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Human LINE retrotransposons generate processed pseudogenes

Nature Genetics volume 24, pages 363–367 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Long interspersed elements (LINEs) are endogenous mobile genetic elements1,2,3,4 that have dispersed and accumulated in the genomes of higher eukaryotes via germline transposition, with up to 100,000 copies in mammalian genomes. In humans, LINEs are the major source of insertional mutagenesis, being involved in both germinal and somatic mutant phenotypes4. Here we show that the human LINE retrotransposons, which transpose through the reverse transcription of their own transcript2, can also mobilize transcribed DNA not associated with a LINE sequence by a process involving the diversion of the LINE enzymatic machinery by the corresponding mRNA transcripts. This results in the ‘retroposition’ of the transcribed gene and the formation of new copies that disclose features characteristic of the widespread and naturally occurring processed pseudogenes: loss of intron and promoter, acquisition of a poly(A) 3′ end and presence of target-site duplications of varying length5,6. We further show–by introducing deletions within either coding sequence of the human LINE–that both ORFs are necessary for the formation of the processed pseudogenes, and that retroviral-like elements are not able to produce similar structures in the same assay. Our results strengthen the unique versatility of LINEs as genome modellers.

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Figure 1: Processed pseudogene formation and rationale of the assay.
Figure 2: LINEs induce processed pseudogene formation.
Figure 3: The two LINE ORFs are necessary for processed pseudogene formation.
Figure 4: Absence of sequence specificity for mRNA retroposition, but evidence for strong cis effects.
Figure 5: Cis and trans effects of LINEs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank H. Kazazian for the LINE pL1.2A plasmid; F. Dautry for the CMV-β-globin plasmid; O. Dhellin for constant help and advice; L. Bénit for help with computer searches; and C. Lavialle for comments and critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by the CNRS and a grant from the ARC to T.H.

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  1. Unité des Rétrovirus Endogènes et Eléments Rétroïdes des Eucaryotes Supérieurs , Institut Gustave Roussy, CNRS UMR 1573, Villejuif Cedex, France

    Cécile Esnault, Joël Maestre & Thierry Heidmann

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  1. Cécile Esnault
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  3. Thierry Heidmann
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Correspondence to Thierry Heidmann.

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Esnault, C., Maestre, J. & Heidmann, T. Human LINE retrotransposons generate processed pseudogenes. Nat Genet 24, 363–367 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/74184

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