Spacer DNA

Spacer DNA is a region of non-coding DNA between genes.^[1]^[2] The terms intergenic spacer (IGS) or non-transcribed spacer (NTS) are used particularly for the spacer DNA between the many tandemly repeated copies of the ribosomal RNA genes.^[3]

In

fungi, mitochondrial DNA spacers are common and variable in length, and they may also be mobile.^[1]

Due to the non-coding nature of spacer DNA, its nucleotide sequence changes much more rapidly over time than nucleotide sequences coding for genes that are subject to selective forces. Although spacer DNA might not have a function that depends on its nucleotide sequence, it may have sequence-independent functions.^[2]

Spacer DNA has practical applications that enable researchers and scientists to examine interactions between CRISPR proteins and bacteriophages.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b Rédei, G. P. (2008), Encyclopedia of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics, and Informatics (3rd ed.), Springer, p. 1848
^ ^a ^b Sudbery, P. (2002), Human Molecular Genetics (2nd ed.), Pearson Education, pp. 35–36
^ ^a ^b Lackie, J. M., ed. (2007), The Dictionary of Cell & Molecular Biology (4th ed.), Burlington, MA: Academic Press, p. 394
PMID 22901538
.

See also

Internal transcribed spacer

External transcribed spacer

Non-coding DNA

This genetics article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
v
t
e

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spacer_DNA&oldid=1139957868"

[redei-1] Rédei, G. P. (2008), Encyclopedia of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics, and Informatics (3rd ed.), Springer, p. 1848

[sudbery-2] Sudbery, P. (2002), Human Molecular Genetics (2nd ed.), Pearson Education, pp. 35–36

[lackie-3] Lackie, J. M., ed. (2007), The Dictionary of Cell & Molecular Biology (4th ed.), Burlington, MA: Academic Press, p. 394

[4] PMID 22901538
.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]