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Many human L1 elements are capable of retrotransposition

Nature Genetics volume 16, pages 37–43 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

Using a selective screening strategy to enrich for active L1 elements, we isolated 13 full-length elements from a human genomic library. We tested these and two previously-isolated L1s (L1.3 and L1.4) for reverse transcriptase (RT) activity and the ability to retrotranspose in HeLa cells. Of the 13 newly-isolated Us, eight had RT activity and three were able to retrotranspose. L1.3 and L1.4 possessed RT activity and retrotransposed at remarkably high frequencies. These studies bring the number of characterized active human L1 elements to seven. Based on these and other data, we estimate that 30–60 active L1 elements reside in the average diploid genome.

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Author notes

  1. Haig H. Kazazian Jr

    Present address: Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA

    Donna M. Sassaman, Beth A. Dombroski, John V. Moran, Michelle L. Kimberland, Thierry P. Naas, Ralph J. DeBerardinis & Haig H. Kazazian Jr

  2. Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08855, USA

    Abram Gabriel

  3. Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA

    Gary D. Swergold

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  1. Donna M. Sassaman
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Correspondence to Haig H. Kazazian Jr.

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Sassaman, D., Dombroski, B., Moran, J. et al. Many human L1 elements are capable of retrotransposition. Nat Genet 16, 37–43 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0597-37

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