Transposition-Like Events Mediated by Single-Ended Derivatives of Transposon Tn21

Abstract

Transposable elements are specific sequences of DNA that can insert more or less at random into other DNA sequences. A “specific sequence” is defined by its ends and these are recognised during the transposition process. The ends of a particular element are usually identical or almost so and are thus called the “inverted repeats” (IR). During transposition, the IRs are recognised in a process that involves an element-encoded protein called “transposase”. (For a review of transposition, see ref.1.)