Capturing of host DNA by a plant retroelement: Bs1 encodes plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase domains.

The recently identified maize retroelement Bs1 encodes domains of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. This is the first example of host DNA captured by a plant retroelement and resembles the acquisition of oncogenes by vertebrate retroviruses. The ability to capture sequences from its host provides plant retroelements with a mechanism to alter gene structure which could be important for evolutionary adaptive change.