PiggyBac Transposable Element Derived Protein 3 (PGBD3)

PGBD3 belongs to the subfamily of piggyBac transposable element derived (PGBD) genes. The PGBD proteins appear to be novel, with no obvious relationship to other transposases, or other known protein families. This gene overlaps with the ERCC6 gene on chromosome 10, and pseudogenes of this locus have been found on chromosomes 4, 5 and 12. CSB-PGBD3 fusion protein in which the first 5 exons of CSB are alternatively spliced to the PGBD3 transposase, and solitary PGBD3 transposase transcribed from an internal promoter in exon 5. Genetic and evolutionary arguments suggest that this CSB-PGBD3 fusion protein is advantageous in the presence of functional CSB protein, but harmful in its absence. Introduction of the CSB-PGBD3 fusion protein into the CSB null cell line UVSS1KO facilitates repair of UV-damaged DNA, but interferes with repair of oxidatively damaged DNA.