Element:Pao

Description Pao is a LTR retrotransposon described in the genome of the domestic silkworm Bombyx mori and its name derives from the Chinese word for “running” (Xiong et al. 1993). Approximately 40 copies of Pao elements are present in the genome with most located outside the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) units (Xiong et al. 1993). Pao gives the name and belongs to Pao clade (Copeland et al. 2005) within Branch 2 of the Bel/Pao family (Llorens et al. 2009). The genome of Pao is about of 4.8 Kb in size (4791 bp in lenght), including LTRs of 629 nt. The internal coding region displays one or two Primer Binding Site (PBS), complementary to a tRNATyr, a single 1158 amino acids ORF for gag and pol genes, and a Polypurine Tract (PPT) adjacent to the 3´LTR. The gag polyprotein presents three CCHC (Cysteine zinc finger array) motifs characteristic of the nucleocapsid domain, while pol shows absence of Integrase and part RNase H (Xiong et al. 1993). Structure Figure not to scale. If present, long terminal repeats (LTRs) have been highlighted in blue. Amino acid motifs noted with lines indicate the conserved residues in each protein domain, abbreviations below mean: MA=matrix PR=protease DU or DUT=dUTPase TM=transmembrane TAV or IBMP=transactivator/viroplasmin or inclusion body matrix protein CA=capsid RT=reverse transcriptase INT=Integrase CHR=chromodomain NC=nucleocapsid RH=RNaseH SU=surface MOV=movement protein PPT=polypurine tract PBS=primer binding site ATF=aphid transmission factor VAP=virion associated protein Related literature Mobile DNA II. (Craig et al. 2002)

Genbank accession: 972521 Clade: Pao Cluster or genus: Undetermined Branch or class: Branch 2 Family: Bel/Pao System: LTR retroelements Host: Explore the Tree Life Project Bombyx mori Image, Laura Covelli, Copyright, GyDB, Biotech Vana Browse all elements