Transposable Element - Rate of Transposition, Induction and Defense

Rate of Transposition, Induction and Defense

One study estimated the rate of transposition of a particular retrotransposon, the Ty1 element in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using several assumptions, the rate of successful transposition event per single Ty1 element came out to be about once every few months to once every few years.

Cells defend against the proliferation of TEs in a number of ways. These include piRNAs and siRNAs which silence TEs after they have been transcribed.

Some TEs contain heat-shock like promoters and their rate of transposition increases if the cell is subjected to stress, thus increasing the mutation rate under these conditions, which might be beneficial to the cell.

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