Both retroviruses and retrotransposons like Ty5 use a tRNA primer to initiate DNA synthesis. Ty5 is unusual in that it uses an initiator methionine tRNA cleavage pr oduct to prime reverse transcription. Current efforts are directed toward understanding mechanisms by which this tRNA is recognized and cleaved during Ty5 replication. Finally, the small crucifer A. thaliana is used to understand how retrotransposons have influenced plant genome evolution. Members of the Voytas laboratory have identified numerous families of A. thaliana retrotransposons.
Current efforts are focused o n characterizing families that appear active in transposition.
In addition, the ongoing A. thaliana genome sequencing efforts will likely open new opportunities for investigating the role of retrotransposons in plant genome organization.