Dataset Information

MuTAnT: a family of Mutator-like transposable elements targeting TA microsatellites in Medicago truncatula.

ABSTRACT: Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA segments, abundant and dynamic in plant genomes. Because their mobility can be potentially deleterious to the host, a variety of mechanisms evolved limiting that negative impact, one of them being preference for a specific target insertion site. Here, we describe a family of Mutator-like DNA transposons in Medicago truncatula targeting TA microsatellites. We identified 218 copies of MuTAnTs and an element carrying a complete ORF encoding a mudrA-like transposase. Most insertion sites are flanked by a variable number of TA tandem repeats, indicating that MuTAnTs are specifically targeting TA microsatellites. Other TE families flanked by TA repeats (e.g. TAFT elements in maize) were described previously, however we identified the first putative autonomous element sharing that characteristics with a related group of short non-autonomous transposons.

SUBMITTER: Stawujak K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4486113 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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MuTAnT: a family of Mutator-like transposable elements targeting TA microsatellites in Medicago truncatula.

Stawujak Krzysztof K Startek Michał M Gambin Anna A Grzebelus Dariusz D

Genetica 20150517 4

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA segments, abundant and dynamic in plant genomes. Because their mobility can be potentially deleterious to the host, a variety of mechanisms evolved limiting that negative impact, one of them being preference for a specific target insertion site. Here, we describe a family of Mutator-like DNA transposons in Medicago truncatula targeting TA microsatellites. We identified 218 copies of MuTAnTs and an element carrying a complete ORF encoding a mudrA-like tr ...[more]

PMID: 25981486

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Project description:BackgroundMutator-like elements (MULEs) are a significant superfamily of DNA transposons on account of their: (i) great transpositional activity and propensity for insertion in or near gene sequences, (ii) their consequent high mutagenic capacity, and, (iii) their tendency to acquire host gene fragments. Consequently, MULEs are important genetic tools and represent a key study system for research into host-transposon interactions. Yet, while several studies have focused on the impacts of MULEs on crop and fungus genomes, their evolution remains poorly explored.ResultsWe perform comprehensive bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses to address currently available MULE diversity and reconstruct evolution for the group. For this, we mine MULEs from online databases, and combine search results with available transposase sequences retrieved from previously published studies. Our analyses uncover two entirely new MULE clades that contain elements almost entirely restricted to arthropod hosts, considerably expanding the set of MULEs known from this group, suggesting that many additional MULEs may await discovery from further arthropod genomes. In several cases, close relationships occur between MULEs recovered from distantly related host organisms, suggesting that horizontal transfer events may have played an important role in the evolution of the group. However, it is apparent that MULEs from plants remain separate from MULEs identified from other host groups. MULE structure varies considerably across phylogeny, and TIR length is shown to vary greatly both within and between MULE groups. Our phylogeny suggests that MULE diversity is clustered in well-supported groups, typically according to host taxonomy. With reference to this, we make suggestions on how MULE diversity can be partitioned to provide a robust taxonomic framework.ConclusionsOur study represents a considerable advance in the understanding of MULE diversity, host range and evolution, and provides a taxonomic framework for the classification of further MULE elements that await discovery. Our findings also raise a number of questions relating to MULE biology, suggesting that this group will provide a rich avenue for future study.

Project description:BackgroundTransposable elements constitute a significant fraction of plant genomes. The PIF/Harbinger superfamily includes DNA transposons (class II elements) carrying terminal inverted repeats and producing a 3 bp target site duplication upon insertion. The presence of an ORF coding for the DDE/DDD transposase, required for transposition, is characteristic for the autonomous PIF/Harbinger-like elements. Based on the above features, PIF/Harbinger-like elements were identified in several plant genomes and divided into several evolutionary lineages. Availability of a significant portion of Medicago truncatula genomic sequence allowed for mining PIF/Harbinger-like elements, starting from a single previously described element MtMaster.ResultsTwenty two putative autonomous, i.e. carrying an ORF coding for TPase and complete terminal inverted repeats, and 67 non-autonomous PIF/Harbinger-like elements were found in the genome of M. truncatula. They were divided into five families, MtPH-A5, MtPH-A6, MtPH-D,MtPH-E, and MtPH-M, corresponding to three previously identified and two new lineages. The largest families, MtPH-A6 and MtPH-M were further divided into four and three subfamilies, respectively. Non-autonomous elements were usually direct deletion derivatives of the putative autonomous element, however other types of rearrangements, including inversions and nested insertions were also observed. An interesting structural characteristic - the presence of 60 bp tandem repeats - was observed in a group of elements of subfamily MtPH-A6-4. Some families could be related to miniature inverted repeat elements (MITEs). The presence of empty loci (RESites), paralogous to those flanking the identified transposable elements, both autonomous and non-autonomous, as well as the presence of transposon insertion related size polymorphisms, confirmed that some of the mined elements were capable for transposition.ConclusionThe population of PIF/Harbinger-like elements in the genome of M. truncatula is diverse. A detailed intra-family comparison of the elements' structure proved that they proliferated in the genome generally following the model of abortive gap repair. However, the presence of tandem repeats facilitated more pronounced rearrangements of the element internal regions. The insertion polymorphism of the MtPH elements and related MITE families in different populations of M. truncatula, if further confirmed experimentally, could be used as a source of molecular markers complementary to other marker systems.

Dataset Information

MuTAnT: a family of Mutator-like transposable elements targeting TA microsatellites in Medicago truncatula.

Publications

MuTAnT: a family of Mutator-like transposable elements targeting TA microsatellites in Medicago truncatula.

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