RETROTRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN THE DICTYOSTELIUM-DISCOIDEUM GENOME

Repetitive DNA is a major component of any living cell. In eukaryotes retrotransposable elements make up several percent of the genome size, and consequently, retroelements are often identified in experiments a imed at establishing physical maps and whole genome sequences. In this review, recent progress in the characterization of retrotransposable elements in the genome of the eukaryotic microorganism Dictyostelium d iscoideum is summarized with a focus on retroelements which integrate near transfer RNA genes with intriguing position specificity.