piggyBac Transposon
- Author: Kosuke Yusa1
- Editors: Mick Chandler2, Nancy Craig3
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VIEW AFFILIATIONS HIDE AFFILIATIONSAffiliations: 1: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK; 2: Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; 3: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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Received 15 May 2014 Accepted 14 August 2014 Published 05 March 2015
- Correspondence: Kosuke Yusa, ky1@sanger.ac.uk

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Abstract:
The piggyBac transposon was originally isolated from the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni, in the 1980s. Despite its early discovery and dissimilarity to the other DNA transposon families, the piggyBac transposon was not recognized as a member of a large transposon superfamily for a long time. Initially, the piggyBac transposon was thought to be a rare transposon. This view, however, has now been completely revised as a number of fully sequenced genomes have revealed the presence of piggyBac-like repetitive elements. The isolation of active copies of the piggyBac-like elements from several distinct species further supported this revision. This includes the first isolation of an active mammalian DNA transposon identified in the bat genome. To date, the piggyBac transposon has been deeply characterized and it represents a number of unique characteristics. In general, all members of the piggyBac superfamily use TTAA as their integration target sites. In addition, the piggyBac transposon shows precise excision, i.e., restoring the sequence to its preintegration state, and can transpose in a variety of organisms such as yeasts, malaria parasites, insects, mammals, and even in plants. Biochemical analysis of the chemical steps of transposition revealed that piggyBac does not require DNA synthesis during the actual transposition event. The broad host range has attracted researchers from many different fields, and the piggyBac transposon is currently the most widely used transposon system for genetic manipulations.
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Citation: Yusa K. 2015. piggyBac Transposon. Microbiol Spectrum 3(2):MDNA3-0028-2014. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0028-2014.




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Key Concept Ranking
- DNA Synthesis
- 0.53665507
- Genetic Elements
- 0.5228947
- La Crosse Encephalitis
- 0.469361
- Murine leukemia virus
- 0.46604216
- DNA Transposons
- 0.41432074
References

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Abstract:
The piggyBac transposon was originally isolated from the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni, in the 1980s. Despite its early discovery and dissimilarity to the other DNA transposon families, the piggyBac transposon was not recognized as a member of a large transposon superfamily for a long time. Initially, the piggyBac transposon was thought to be a rare transposon. This view, however, has now been completely revised as a number of fully sequenced genomes have revealed the presence of piggyBac-like repetitive elements. The isolation of active copies of the piggyBac-like elements from several distinct species further supported this revision. This includes the first isolation of an active mammalian DNA transposon identified in the bat genome. To date, the piggyBac transposon has been deeply characterized and it represents a number of unique characteristics. In general, all members of the piggyBac superfamily use TTAA as their integration target sites. In addition, the piggyBac transposon shows precise excision, i.e., restoring the sequence to its preintegration state, and can transpose in a variety of organisms such as yeasts, malaria parasites, insects, mammals, and even in plants. Biochemical analysis of the chemical steps of transposition revealed that piggyBac does not require DNA synthesis during the actual transposition event. The broad host range has attracted researchers from many different fields, and the piggyBac transposon is currently the most widely used transposon system for genetic manipulations.

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Figures
Structure of the T. ni piggyBac transposon (GenBank accession number J04364.2). TIR, terminal inverted repeat. The minimum TIR sequences are based on ref. ( 61 ). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0028-2014.f1

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FIGURE 1
Structure of the T. ni piggyBac transposon (GenBank accession number J04364.2). TIR, terminal inverted repeat. The minimum TIR sequences are based on ref. ( 61 ). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0028-2014.f1
The chemical steps of T. ni piggyBac transposition. Black and grey arrowheads indicate positions of nicks or sites where 3′ OH groups attack, respectively. Modified from ref. ( 43 ). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0028-2014.f2

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FIGURE 2
The chemical steps of T. ni piggyBac transposition. Black and grey arrowheads indicate positions of nicks or sites where 3′ OH groups attack, respectively. Modified from ref. ( 43 ). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0028-2014.f2
Comparison of target site joining and repair in piggyBac (left) and Tc1 (right). Grey arrowheads indicate sites where 3′ OH groups attack. Modified from ref. ( 136 ). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0028-2014.f3

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FIGURE 3
Comparison of target site joining and repair in piggyBac (left) and Tc1 (right). Grey arrowheads indicate sites where 3′ OH groups attack. Modified from ref. ( 136 ). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0028-2014.f3
Transposon-mediated cancer gene discovery in mice. (A) Commonly used genetic elements. TIR, terminal inverted repeat; SA, splice acceptor site; pA, polyadenylation signal sequence; SD, splice donor site. (B) In gene activation, a strong constitutive promoter ectopically expresses or overexpresses a trapped gene. The transposon carries two splice acceptor sites in both directions; the trapped genes will be inactivated in spite of the transposon orientation relative to the gene. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0028-2014.f4

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FIGURE 4
Transposon-mediated cancer gene discovery in mice. (A) Commonly used genetic elements. TIR, terminal inverted repeat; SA, splice acceptor site; pA, polyadenylation signal sequence; SD, splice donor site. (B) In gene activation, a strong constitutive promoter ectopically expresses or overexpresses a trapped gene. The transposon carries two splice acceptor sites in both directions; the trapped genes will be inactivated in spite of the transposon orientation relative to the gene. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0028-2014.f4
Tables
Studies in which piggyBac transposition has been confirmed in insect species

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TABLE 1
Studies in which piggyBac transposition has been confirmed in insect species
Studies in which piggyBac transposition has been confirmed in noninsect species

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TABLE 2
Studies in which piggyBac transposition has been confirmed in noninsect species
Studies using the piggyBac transposon as an insertional mutagen

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TABLE 3
Studies using the piggyBac transposon as an insertional mutagen
Supplemental Material
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