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Transposable Element Mediated Innovation in Gene Regulatory Landscapes of Cells: Re‐Visiting the “Gene‐Battery” Model
Author(s) -
Sundaram Vasavi,
Wang Ting
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.201700155
Subject(s) - biology , transposable element , gene , gene regulatory network , regulation of gene expression , genetics , computational biology , noncoding dna , context (archaeology) , genome , regulatory sequence , encode , function (biology) , gene expression , paleontology
Transposable elements (TEs) are no longer considered to be “junk” DNA. Here, we review how TEs can impact gene regulation systematically. TEs encode various regulatory elements that enables them to regulate gene expression. RJ Britten and EH Davidson hypothesized that TEs can integrate the function of various transcriptional regulators into gene regulatory networks. Uniquely TEs can deposit regulatory sites across the genome when they transpose, and thereby bring multiple genes under control of the same regulatory logic. Several studies together have robustly established that TEs participate in embryonic development and oncogenesis. We discuss the regulatory characteristics of TEs in context of evolution to understand the extent of their impact on gene networks. Understanding these features of TEs is central to future investigations of TEs in cellular processes and phenotypic presentations, which are applicable to development and disease studies. We re‐visit the Britten–Davidson “gene‐battery” model and understand the genetic and transcriptional impact of TEs in innovating gene regulatory networks.