A major portion of plant genomes is made up of retrotransposons, which proliferate by reverse transcription of RNA intermediates. The methylation of DNA prevents transcription, and is a means by which retrotransposon movement is suppressed. The study of transposon dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana now reveals bursts of retrotransposition when DNA methylation is disturbed.
- Sayuri Tsukahara
- Akie Kobayashi
- Tetsuji Kakutani