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Detection of LINE-1 RNAs by Northern Blot

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Book cover Transposons and Retrotransposons

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1400))

Abstract

Repetitive genetic elements have had an unprecedented success populating phylogenetically diverse species making them a common feature of most genomes. Hundreds of thousands of copies of active and non-functional transposable elements representing different classes and families can reside within and outside of host genes. In addition to creating structural variations in genomic DNA, some of these loci are expressed to contribute to the continuing amplification cycle. Transposable elements, specifically Long Interspersed Element-1 (LINE-1) produce a spectrum of RNAs, some of which are important for their mobilization, while others are processed forms of LINE-1 transcription that may or may not play relevant functions. Additionally, many LINE-1 sequences integrated into cellular genes are included into cellular transcripts creating substantial background when L1-related RNA expression is detected by some conventional methods. This chapter provides an in-depth description of the complexity of L1-generated mRNAs as well as sources of cellular transcripts containing L1 sequences. It also highlights the strengths and weaknesses of conventional methods used to detect LINE-1 expression.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Prescott Deininger

  2. Tulane Cancer Center and Center for Aging, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Prescott Deininger & Victoria P. Belancio

  3. Department of Structural and Cellular biology, Tulane School of Medicine, SL49, 1430 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Victoria P. Belancio

Authors
  1. Prescott Deininger
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  2. Victoria P. Belancio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victoria P. Belancio .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medi, Genyo (Center for Genomics and Oncologic, Granada, Spain

    Jose L. Garcia-Pérez

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Deininger, P., Belancio, V.P. (2016). Detection of LINE-1 RNAs by Northern Blot. In: Garcia-Pérez, J. (eds) Transposons and Retrotransposons. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1400. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3372-3_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3372-3_15

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3370-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3372-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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