Mutator（Mu）转座子是已发现的植物中转座活性最强的转座子，其较高的转座频率以及趋向于插入单拷贝功能基因转座的特性，使其成为构建玉米突变体库的一个主要方法。当前玉米B73品系基因组测序已经基本完成，利用反向遗传学方法，研究玉米基因的功能更为方便。文中简要介绍Mu转座子的结构特征以及Mu的分类，介绍3种克隆Mu转座子标签插入位点侧翼序列的技术，对Mu研究所存在的问题进行分析，展望Mu的应用。

Mutator(Mu) is the most active transposon found in the plant by now. The high frequency of transposition and the tendency to insert into low copy sequences of the transposon have made it the primary means by construct the mutant library in maize(Zea mays L). Sequencing of the B73 maize genome has been finished and it is more convenient to study gene function by using the method of reverse genetics.The basic features and classification of Mu transposon and focused on three methods of cloning the flanking sequences of the transposon tagging insertion sites were introduced in this paper. The problems in Mu study was analyzed, and the future work on Mu application was prospected.