Genetics. Published Articles Ahead of Print: October 28, 2008, Copyright © 2008
doi:10.1534/genetics.108.096636

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LINE-like Retrotransposition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Chun Dong 1, Russell T. Poulter 2 and Jeffrey S. Han 1*

1 Carnegie Institution of Washington
2 University of Otago

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: han{at}ciwemb.edu.

Submitted on September 22, 2008
Revised on October 18, 2008
Accepted on 27 October 2008


Abstract

Over one-third of human genome sequence is a product of non-LTR retrotransposition. The retrotransposon that currently drives this process in humans is the highly abundant LINE-1 (L1) element. Despite the ubiquitous nature of L1s in mammals, we still lack a complete mechanistic understanding of the L1 replication cycle and how it is regulated. To generate a genetically amenable model for non-LTR retrotransposition, we have re-engineered the Zorro3 retrotransposon, an L1 homolog from Candida albicans, for use in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that S. cerevisiae, which has no endogenous L1 homologs or remnants, can still support Zorro3 retrotransposition. Analysis of Zorro3 mutants and insertion structures suggest that this is authentic L1-like retrotransposition with remarkable resemblance to mammalian L1-mediated events. This suggests that S. cerevisiae has unexpectedly retained the basal host machinery required for L1 retrotransposition. This model will also serve as a powerful system to study the cell biology of L1 elements and for the genetic identification and characterization of cellular factors involved in L1 retrotransposition.

Key Words: L1, LINE-1, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Zorro3, retrotransposon