A novel hAT element in Bombyx mori and Rhodnius prolixus: its relationship with miniature inverted repeat transposable elements (MITEs) and horizontal transfer. Issue 5 (28th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, H‐H.; Shen, Y‐H.; Xu, H‐E.; Liang, H‐Y.; Han, M‐J.; Zhang, Z.
• Is Part Of: Insect molecular biology. Volume 22:Issue 5(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 584
• Page End: 596
• Publication Date: 2013-07-28
• Subjects: Insects -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; 595.7
• DOI: 10.1111/imb.12047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-1075

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Comparative analysis of transposable elements (TEs) from different species can make it possible to reconstruct their history over evolutionary time. In this study, we identified a novel <italic>hAT</italic> element in <italic>B</italic><italic>ombyx mori</italic> and <italic>R</italic><italic>hodnius prolixus</italic> with characteristic GGGCGGCA repeats in its subterminal region. Meanwhile, phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the elements in these two species might represent a separate cluster of the <italic>hAT</italic> superfamily. Strikingly, a previously identified miniature inverted repeat transposable element (MITE) shared high identity with this autonomous element across the entire length, supporting the hypothesis that MITEs are derived from the internal deletion of DNA transposons. Interestingly, identity of the consensus sequences of this novel <italic>hAT</italic> element between <italic>B</italic><italic>. mori</italic> and <italic>R</italic><italic>. prolixus</italic>, which diverged about 370 million years ago, was as high as 96.5% over their full length (about 3.6 kb) at the nucleotide level. The patchy distribution amongst species, coupled with overall lack of intense purifying selection acting on this element, suggest that this novel <italic>hAT</italic> element might have experienced horizontal transfer between the ancestors of <italic>B</italic><italic>. mori</italic> and <italic>R</italic><italic>. prolixus</italic>. Our results highlight that this novel <italic>hAT</italic> element could be used as a potential tool for germline transformation of <italic>R</italic><italic>. prolixus</italic> to control the transmission of <italic>T</italic><italic>rypanosoma cruzi</italic>, which causes Chagas disease.</p> </abstract>