The derivation of germ-line competent avian primordial germ cells establishes a cell-based model system for the investigation of germ cell differentiation and the production of genetically modified animals. Current methods to modify primordial germ cells using DNA or retroviral vectors are inefficient and prone to epigenetic silencing. Here, we validate the use of transposable elements for the ...

The structure of a high-loading complex of ZSM-5 with 6.4 toluene molecules per unit cell has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. At least three kinds of toluene molecules were identified in the unit cell. Two disordered toluene molecules were located at the intersection of the straight and sinusoidal channels, the third in the sinusoidal channel. One (TOL1) of the two toluene ...

Mos1 is a member of the mariner/Tc1 family of transposable elements originally identified in Drosophila mauritiana. It has 28 bp terminal inverted repeats and like other elements of this type it transposes by a cut and paste mechanism, inserts at TA dinucleotides and codes for a transposase. This is the only protein required for transposition in vitro. We have investigated the DNA binding prope...

Transposase activity that mediates the mobility of class II transposable elements, is most commonly initiated by the assembly of higher order synaptic complexes, called transpososomes. The formation of these complexes, that contain the transposable element's DNA as well as two or more molecules of the transposase, is dependent on interactions between transposase molecules. Using the yeast Two-H...

Comparative sequence analysis of IS50 transposase-related protein sequences in conjunction with known structural, biochemical, and genetic data was used to determine domains and residues that play key roles in IS50 transposase function. BLAST and ClustalW analyses have been used to find and analyze six complete protein sequences that are related to the IS50 transposase. The protein sequence ide...

One of the most frequently encountered problems in transposon-mediated transgenesis is low transformation frequency, often resulting from difficulty in expressing from injected plasmid DNA constructs adequate levels of transposase in embryos. Capped RNA corresponding to the spliced transcript of the Minos transposable element has been synthesized in vitro and shown to be an effective source of ...

Nonviral vector systems are used increasingly in gene targeting and gene transfer applications. The piggyBac transposon represents an alternative integrating vector for in vivo gene transfer. We hypothesized that this system could achieve persistent gene transfer to the liver when administered systemically. We report that a novel hyperactive transposase generated higher transposition efficiency...

We describe a method for the purification of TnlOIIS10 transposase that relies on the aggregation of the protein after overexpression in Escherichia coli. Aggregated transposase was solubilized before th final purification step, a gel-filtration column, using a combination of salt and detergent. This procedure is the first reported for the preparation of concentrated and active transposase from...

The mariner Mos1 synaptic complex consists of a tetramer of transposase molecules that bring together the two ends of the element. Such an assembly requires at least two kinds of protein-protein interfaces. The first is involved in "cis" dimerization, and consists of transposase molecules bound side-by-side on a single DNA molecule. The second, which is involved in "trans" dimerization, consist...