PiggyBac transposase (PB transposase)

PiggyBac transposase is a DNA-cutting and -joining enzyme that recognizes terminal inverted repeats on the PiggyBac transposon and specifically integrates the transposon into genomic DNA at TTAA tetranucleotide target sites via a cut-and-paste mechanism. This process involves excision of the element from one genomic location and its precise insertion into a new location flanked by TTAA sequences, generating direct repeats at the integration site[1][3][5][9]. The PiggyBac system is widely used in genome engineering due to its high efficiency and preference for TTAA sites, although concerns remain about insertional mutagenesis and genomic instability in therapeutic contexts.

Other names

PiggyBac transposasePB transposasepiggyBacTTAA-targeting transposasecut-and-paste DNA transposase

Enzyme inhibition (hypothetically, for drugs targeting the transposase), inhibition of DNA cleavage or integration (none clinically approved)