransposition of SINE (100-300 bp short interspersed nuclear elements that are derived from the structural 7SL RNA or tRNA), LINE (7kb long interspersed nuclear element), and LTR (2-3 kb long terminal repeats) transposable element superfamilies. Broadly labeled as "evolutionary junkyard" or "fossils", this enigmatic "dark matter" of the genome possesses many yet to be discovered properties.
真核生物基因组中蕴藏着丰富多样的重复元件。其中最丰富的是逆转录转座子，它们是利用逆转录酶和 RNA 中间体将自身转移到细胞基因组中新位置的移动反转录元件。哺乳动物基因组中绝大多数重复序列都来源于 SINE（100-300bp 短散在核元件，来源于结构 7SL RNA 或 tRNA）、LINE（7kb 长散在核元件）和 LTR（2-3kb 长末端重复）转座元件超家族的逆转录转座。这些重复元件被广泛标记为“进化垃圾场”或“化石”，基因组中这些神秘的“暗物质”具有许多尚未被发现的特性。
