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Yano N, Chong PF, Kojima KK, Miyoshi T, Luqmen-Fatah A, Kimura Y, Kora K, Kayaki T, Maizuru K, Hayashi T, Yokoyama A, Ajiro M, Hagiwara M, Kondo T, Kira R, Takita J, Yoshida T. Long-read sequencing identifies an SVA_D retrotransposon insertion deep within the intron of ATP7A as a novel cause of occipital horn syndrome. J Med Genet 2024:jmg-2024-110056. [PMID: 38960580 DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2024-110056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SINE-VNTR-Alu (SVA) retrotransposons move from one genomic location to another in a 'copy-and-paste' manner. They continue to move actively and cause monogenic diseases through various mechanisms. Currently, disease-causing SVA retrotransposons are classified into human-specific young SVA_E or SVA_F subfamilies. In this study, we identified an evolutionarily old SVA_D retrotransposon as a novel cause of occipital horn syndrome (OHS). OHS is an X-linked, copper metabolism disorder caused by dysfunction of the copper transporter, ATP7A. METHODS We investigated a 16-year-old boy with OHS whose pathogenic variant could not be detected via routine molecular genetic analyses. RESULTS A 2.8 kb insertion was detected deep within the intron of the patient's ATP7A gene. This insertion caused aberrant mRNA splicing activated by a new donor splice site located within it. Long-read circular consensus sequencing enabled us to accurately read the entire insertion sequence, which contained highly repetitive and GC-rich segments. Consequently, the insertion was identified as an SVA_D retrotransposon. Antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) targeting the new splice site restored the expression of normal transcripts and functional ATP7A proteins. AO treatment alleviated excessive accumulation of copper in patient fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Pedigree analysis revealed that the retrotransposon had moved into the OHS-causing position two generations ago. CONCLUSION This is the first report of a human monogenic disease caused by the SVA_D retrotransposon. The fact that the evolutionarily old SVA_D is still actively transposed, leading to increased copy numbers may make a notable impact on rare genetic disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Yano
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Pin Fee Chong
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Fukuoka Children's Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kenji K Kojima
- Genetic Information Research Institute, Cupertino, CA, USA
| | - Tomoichiro Miyoshi
- Laboratory for Retrotransposon Dynamics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Department of Gene Mechanisms, Kyoto University Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ahmad Luqmen-Fatah
- Laboratory for Retrotransposon Dynamics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yu Kimura
- Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kengo Kora
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Taisei Kayaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kanako Maizuru
- Department of Pediatrics, Tenri Yorozu Hospital, Tenri, Japan
| | - Takahiro Hayashi
- Department of Pediatrics, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Atsushi Yokoyama
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masahiko Ajiro
- Division of Cancer RNA Research, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Hagiwara
- Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Teruyuki Kondo
- Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryutaro Kira
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Fukuoka Children's Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Junko Takita
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yoshida
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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2
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Rodríguez-Vargas A, Collins K. Distinct and overlapping RNA determinants for binding and target-primed reverse transcription by Bombyx mori R2 retrotransposon protein. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6571-6585. [PMID: 38499488 PMCID: PMC11194090 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic retrotransposons encode a reverse transcriptase that binds RNA to template DNA synthesis. The ancestral non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons encode a protein that performs target-primed reverse transcription (TPRT), in which the nicked genomic target site initiates complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis directly into the genome. The best understood model system for biochemical studies of TPRT is the R2 protein from the silk moth Bombyx mori. The R2 protein selectively binds the 3' untranslated region of its encoding RNA as template for DNA insertion to its target site in 28S ribosomal DNA. Here, binding and TPRT assays define RNA contributions to RNA-protein interaction, template use for TPRT and the fidelity of template positioning for TPRT cDNA synthesis. We quantify both sequence and structure contributions to protein-RNA interaction. RNA determinants of binding affinity overlap but are not equivalent to RNA features required for TPRT and its fidelity of template positioning for full-length TPRT cDNA synthesis. Additionally, we show that a previously implicated RNA-binding protein surface of R2 protein makes RNA binding affinity dependent on the presence of two stem-loops. Our findings inform evolutionary relationships across R2 retrotransposon RNAs and are a step toward understanding the mechanism and template specificity of non-LTR retrotransposon mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Rodríguez-Vargas
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kathleen Collins
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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3
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Colgan DJ. The Families of Non-LTR Transposable Elements within Neritimorpha and Other Gastropoda. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:783. [PMID: 38927719 PMCID: PMC11203168 DOI: 10.3390/genes15060783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Repeated sequences, especially transposable elements (TEs), are known to be abundant in some members of the important invertebrate class Gastropoda. TEs that do not have long terminal repeated sequences (non-LTR TEs) are frequently the most abundant type but have not been well characterised in any gastropod. Despite this, sequences in draft gastropod genomes are often described as non-LTR TEs, but without identification to family type. This study was conducted to characterise non-LTR TEs in neritimorph snails, using genomic skimming surveys of three species and the recently published draft genome of Theodoxus fluviatilis. Multiple families of non-LTR TEs from the I, Jockey, L1, R2 and RTE superfamilies were found, although there were notably few representatives of the first of these, which is nevertheless abundant in other Gastropoda. Phylogenetic analyses of amino acid sequences of the reverse transcriptase domain from the elements ORF2 regions found considerable interspersion of representatives of the four neritimorph taxa within non-LTR families and sub-families. In contrast, phylogenetic analyses of sequences from the elements' ORF1 region resolved the representatives from individual species as monophyletic. However, using either region, members of the two species of the Neritidae were closely related, suggesting their potential for investigation of phyletic evolution at the family level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald James Colgan
- Malacology, AMRI, The Australian Museum, 1 William St., Sydney 2010, Australia
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4
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Lee RJ, Horton CA, Van Treeck B, McIntyre JJR, Collins K. Conserved and divergent DNA recognition specificities and functions of R2 retrotransposon N-terminal domains. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114239. [PMID: 38753487 PMCID: PMC11204384 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
R2 non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons are among the most extensively distributed mobile genetic elements in multicellular eukaryotes and show promise for applications in transgene supplementation of the human genome. They insert new gene copies into a conserved site in 28S ribosomal DNA with exquisite specificity. R2 clades are defined by the number of zinc fingers (ZFs) at the N terminus of the retrotransposon-encoded protein, postulated to additively confer DNA site specificity. Here, we illuminate general principles of DNA recognition by R2 N-terminal domains across and between clades, with extensive, specific recognition requiring only one or two compact domains. DNA-binding and protection assays demonstrate broadly shared as well as clade-specific DNA interactions. Gene insertion assays in cells identify the N-terminal domains sufficient for target-site insertion and reveal roles in second-strand cleavage or synthesis for clade-specific ZFs. Our results have implications for understanding evolutionary diversification of non-LTR retrotransposon insertion mechanisms and the design of retrotransposon-based gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Jooyoung Lee
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Connor A Horton
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Briana Van Treeck
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jeremy J R McIntyre
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kathleen Collins
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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5
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Hwang J, Ye DY, Jung GY, Jang S. Mobile genetic element-based gene editing and genome engineering: Recent advances and applications. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 72:108343. [PMID: 38521283 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Genome engineering has revolutionized several scientific fields, ranging from biochemistry and fundamental research to therapeutic uses and crop development. Diverse engineering toolkits have been developed and used to effectively modify the genome sequences of organisms. However, there is a lack of extensive reviews on genome engineering technologies based on mobile genetic elements (MGEs), which induce genetic diversity within host cells by changing their locations in the genome. This review provides a comprehensive update on the versatility of MGEs as powerful genome engineering tools that offers efficient solutions to challenges associated with genome engineering. MGEs, including DNA transposons, retrotransposons, retrons, and CRISPR-associated transposons, offer various advantages, such as a broad host range, genome-wide mutagenesis, efficient large-size DNA integration, multiplexing capabilities, and in situ single-stranded DNA generation. We focused on the components, mechanisms, and features of each MGE-based tool to highlight their cellular applications. Finally, we discussed the current challenges of MGE-based genome engineering and provided insights into the evolving landscape of this transformative technology. In conclusion, the combination of genome engineering with MGE demonstrates remarkable potential for addressing various challenges and advancing the field of genetic manipulation, and promises to revolutionize our ability to engineer and understand the genomes of diverse organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeseong Hwang
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Yeol Ye
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyoo Yeol Jung
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sungho Jang
- Department of Bioengineering and Nano-Bioengineering, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea; Division of Bioengineering, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea; Research Center for Bio Materials & Process Development, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Pacesa M, Pelea O, Jinek M. Past, present, and future of CRISPR genome editing technologies. Cell 2024; 187:1076-1100. [PMID: 38428389 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Genome editing has been a transformative force in the life sciences and human medicine, offering unprecedented opportunities to dissect complex biological processes and treat the underlying causes of many genetic diseases. CRISPR-based technologies, with their remarkable efficiency and easy programmability, stand at the forefront of this revolution. In this Review, we discuss the current state of CRISPR gene editing technologies in both research and therapy, highlighting limitations that constrain them and the technological innovations that have been developed in recent years to address them. Additionally, we examine and summarize the current landscape of gene editing applications in the context of human health and therapeutics. Finally, we outline potential future developments that could shape gene editing technologies and their applications in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Pacesa
- Laboratory of Protein Design and Immunoengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Station 19, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Oana Pelea
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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7
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Thawani A, Ariza AJF, Nogales E, Collins K. Template and target-site recognition by human LINE-1 in retrotransposition. Nature 2024; 626:186-193. [PMID: 38096901 PMCID: PMC10830416 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06933-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1, hereafter L1) retrotransposon has generated nearly one-third of the human genome and serves as an active source of genetic diversity and human disease1. L1 spreads through a mechanism termed target-primed reverse transcription, in which the encoded enzyme (ORF2p) nicks the target DNA to prime reverse transcription of its own or non-self RNAs2. Here we purified full-length L1 ORF2p and biochemically reconstituted robust target-primed reverse transcription with template RNA and target-site DNA. We report cryo-electron microscopy structures of the complete human L1 ORF2p bound to structured template RNAs and initiating cDNA synthesis. The template polyadenosine tract is recognized in a sequence-specific manner by five distinct domains. Among them, an RNA-binding domain bends the template backbone to allow engagement of an RNA hairpin stem with the L1 ORF2p C-terminal segment. Moreover, structure and biochemical reconstitutions demonstrate an unexpected target-site requirement: L1 ORF2p relies on upstream single-stranded DNA to position the adjacent duplex in the endonuclease active site for nicking of the longer DNA strand, with a single nick generating a staggered DNA break. Our research provides insights into the mechanism of ongoing transposition in the human genome and informs the engineering of retrotransposon proteins for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Thawani
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Alfredo Jose Florez Ariza
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), Berkeley, CA, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Eva Nogales
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Kathleen Collins
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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8
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Liao X, Zhu W, Zhou J, Li H, Xu X, Zhang B, Gao X. Repetitive DNA sequence detection and its role in the human genome. Commun Biol 2023; 6:954. [PMID: 37726397 PMCID: PMC10509279 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05322-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Repetitive DNA sequences playing critical roles in driving evolution, inducing variation, and regulating gene expression. In this review, we summarized the definition, arrangement, and structural characteristics of repeats. Besides, we introduced diverse biological functions of repeats and reviewed existing methods for automatic repeat detection, classification, and masking. Finally, we analyzed the type, structure, and regulation of repeats in the human genome and their role in the induction of complex diseases. We believe that this review will facilitate a comprehensive understanding of repeats and provide guidance for repeat annotation and in-depth exploration of its association with human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Liao
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wufei Zhu
- Department of Endocrinology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, 443000, Yichang, P.R. China
| | - Juexiao Zhou
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haoyang Li
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xiaopeng Xu
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bin Zhang
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xin Gao
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia.
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9
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Kelleher ES. Jack of all trades versus master of one: how generalist versus specialist strategies of transposable elements relate to their horizontal transfer between lineages. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 81:102080. [PMID: 37459818 PMCID: PMC11062761 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are obligate genomic parasites, relying on host germline cells to ensure their replication and passage to future generations. While some TEs exhibit high fidelity to their host genome, being passed from parent to offspring through vertical transmission for millions of years, others frequently invade new and distantly related hosts through horizontal transfer. In this review, I highlight how the complexity of interactions between TE and host required for transposition may be an important determinant of horizontal transfer: with TEs with more complex regulatory requirements being less able to invade new host genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin S Kelleher
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA.
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10
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Zheng C, Liu B, Dong X, Gaston N, Sontheimer EJ, Xue W. Template-jumping prime editing enables large insertion and exon rewriting in vivo. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3369. [PMID: 37291100 PMCID: PMC10250319 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39137-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted insertion of large DNA fragments holds promise for genome engineering and gene therapy. Prime editing (PE) effectively inserts short (<50 bp) sequences. Employing paired prime editing guide RNAs (pegRNAs) has enabled PE to better mediate relatively large insertions in vitro, but the efficiency of larger insertions (>400 bp) remains low and in vivo application has not been demonstrated. Inspired by the efficient genomic insertion mechanism of retrotransposons, we develop a template-jumping (TJ) PE approach for the insertion of large DNA fragments using a single pegRNA. TJ-pegRNA harbors the insertion sequence as well as two primer binding sites (PBSs), with one PBS matching a nicking sgRNA site. TJ-PE precisely inserts 200 bp and 500 bp fragments with up to 50.5 and 11.4% efficiency, respectively, and enables GFP (~800 bp) insertion and expression in cells. We transcribe split circular TJ-petRNA in vitro via a permuted group I catalytic intron for non-viral delivery in cells. Finally, we demonstrate that TJ-PE can rewrite an exon in the liver of tyrosinemia I mice to reverse the disease phenotype. TJ-PE has the potential to insert large DNA fragments without double-stranded DNA breaks and facilitate mutation hotspot exon rewriting in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunwei Zheng
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Xiaolong Dong
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Nicholas Gaston
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
| | - Wen Xue
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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11
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Mosaddeghi P, Farahmandnejad M, Zarshenas MM. The role of transposable elements in aging and cancer. Biogerontology 2023:10.1007/s10522-023-10028-z. [PMID: 37017895 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10028-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) constitute a large portion of the human genome. Various mechanisms at the transcription and post-transcription levels developed to suppress TE activity in healthy conditions. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that TE dysregulation is involved in various human diseases, including age-related diseases and cancer. In this review, we explained how sensing TEs by the immune system could induce innate immune responses, chronic inflammation, and following age-related diseases. We also noted that inflammageing and exogenous carcinogens could trigger the upregulation of TEs in precancerous cells. Increased inflammation could enhance epigenetic plasticity and upregulation of early developmental TEs, which rewires the transcriptional networks and gift the survival advantage to the precancerous cells. In addition, upregulated TEs could induce genome instability, activation of oncogenes, or inhibition of tumor suppressors and consequent cancer initiation and progression. So, we suggest that TEs could be considered therapeutic targets in aging and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouria Mosaddeghi
- Medicinal Plants Processing Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mitra Farahmandnejad
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Quality Control of Drug Products Department, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad M Zarshenas
- Department of Phytopharmaceuticals (Traditional Pharmacy), School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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12
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MITE infestation accommodated by genome editing in the germline genome of the ciliate Blepharisma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2213985120. [PMID: 36669106 PMCID: PMC9942856 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213985120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
During their development following sexual conjugation, ciliates excise numerous internal eliminated sequences (IESs) from a copy of the germline genome to produce the functional somatic genome. Most IESs are thought to have originated from transposons, but the presumed homology is often obscured by sequence decay. To obtain more representative perspectives on the nature of IESs and ciliate genome editing, we assembled 40,000 IESs of Blepharisma stoltei, a species belonging to a lineage (Heterotrichea) that diverged early from those of the intensively studied model ciliate species. About a quarter of IESs were short (<115 bp), largely nonrepetitive, and with a pronounced ~10 bp periodicity in length; the remainder were longer (up to 7 kbp) and nonperiodic and contained abundant interspersed repeats. Contrary to the expectation from current models, the assembled Blepharisma germline genome encodes few transposases. Instead, its most abundant repeat (8,000 copies) is a Miniature Inverted-repeat Transposable Element (MITE), apparently a deletion derivative of a germline-limited Pogo-family transposon. We hypothesize that MITEs are an important source of IESs whose proliferation is eventually self-limiting and that rather than defending the germline genomes against mobile elements, transposase domestication actually facilitates the accumulation of junk DNA.
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13
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Li W, Pandya D, Pasternack N, Garcia-Montojo M, Henderson L, Kozak CA, Nath A. Retroviral Elements in Pathophysiology and as Therapeutic Targets for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1085-1101. [PMID: 35415778 PMCID: PMC9587200 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01233-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of the role of retroviruses in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) dates back to the 1960s shortly after transposable elements themselves were first discovered. It was quickly realized that in wild mice both horizontal and vertical transmissions of retroviral elements were key to the development of an ALS-like syndrome leading to the postulate that endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) contribute significantly to the pathogenicity of this disease. Subsequent studies identified retroviral reverse transcriptase activity in brains of individuals with ALS from Guam. However, except for a single study from the former Soviet Union, ALS could not be transmitted to rhesus macaques. The discovery of an ALS-like syndrome in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T cell leukemia virus infected individuals led to renewed interest in the field and reverse transcriptase activity was found in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with sporadic ALS. However, exogenous retroviruses could not be found in individuals with ALS which further reinforced the possibility of involvement of a human ERV (HERV). The first demonstration of the involvement of a HERV was the discovery of the activation of human endogenous retrovirus-K subtype HML-2 in the brains of individuals with ALS. The envelope protein of HML-2 is neurotoxic and transgenic animals expressing the envelope protein develop an ALS-like syndrome. Activation of HML-2 occurs in the context of generalized transposable element activation and is not specific for ALS. Individuals with HIV-associated ALS show a remarkable response to antiretroviral therapy; however, antiretroviral trials in ALS down-regulate HML-2 without ameliorating the disease. This highlights the need for specific drugs to be developed against HML-2 as a novel therapeutic target for ALS. Other approaches might include antisense oligonucleotides, shRNA targeted against the envelope gene or antibodies that can target the extracellular envelope protein. Future clinical trials in ALS should consider combination therapies to control these ERVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxue Li
- Section of Infections of the Nervous System, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Darshan Pandya
- Section of Infections of the Nervous System, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nicholas Pasternack
- Section of Infections of the Nervous System, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marta Garcia-Montojo
- Section of Infections of the Nervous System, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lisa Henderson
- Section of Infections of the Nervous System, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christine A Kozak
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Avindra Nath
- Section of Infections of the Nervous System, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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14
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Firsov SY, Kosherova KA, Mukha DV. Identification and functional characterization of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, short interspersed nuclear elements. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266699. [PMID: 35696390 PMCID: PMC9191728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, experimental data has accumulated indicating that short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) can play a significant functional role in the regulation of gene expression in the host genome. In addition, molecular markers based on SINE insertion polymorphisms have been developed and are widely used for genetic differentiation of populations of eukaryotic organisms. Using routine bioinformatics analysis and publicly available genomic DNA and small RNA-seq data, we first described nine SINEs in the genome of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. All described SINEs have tRNA promoters, and the start of their transcription begins 11 bp upstream of an “A” box of these promoters. The number of copies of the described SINEs in the B. germanica genome ranges from several copies to more than a thousand copies in a SINE-specific manner. Some of the described SINEs and their degenerate copies can be localized both in the introns of genes and loci known as piRNA clusters. piRNAs originating from piRNA clusters are shown to be mapped to seven of the nine types of SINEs described, including copies of SINEs localized in gene introns. We speculate that SINEs, localized in the introns of certain genes, may regulate the level of expression of these genes by a PIWI-related molecular mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Yu. Firsov
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Karina A. Kosherova
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry V. Mukha
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- * E-mail:
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15
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Gu X, Su Y, Wang T. 转座元件对植物基因组进化、表观遗传和适应性的作用. CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE 2022. [DOI: 10.1360/tb-2022-0296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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16
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Stefos GC, Theodorou G, Politis I. Genomic landscape, polymorphism and possible LINE-associated delivery of G-quadruplex motifs in the bovine genes. Genomics 2022; 114:110272. [PMID: 35092818 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
G-Quadruplex structures are non-B DNA structures that occur in regions carrying short runs of guanines. They are implicated in several biological processes including transcription, translation, replication and telomere maintenance as well as in several pathological conditions like cancer and thus they have gained the attention of the scientific community. The rise of the -omics era significantly affected the G-quadruplex research and the genome-wide characterization of G-Quadruplexes has been rendered a necessary first step towards applying genomics approaches for their study. While in human and several model organisms there is a considerable number of works studying genome-wide the DNA motifs with potential to form G-quadruplexes (G4-motifs), there is a total absence of any similar studies regarding livestock animals. The objectives of the present study were to provide a detailed characterization of the bovine genic G4-motifs' distribution and properties and to suggest a possible mechanism for the delivery of G4 motifs in the genes. Our data indicate that the distribution of G4-motifs within bovine genes and the annotation of said genes to Gene Ontology terms are similar to what is already shown for other organisms. By investigating their structural characteristics and polymorphism, it is obvious that the overall stability of the putative quadruplex structures is in line with the current notion in the G4 field. Similarly to human, the bovine G4-motifs are overrepresented in specific LINE repeat elements, the L1_BTs in the case of cattle. We highlight the potential role of these elements as vehicles for delivery of G4 motifs in the introns of the bovine genes. Lastly, it seems that a basis exists for connecting traits of agricultural importance to the genetic variation of G4 motifs, thus, the value of cattle as an interesting new model organism for G4-related genetic studies might be worth to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios C Stefos
- Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Animal Science, Laboratory of Animal Breeding & Husbandry, 75 Iera Odos, 118 55, Athens, Greece.
| | - Georgios Theodorou
- Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Animal Science, Laboratory of Animal Breeding & Husbandry, 75 Iera Odos, 118 55, Athens, Greece.
| | - Ioannis Politis
- Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Animal Science, Laboratory of Animal Breeding & Husbandry, 75 Iera Odos, 118 55, Athens, Greece
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17
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Merkerova MD, Krejcik Z. Transposable elements and Piwi‑interacting RNAs in hemato‑oncology with a focus on myelodysplastic syndrome (Review). Int J Oncol 2021; 59:105. [PMID: 34779490 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2021.5285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Our current understanding of hematopoietic stem cell differentiation and the abnormalities that lead to leukemogenesis originates from the accumulation of knowledge regarding protein‑coding genes. However, the possible impact of transposable element (TE) mobilization and the expression of P‑element‑induced WImpy testis‑interacting RNAs (piRNAs) on leukemogenesis has been beyond the scope of scientific interest to date. The expression profiles of these molecules and their importance for human health have only been characterized recently due to the rapid progress of high‑throughput sequencing technology development. In the present review, current knowledge on the expression profile and function of TEs and piRNAs was summarized, with specific focus on their reported involvement in leukemogenesis and pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zdenek Krejcik
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, 128 20 Prague, Czech Republic
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18
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Helmy M, Selvarajoo K. Systems Biology to Understand and Regulate Human Retroviral Proinflammatory Response. Front Immunol 2021; 12:736349. [PMID: 34867957 PMCID: PMC8635014 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.736349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of human genome are non-coding genes. Recent research have revealed that about half of these genome sequences make up of transposable elements (TEs). A branch of these belong to the endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which are germline viral infection that occurred over millions of years ago. They are generally harmless as evolutionary mutations have made them unable to produce viral agents and are mostly epigenetically silenced. Nevertheless, ERVs are able to express by still unknown mechanisms and recent evidences have shown links between ERVs and major proinflammatory diseases and cancers. The major challenge is to elucidate a detailed mechanistic understanding between them, so that novel therapeutic approaches can be explored. Here, we provide a brief overview of TEs, human ERVs and their links to microbiome, innate immune response, proinflammatory diseases and cancer. Finally, we recommend the employment of systems biology approaches for future HERV research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Helmy
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Computer Science, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Kumar Selvarajoo
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Program & SynCTI, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Kent Ridge, Singapore
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19
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Ben Amara W, Quesneville H, Khemakhem MM. A Genomic Survey of Mayetiola destructor Mobilome Provides New Insights into the Evolutionary History of Transposable Elements in the Cecidomyiid Midges. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257996. [PMID: 34634072 PMCID: PMC8504770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of the Whole-Genome Sequence of the wheat pest Mayetiola destructor offers the opportunity to investigate the Transposable Elements (TEs) content and their relationship with the genes involved in the insect virulence. In this study, de novo annotation carried out using REPET pipeline showed that TEs occupy approximately 16% of the genome and are represented by 1038 lineages. Class II elements were the most frequent and most TEs were inactive due to the deletions they have accumulated. The analyses of TEs ages revealed a first burst at 20% of divergence from present that mobilized many TE families including mostly Tc1/mariner and Gypsy superfamilies and a second burst at 2% of divergence, which involved mainly the class II elements suggesting new TEs invasions. Additionally, 86 TEs insertions involving recently transposed elements were identified. Among them, several MITEs and Gypsy retrotransposons were inserted in the vicinity of SSGP and chemosensory genes. The findings represent a valuable resource for more in-depth investigation of the TE impact onto M. destructor genome and their possible influence on the expression of the virulence and chemosensory genes and consequently the behavior of this pest towards its host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiem Ben Amara
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LR01ES05), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Hadi Quesneville
- INRAE, URGI, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
- INRAE, BioinfOmics, Plant Bioinformatics Facility, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Maha Mezghani Khemakhem
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LR01ES05), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
- * E-mail:
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20
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Liu G, Jiang H, Sun W, Zhang J, Chen D, Murchie AIH. The function of twister ribozyme variants in non-LTR retrotransposition in Schistosoma mansoni. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10573-10588. [PMID: 34551436 PMCID: PMC8501958 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The twister ribozyme is widely distributed over numerous organisms and is especially abundant in Schistosoma mansoni, but has no confirmed biological function. Of the 17 non-LTR retrotransposons known in S. mansoni, none have thus far been associated with ribozymes. Here we report the identification of novel twister variant (T-variant) ribozymes and their function in S. mansoni non-LTR retrotransposition. We show that T-variant ribozymes are located at the 5′ end of Perere-3 non-LTR retrotransposons in the S. mansoni genome. T-variant ribozymes were demonstrated to be catalytically active in vitro. In reporter constructs, T-variants were shown to cleave in vivo, and cleavage of T-variants was sufficient for the translation of downstream reporter genes. Our analysis shows that the T-variants and Perere-3 are transcribed together. Target site duplications (TSDs); markers of target-primed reverse transcription (TPRT) and footmarks of retrotransposition, are located adjacent to the T-variant cleavage site and suggest that T-variant cleavage has taken place inS. mansoni. Sequence heterogeneity in the TSDs indicates that Perere-3 retrotransposition is not site-specific. The TSD sequences contribute to the 5′ end of the terminal ribozyme helix (P1 stem). Based on these results we conclude that T-variants have a functional role in Perere-3 retrotransposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Getong Liu
- Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.,Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hengyi Jiang
- Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.,Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wenxia Sun
- Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.,Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.,Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dongrong Chen
- Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.,Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Alastair I H Murchie
- Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.,Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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21
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Cosenza G, Gallo D, Auzino B, Gaspa G, Pauciullo A. Complete CSN1S2 Characterization, Novel Allele Identification and Association With Milk Fatty Acid Composition in River Buffalo. Front Genet 2021; 11:622494. [PMID: 33613624 PMCID: PMC7890360 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.622494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The αs2-casein is one of the phosphoproteins secreted in all ruminants' milk, and it is the most hydrophilic of all caseins. However, this important gene (CSN1S2) has not been characterized in detail in buffaloes with only two alleles detected (reported as alleles A and B), and no association studies with milk traits have been carried out unlike what has been achieved for other species of ruminants. In this study, we sequenced the whole gene of two Mediterranean river buffalo homozygotes for the presence/absence of the nucleotide C (g.7539G>C) realized at the donor splice site of exon 7 and, therefore, responsible for the skipping of the same exon at mRNA level (allele B). A high genetic variability was found all over the two sequenced CSN1S2 alleles. In particular, 74 polymorphic sites were found in introns, six in the promoter, and three SNPs in the coding region (g.11072C>T, g.12803A>T, and g.14067A>G) with two of them responsible for amino acid replacements. Considering this genetic diversity, those found in the database and the SNP at the donor splice site of exon 7, it is possible to deduce at least eight different alleles (CSN1S2 A, B, B1, B2, C, D, E, and F) responsible for seven different possible translations of the buffalo αs2-casein. Haplotype data analysis suggests an evolutionary pathway of buffalo CSN1S2 gene consistent with our proposal that the published allele CSN1S2 A is the ancestral αs2-CN form, and the B2 probably arises from interallelic recombination (single crossing) between the alleles D and B (or B1). The allele CSN1S2 C is of new identification, while CSN1S2 B, B1, and B2 are deleted alleles because all are characterized by the mutation g.7539G>C. Two SNPs (g.7539G>C and g.14067A>G) were genotyped in 747 Italian buffaloes, and major alleles had a relative frequency of 0.83 and 0.51, respectively. An association study between these SNPs and milk traits including fatty acid composition was carried out. The SNP g.14067A>G showed a significant association (P < 0.05) on the content of palmitic acid in buffalo milk, thus suggesting its use in marker-assisted selection programs aiming for the improvement of buffalo milk fatty acid composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Cosenza
- Department of Agriculture, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Daniela Gallo
- Department of Agriculture, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Barbara Auzino
- Department of Agriculture, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Giustino Gaspa
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pauciullo
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
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22
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Kaur D, Agrahari M, Singh SS, Mandal PK, Bhattacharya A, Bhattacharya S. Transcriptomic analysis of Entamoeba histolytica reveals domain-specific sense strand expression of LINE-encoded ORFs with massive antisense expression of RT domain. Plasmid 2021; 114:102560. [PMID: 33482228 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2021.102560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
LINEs are retrotransposable elements found in diverse organisms. Their activity is kept in check by several mechanisms, including transcriptional silencing. Here we have analyzed the transcription status of LINE1 copies in the early-branching parasitic protist Entamoeba histolytica. Full-length EhLINE1 encodes ORF1, and ORF2 with reverse transcriptase (RT) and endonuclease (EN) domains. RNA-Seq analysis of EhLINE1 copies (both truncated and full-length) showed unique features. Firstly, although 20/41 transcribed copies were full-length, we failed to detect any full-length transcripts. Rather, sense-strand transcripts mapped to the functional domains- ORF1, RT and EN. Secondly, there was strong antisense transcription specifically from RT domain. No antisense transcripts were seen from ORF1. Antisense RT transcripts did not encode known functional peptides. They could possibly be involved in attenuating translation of RT domain, as we failed to detect ORF2p, whereas ORF1p was detectable. Lack of full-length transcripts and strong antisense RT expression may serve to limit EhLINE1 retrotransposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devinder Kaur
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
| | - Mridula Agrahari
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
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23
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Ahmadi A, De Toma I, Vilor-Tejedor N, Eftekhariyan Ghamsari MR, Sadeghi I. Transposable elements in brain health and disease. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 64:101153. [PMID: 32977057 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) occupy a large fraction of the human genome but only a small proportion of these elements are still active today. Recent works have suggested that TEs are expressed and active in the brain, challenging the dogma that neuronal genomes are static and revealing that they are susceptible to somatic genomic alterations. These new findings have major implications for understanding the neuroplasticity of the brain, which could hypothetically have a role in behavior and cognition, and contribute to vulnerability to disease. As active TEs could induce genetic diversity and mutagenesis, their influences on human brain development and diseases are of great interest. In this review, we will focus on the active TEs in the human genome and discuss in detail their impacts on human brain development. Furthermore, the association between TEs and brain-related diseases is discussed.
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24
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Rashed WM, Kandeil MA, Mahmoud MO, Maher D, Ezzat S, Abdel-Rahman MH. MET canonical transcript expression is a predictive biomarker for chemo-sensitivity to MET-inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2020; 147:167-175. [PMID: 32980960 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-020-03395-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE-1 or L1) is a dominant non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposon in the human genome that has been implicated in the overexpression of MET. Both the canonical MET and L1-MET transcripts are considered to play a role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of canonical MET, L1-MET, and MET protein expressions as predictive biomarkers for chemo-sensitivity to MET-inhibitors in HCC cell lines in vitro. Additionally, we assessed their expression in tumour tissues from Egyptian HCC patients. METHODS MET and L1-MET expressions were assessed by qRT-PCR in six liver cancer cell lines (SNU-387, SNU-475, SK-HEP-1, PLC/PRF/5, SNU-449 and SNU-423) and 47 HCC tumour tissues. MET protein expression was measured by western blot in cell lines and immunohistochemistry in the tumours. Cell proliferation assay was used to assess the effect of crizotinib and tivantinib on the six liver cancer cell lines in correlation with the expression of MET, L1-MET and MET. RESULTS The antitumor effect of crizotinib and tivantinib correlated with MET gene expression but not with L1-MET transcript or MET protein expressions. No significant difference was observed between HCC tumours and non-tumour samples in MET and L1-MET transcripts expression. There were no significant correlations between the 2-year overall survival rate and the MET, L1-MET transcripts and the MET protein expression. CONCLUSION MET RNA expression could be useful biomarker for tivantinib and crizotinib targeted therapy in HCC. The value of assessment of MET protein expression is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wafaa M Rashed
- Department of Research, Children's Cancer Hospital, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Kandeil
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt
| | - Mohamed O Mahmoud
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt
| | - Doha Maher
- Department of Pathology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Sameera Ezzat
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention Medicine, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed H Abdel-Rahman
- Department of Pathology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Ohio State University, 400 W 12th Ave, Room 202 Wiseman Hall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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25
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Pradhan M, Govindaraju A, Jagdish A, Christensen SM. The linker region of LINEs modulates DNA cleavage and DNA polymerization. Anal Biochem 2020; 603:113809. [PMID: 32511965 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Long interspersed elements (LINEs) replicate by target primed reverse transcription (TPRT). Insertion involves two half reactions. Each half reaction involves DNA cleavage followed by DNA synthesis. The linker region, located just beyond the reverse transcriptase in the LINE open reading frame, contains a set of predicted helices that may form an α-finger, followed by a gag-like zinc-knuckle. Point mutations of moderately conserved amino-acid residues in the presumptive α-finger severely impair the DNA endonuclease and reverse transcriptase activities of the integration reaction during both half reactions. Mutations in the gag-like zinc-knuckle also impair DNA cleavage and DNA synthesis in some instances. Mutations in core residues that presumably disrupt the protein structure of the presumptive α-finger and the gag-like zinc-knuckle lead to a promiscuous DNA endonuclease and protein-nucleic acid complexes that get stuck in the well during analysis. The linker region appears to function as a protein, DNA, and RNA conformational switching area. The linker is used to properly position nucleic acid substrates into the active sites of the reverse transcriptase and of the DNA endonuclease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Pradhan
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Aruna Govindaraju
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Athena Jagdish
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Shawn M Christensen
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA.
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Mérel V, Boulesteix M, Fablet M, Vieira C. Transposable elements in Drosophila. Mob DNA 2020; 11:23. [PMID: 32636946 PMCID: PMC7334843 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-020-00213-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila has been studied as a biological model for many years and many discoveries in biology rely on this species. Research on transposable elements (TEs) is not an exception. Drosophila has contributed significantly to our knowledge on the mechanisms of transposition and their regulation, but above all, it was one of the first organisms on which genetic and genomic studies of populations were done. In this review article, in a very broad way, we will approach the TEs of Drosophila with a historical hindsight as well as recent discoveries in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Mérel
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Matthieu Boulesteix
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Marie Fablet
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Cristina Vieira
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
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Cacchione S, Cenci G, Raffa GD. Silence at the End: How Drosophila Regulates Expression and Transposition of Telomeric Retroelements. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:4305-4321. [PMID: 32512004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The maintenance of chromosome ends in Drosophila is an exceptional phenomenon because it relies on the transposition of specialized retrotransposons rather than on the activity of the enzyme telomerase that maintains telomeres in almost every other eukaryotic species. Sequential transpositions of Het-A, TART, and TAHRE (HTT) onto chromosome ends produce long head-to-tail arrays that are reminiscent to the long arrays of short repeats produced by telomerase in other organisms. Coordinating the activation and silencing of the HTT array with the recruitment of telomere capping proteins favors proper telomere function. However, how this coordination is achieved is not well understood. Like other Drosophila retrotransposons, telomeric elements are regulated by the piRNA pathway. Remarkably, HTT arrays are both source of piRNA and targets of gene silencing thus making the regulation of Drosophila telomeric transposons a unique event among eukaryotes. Herein we will review the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of HTT transcription and transposition and will discuss the possibility of a crosstalk between piRNA-mediated regulation, telomeric chromatin establishment, and telomere protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cacchione
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Cenci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy; Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Istituto Pasteur, Rome, Italy.
| | - Grazia Daniela Raffa
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
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Cavaliere V, Lattanzi G, Andrenacci D. Silencing of Euchromatic Transposable Elements as a Consequence of Nuclear Lamina Dysfunction. Cells 2020; 9:cells9030625. [PMID: 32151001 PMCID: PMC7140440 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genomic sequences that are normally repressed to avoid proliferation and genome instability. Gene silencing mechanisms repress TEs by RNA degradation or heterochromatin formation. Heterochromatin maintenance is therefore important to keep TEs silent. Loss of heterochromatic domains has been linked to lamin mutations, which have also been associated with derepression of TEs. In fact, lamins are structural components of the nuclear lamina (NL), which is considered a pivotal structure in the maintenance of heterochromatin domains at the nuclear periphery in a silent state. Here, we show that a lethal phenotype associated with Lamin loss-of-function mutations is influenced by Drosophila gypsy retrotransposons located in euchromatic regions, suggesting that NL dysfunction has also effects on active TEs located in euchromatic loci. In fact, expression analysis of different long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons and of one non-LTR retrotransposon located near active genes shows that Lamin inactivation determines the silencing of euchromatic TEs. Furthermore, we show that the silencing effect on euchromatic TEs spreads to the neighboring genomic regions, with a repressive effect on nearby genes. We propose that NL dysfunction may have opposed regulatory effects on TEs that depend on their localization in active or repressed regions of the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Cavaliere
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Lattanzi
- CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics “Luigi-Luca Cavalli-Sforza”, Unit of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Andrenacci
- CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics “Luigi-Luca Cavalli-Sforza”, Unit of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Khadgi BB, Govindaraju A, Christensen SM. Completion of LINE integration involves an open '4-way' branched DNA intermediate. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:8708-8719. [PMID: 31392993 PMCID: PMC6895275 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Long Interspersed Elements (LINEs), also known as non-LTR retrotransposons, encode a multifunctional protein that reverse transcribes its mRNA into DNA at the site of insertion by target primed reverse transcription. The second half of the integration reaction remains very poorly understood. Second-strand DNA cleavage and second-strand DNA synthesis were investigated in vitro using purified components from a site-specific restriction-like endonuclease (RLE) bearing LINE. DNA structure was shown to be a critical component of second-strand DNA cleavage. A hitherto unknown and unexplored integration intermediate, an open ‘4-way’ DNA junction, was recognized by the element protein and cleaved in a Holliday junction resolvase-like reaction. Cleavage of the 4-way junction resulted in a natural primer-template pairing used for second-strand DNA synthesis. A new model for RLE LINE integration is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brijesh B Khadgi
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Aruna Govindaraju
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Shawn M Christensen
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
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Barbero Barcenilla B, Shippen DE. Back to the future: The intimate and evolving connection between telomere-related factors and genotoxic stress. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:14803-14813. [PMID: 31434740 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.aw119.008145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The conversion of circular genomes to linear chromosomes during molecular evolution required the invention of telomeres. This entailed the acquisition of factors necessary to fulfill two new requirements: the need to fully replicate terminal DNA sequences and the ability to distinguish chromosome ends from damaged DNA. Here we consider the multifaceted functions of factors recruited to perpetuate and stabilize telomeres. We discuss recent theories for how telomere factors evolved from existing cellular machineries and examine their engagement in nontelomeric functions such as DNA repair, replication, and transcriptional regulation. We highlight the remarkable versatility of protection of telomeres 1 (POT1) proteins that was fueled by gene duplication and divergence events that occurred independently across several eukaryotic lineages. Finally, we consider the relationship between oxidative stress and telomeres and the enigmatic role of telomere-associated proteins in mitochondria. These findings point to an evolving and intimate connection between telomeres and cellular physiology and the strong drive to maintain chromosome integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borja Barbero Barcenilla
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2128
| | - Dorothy E Shippen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2128
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31
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How dynamic could be the 45S rDNA cistron? An intriguing variability in a grasshopper species revealed by integration of chromosomal and genomic data. Chromosoma 2019; 128:165-175. [DOI: 10.1007/s00412-019-00706-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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32
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Gagnier L, Belancio VP, Mager DL. Mouse germ line mutations due to retrotransposon insertions. Mob DNA 2019; 10:15. [PMID: 31011371 PMCID: PMC6466679 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-019-0157-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable element (TE) insertions are responsible for a significant fraction of spontaneous germ line mutations reported in inbred mouse strains. This major contribution of TEs to the mutational landscape in mouse contrasts with the situation in human, where their relative contribution as germ line insertional mutagens is much lower. In this focussed review, we provide comprehensive lists of TE-induced mouse mutations, discuss the different TE types involved in these insertional mutations and elaborate on particularly interesting cases. We also discuss differences and similarities between the mutational role of TEs in mice and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liane Gagnier
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, V5Z1L3, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | - Victoria P. Belancio
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane Center for Aging, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Dixie L. Mager
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, V5Z1L3, Vancouver, BC Canada
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33
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Oyun NY, Zagoskina AS, Mukha DV. Inheritance of 5'-Truncated Copies of R2 Retrotransposon in a Series of Generations of German Cockroach, Blattella germanica. RUSS J GENET+ 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795418120116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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34
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Lilue J, Doran AG, Fiddes IT, Abrudan M, Armstrong J, Bennett R, Chow W, Collins J, Collins S, Czechanski A, Danecek P, Diekhans M, Dolle DD, Dunn M, Durbin R, Earl D, Ferguson-Smith A, Flicek P, Flint J, Frankish A, Fu B, Gerstein M, Gilbert J, Goodstadt L, Harrow J, Howe K, Ibarra-Soria X, Kolmogorov M, Lelliott C, Logan DW, Loveland J, Mathews CE, Mott R, Muir P, Nachtweide S, Navarro FC, Odom DT, Park N, Pelan S, Pham SK, Quail M, Reinholdt L, Romoth L, Shirley L, Sisu C, Sjoberg-Herrera M, Stanke M, Steward C, Thomas M, Threadgold G, Thybert D, Torrance J, Wong K, Wood J, Yalcin B, Yang F, Adams DJ, Paten B, Keane TM. Sixteen diverse laboratory mouse reference genomes define strain-specific haplotypes and novel functional loci. Nat Genet 2018; 50:1574-1583. [PMID: 30275530 PMCID: PMC6205630 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-018-0223-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We report full-length draft de novo genome assemblies for 16 widely used inbred mouse strains and find extensive strain-specific haplotype variation. We identify and characterize 2,567 regions on the current mouse reference genome exhibiting the greatest sequence diversity. These regions are enriched for genes involved in pathogen defence and immunity and exhibit enrichment of transposable elements and signatures of recent retrotransposition events. Combinations of alleles and genes unique to an individual strain are commonly observed at these loci, reflecting distinct strain phenotypes. We used these genomes to improve the mouse reference genome, resulting in the completion of 10 new gene structures. Also, 62 new coding loci were added to the reference genome annotation. These genomes identified a large, previously unannotated, gene (Efcab3-like) encoding 5,874 amino acids. Mutant Efcab3-like mice display anomalies in multiple brain regions, suggesting a possible role for this gene in the regulation of brain development.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Laboratory
- Chromosome Mapping/veterinary
- Genetic Loci
- Genome
- Haplotypes/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C/genetics
- Mice, Inbred C3H/genetics
- Mice, Inbred C57BL/genetics
- Mice, Inbred CBA/genetics
- Mice, Inbred DBA/genetics
- Mice, Inbred NOD/genetics
- Mice, Inbred Strains/classification
- Mice, Inbred Strains/genetics
- Molecular Sequence Annotation
- Phylogeny
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Species Specificity
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Lilue
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Anthony G. Doran
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ian T. Fiddes
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Monica Abrudan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Joel Armstrong
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Ruth Bennett
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom
| | - William Chow
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Joanna Collins
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Stephan Collins
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR7104, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U964, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
- Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Anne Czechanski
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Petr Danecek
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Mark Diekhans
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Dirk-Dominik Dolle
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Matt Dunn
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Richard Durbin
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Dent Earl
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Anne Ferguson-Smith
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Paul Flicek
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jonathan Flint
- Brain Research Institute, University of California, 695 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Adam Frankish
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Beiyuan Fu
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Mark Gerstein
- Yale Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - James Gilbert
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Leo Goodstadt
- OxFORD Asset Management, OxAM House, 6 George Street, Oxford OX1 2BW
| | - Jennifer Harrow
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Kerstin Howe
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | | | - Mikhail Kolmogorov
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chris Lelliott
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Darren W. Logan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jane Loveland
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Clayton E. Mathews
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Richard Mott
- Genetics Institute, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Paul Muir
- Yale Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Stefanie Nachtweide
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, Domstraße 11, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Fabio C.P. Navarro
- Yale Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Duncan T. Odom
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Naomi Park
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Sarah Pelan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Son K Pham
- BioTuring Inc., San Diego, California, CA92121
| | - Mike Quail
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Laura Reinholdt
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Lars Romoth
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, Domstraße 11, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Lesley Shirley
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Cristina Sisu
- Yale Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Bioscience, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Marcela Sjoberg-Herrera
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
| | - Mario Stanke
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, Domstraße 11, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Charles Steward
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Mark Thomas
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Glen Threadgold
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - David Thybert
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - James Torrance
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Kim Wong
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Jonathan Wood
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Binnaz Yalcin
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR7104, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U964, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Fengtang Yang
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - David J. Adams
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Benedict Paten
- Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Thomas M. Keane
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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35
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Babakhani S, Oloomi M. Transposons: the agents of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. J Basic Microbiol 2018; 58:905-917. [PMID: 30113080 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201800204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Transposons are a group of mobile genetic elements that are defined as a DNA sequence. Transposons can jump into different places of the genome; for this reason, they are called jumping genes. However, some transposons are always kept at the insertion site in the genome. Most transposons are inactivated and as a result, cannot move. Transposons are divided into two main groups: retrotransposons (class І) and DNA transposons (class ІІ). Retrotransposons are often found in eukaryotes. DNA transposons can be found in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The bacterial transposons belong to the DNA transposons and the Tn family, which are usually the carrier of additional genes for antibiotic resistance. Transposons can transfer from a plasmid to other plasmids or from a DNA chromosome to plasmid and vice versa that cause the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria. The treatment of bacterial infectious diseases is difficult because of existing antibiotic resistance that part of this antibiotic resistance is caused by transposons. Bacterial infectious diseases are responsible for the increasing rise in world mortality rate. In this review, transposons and their roles have been studied in bacterial antibiotic resistance, in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajad Babakhani
- Department of Microbiology, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mana Oloomi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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36
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Daskalakis M, Brocks D, Sheng YH, Islam MS, Ressnerova A, Assenov Y, Milde T, Oehme I, Witt O, Goyal A, Kühn A, Hartmann M, Weichenhan D, Jung M, Plass C. Reactivation of endogenous retroviral elements via treatment with DNMT- and HDAC-inhibitors. Cell Cycle 2018; 17:811-822. [PMID: 29633898 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2018.1442623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTis) or histone deacetylases (HDACis) are epigenetic drugs which are investigated since decades. Several have been approved and are applied in the treatment of hematopoietic and lymphatic malignancies, although their mode of action has not been fully understood. Two recent findings improved mechanistic insights: i) activation of human endogenous retroviral elements (HERVs) with concomitant synthesis of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), and ii) massive activation of promoters from long terminal repeats (LTRs) which originated from past HERV invasions. These dsRNAs activate an antiviral response pathway followed by apoptosis. LTR promoter activation leads to synthesis of non-annotated transcripts potentially encoding novel or cryptic proteins. Here, we discuss the current knowledge of the molecular effects exerted by epigenetic drugs with a focus on DNMTis and HDACis. We highlight the role in LTR activation and provide novel data from both in vitro and in vivo epigenetic drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Daskalakis
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany.,f German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - David Brocks
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Yi-Hua Sheng
- b School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine , National Taiwan University , Taipei , Taiwan
| | - Md Saiful Islam
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Alzbeta Ressnerova
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Yassen Assenov
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Till Milde
- c Translational Program, Hopp Children's Cancer Center at NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ) , Germany.,d CCU Pediatric Oncology , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) , Heidelberg , Germany.,e Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology , University Hospital, and Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, DKFZ , Heidelberg , Germany.,f German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Ina Oehme
- c Translational Program, Hopp Children's Cancer Center at NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ) , Germany.,d CCU Pediatric Oncology , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) , Heidelberg , Germany.,e Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology , University Hospital, and Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, DKFZ , Heidelberg , Germany.,f German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Olaf Witt
- c Translational Program, Hopp Children's Cancer Center at NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ) , Germany.,d CCU Pediatric Oncology , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) , Heidelberg , Germany.,e Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology , University Hospital, and Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, DKFZ , Heidelberg , Germany.,f German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Ashish Goyal
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Alexander Kühn
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Mark Hartmann
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany.,g Regulation of Cellular Differentiation Group , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Dieter Weichenhan
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Manfred Jung
- h Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg , Germany
| | - Christoph Plass
- a Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors , German Cancer Research Center , Heidelberg , Germany.,f German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK) , Heidelberg , Germany
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Ou S, Jiang N. LTR_retriever: A Highly Accurate and Sensitive Program for Identification of Long Terminal Repeat Retrotransposons. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 176:1410-1422. [PMID: 29233850 PMCID: PMC5813529 DOI: 10.1104/pp.17.01310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 552] [Impact Index Per Article: 92.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) are prevalent in plant genomes. The identification of LTR-RTs is critical for achieving high-quality gene annotation. Based on the well-conserved structure, multiple programs were developed for the de novo identification of LTR-RTs; however, these programs are associated with low specificity and high false discovery rates. Here, we report LTR_retriever, a multithreading-empowered Perl program that identifies LTR-RTs and generates high-quality LTR libraries from genomic sequences. LTR_retriever demonstrated significant improvements by achieving high levels of sensitivity (91%), specificity (97%), accuracy (96%), and precision (90%) in rice (Oryza sativa). LTR_retriever is also compatible with long sequencing reads. With 40k self-corrected PacBio reads equivalent to 4.5× genome coverage in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the constructed LTR library showed excellent sensitivity and specificity. In addition to canonical LTR-RTs with 5'-TG…CA-3' termini, LTR_retriever also identifies noncanonical LTR-RTs (non-TGCA), which have been largely ignored in genome-wide studies. We identified seven types of noncanonical LTRs from 42 out of 50 plant genomes. The majority of noncanonical LTRs are Copia elements, with which the LTR is four times shorter than that of other Copia elements, which may be a result of their target specificity. Strikingly, non-TGCA Copia elements are often located in genic regions and preferentially insert nearby or within genes, indicating their impact on the evolution of genes and their potential as mutagenesis tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujun Ou
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Ning Jiang
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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38
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Davidson AD, Matthews DA, Maringer K. Proteomics technique opens new frontiers in mobilome research. Mob Genet Elements 2017; 7:1-9. [PMID: 28932623 PMCID: PMC5599074 DOI: 10.1080/2159256x.2017.1362494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A large proportion of the genome of most eukaryotic organisms consists of highly repetitive mobile genetic elements. The sum of these elements is called the "mobilome," which in eukaryotes is made up mostly of transposons. Transposable elements contribute to disease, evolution, and normal physiology by mediating genetic rearrangement, and through the "domestication" of transposon proteins for cellular functions. Although 'omics studies of mobilome genomes and transcriptomes are common, technical challenges have hampered high-throughput global proteomics analyses of transposons. In a recent paper, we overcame these technical hurdles using a technique called "proteomics informed by transcriptomics" (PIT), and thus published the first unbiased global mobilome-derived proteome for any organism (using cell lines derived from the mosquito Aedes aegypti). In this commentary, we describe our methods in more detail, and summarise our major findings. We also use new genome sequencing data to show that, in many cases, the specific genomic element expressing a given protein can be identified using PIT. This proteomic technique therefore represents an important technological advance that will open new avenues of research into the role that proteins derived from transposons and other repetitive and sequence diverse genetic elements, such as endogenous retroviruses, play in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - David A. Matthews
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Kevin Maringer
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
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Campos-Rivero G, Cazares-Sanchez E, Tamayo-Ordonez MC, Tamayo-Ordonez YJ, Padilla-Ramírez JS, Quiroz-Moreno A, Sanchez-Teyer LF. Application of sequence specific amplified polymorphism (SSAP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for variability and molecular assisted selection (MAS) studies of the Mexican guava. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.5897/ajar2017.12354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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40
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Zhao C, Pyle AM. The group II intron maturase: a reverse transcriptase and splicing factor go hand in hand. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2017; 47:30-39. [PMID: 28528306 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The splicing of group II introns in vivo requires the assistance of a multifunctional intron encoded protein (IEP, or maturase). Each IEP is also a reverse-transcriptase enzyme that enables group II introns to behave as mobile genetic elements. During splicing or retro-transposition, each group II intron forms a tight, specific complex with its own encoded IEP, resulting in a highly reactive holoenzyme. This review focuses on the structural basis for IEP function, as revealed by recent crystal structures of an IEP reverse transcriptase domain and cryo-EM structures of an IEP-intron complex. These structures explain how the same IEP scaffold is utilized for intron recognition, splicing and reverse transcription, while providing a physical basis for understanding the evolutionary transformation of the IEP into the eukaryotic splicing factor Prp8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhao
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Anna Marie Pyle
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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41
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Ustyantsev K, Blinov A, Smyshlyaev G. Convergence of retrotransposons in oomycetes and plants. Mob DNA 2017; 8:4. [PMID: 28293305 PMCID: PMC5348765 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-017-0087-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Retrotransposons comprise a ubiquitous and abundant class of eukaryotic transposable elements. All members of this class rely on reverse transcriptase activity to produce a DNA copy of the element from the RNA template. However, other activities of the retrotransposon-encoded polyprotein may differ between diverse retrotransposons. The polyprotein domains corresponding to each of these activities may have their own evolutionary history independent from that of the reverse transcriptase, thus underlying the modular view on the evolution of retrotransposons. Furthermore, some transposable elements can independently evolve similar domain architectures by acquiring functionally similar but phylogenetically distinct modules. This convergent evolution of retrotransposons may ultimately suggest similar regulatory pathways underlying the lifecycle of the elements. Results Here, we provide new examples of the convergent evolution of retrotransposons of species from two unrelated taxa: green plants and parasitic protozoan oomycetes. In the present study we first analyzed the available genomic sequences of oomycete species and characterized two groups of Ty3/Gypsy long terminal repeat retrotransposons, namely Chronos and Archon, and a subgroup of L1 non-long terminal repeat retrotransposons. The results demonstrated that the retroelements from these three groups each have independently acquired plant-related ribonuclease H domains. This process closely resembles the evolution of retrotransposons in the genomes of green plants. In addition, we showed that Chronos elements captured a chromodomain, mimicking the process of chromodomain acquisition by Chromoviruses, another group of Ty3/Gypsy retrotransposons of plants, fungi, and vertebrates. Conclusions Repeated and strikingly similar acquisitions of ribonuclease H domains and chromodomains by different retrotransposon groups from unrelated taxa indicate similar selection pressure acting on these elements. Thus, there are some major trends in the evolution of the structural composition of retrotransposons, and characterizing these trends may enhance the current understanding of the retrotransposon life cycle. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13100-017-0087-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Ustyantsev
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Laboratory of Molecular Genetic Systems, Prospekt Lavrentyeva 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexandr Blinov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Laboratory of Molecular Genetic Systems, Prospekt Lavrentyeva 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Georgy Smyshlyaev
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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A novel duplex ddPCR assay for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica: proof of concept in an experimental mouse model. Parasitology 2017; 144:1005-1015. [DOI: 10.1017/s003118201700021x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYThe current World Health Organization strategic plan targets the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2025 and accurate diagnostics will play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. DNA-based detection methods provide a viable alternative to some of the commonly used tests, notably microscopy and serology, for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. The detection of parasite cell-free DNA in different clinical samples is a recent valuable advance, which provides significant benefits for accurate disease diagnosis. Here we validated a novel duplex droplet digital PCR assay for the diagnosis of Chinese (SjC) and Philippine (SjP) strains of Schistosoma japonicum infection in a mouse model. The assay proved applicable for both SjC and SjP infections and capable of detecting infection at a very early intra-mammalian stage in conveniently obtainable samples (urine and saliva) as well as in serum and feces. The target DNA copy numbers obtained in the assay showed a positive correlation with the infection burden assessed by direct traditional parasitology. The potential to detect parasite DNA in urine and saliva has important practical implications for large-scale epidemiological screening programmes in the future, particularly in terms of logistical convenience, and the assay has the potential to be a valuable additional tool for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica.
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Maringer K, Yousuf A, Heesom KJ, Fan J, Lee D, Fernandez-Sesma A, Bessant C, Matthews DA, Davidson AD. Proteomics informed by transcriptomics for characterising active transposable elements and genome annotation in Aedes aegypti. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:101. [PMID: 28103802 PMCID: PMC5248466 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3432-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti is a vector for the (re-)emerging human pathogens dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika viruses. Almost half of the Ae. aegypti genome is comprised of transposable elements (TEs). Transposons have been linked to diverse cellular processes, including the establishment of viral persistence in insects, an essential step in the transmission of vector-borne viruses. However, up until now it has not been possible to study the overall proteome derived from an organism's mobile genetic elements, partly due to the highly divergent nature of TEs. Furthermore, as for many non-model organisms, incomplete genome annotation has hampered proteomic studies on Ae. aegypti. RESULTS We analysed the Ae. aegypti proteome using our new proteomics informed by transcriptomics (PIT) technique, which bypasses the need for genome annotation by identifying proteins through matched transcriptomic (rather than genomic) data. Our data vastly increase the number of experimentally confirmed Ae. aegypti proteins. The PIT analysis also identified hotspots of incomplete genome annotation, and showed that poor sequence and assembly quality do not explain all annotation gaps. Finally, in a proof-of-principle study, we developed criteria for the characterisation of proteomically active TEs. Protein expression did not correlate with a TE's genomic abundance at different levels of classification. Most notably, long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons were markedly enriched compared to other elements. PIT was superior to 'conventional' proteomic approaches in both our transposon and genome annotation analyses. CONCLUSIONS We present the first proteomic characterisation of an organism's repertoire of mobile genetic elements, which will open new avenues of research into the function of transposon proteins in health and disease. Furthermore, our study provides a proof-of-concept that PIT can be used to evaluate a genome's annotation to guide annotation efforts which has the potential to improve the efficiency of annotation projects in non-model organisms. PIT therefore represents a valuable new tool to study the biology of the important vector species Ae. aegypti, including its role in transmitting emerging viruses of global public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Maringer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, 10029, NY, USA.
- Present address: Department of Microbial Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Amjad Yousuf
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Kate J Heesom
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Jun Fan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - David Lee
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Ana Fernandez-Sesma
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Conrad Bessant
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - David A Matthews
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Andrew D Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
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44
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Maringer K, Yousuf A, Heesom KJ, Fan J, Lee D, Fernandez-Sesma A, Bessant C, Matthews DA, Davidson AD. Proteomics informed by transcriptomics for characterising active transposable elements and genome annotation in Aedes aegypti. BMC Genomics 2017. [PMID: 28103802 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3432-5+10.1186/s12864-016-3432-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti is a vector for the (re-)emerging human pathogens dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika viruses. Almost half of the Ae. aegypti genome is comprised of transposable elements (TEs). Transposons have been linked to diverse cellular processes, including the establishment of viral persistence in insects, an essential step in the transmission of vector-borne viruses. However, up until now it has not been possible to study the overall proteome derived from an organism's mobile genetic elements, partly due to the highly divergent nature of TEs. Furthermore, as for many non-model organisms, incomplete genome annotation has hampered proteomic studies on Ae. aegypti. RESULTS We analysed the Ae. aegypti proteome using our new proteomics informed by transcriptomics (PIT) technique, which bypasses the need for genome annotation by identifying proteins through matched transcriptomic (rather than genomic) data. Our data vastly increase the number of experimentally confirmed Ae. aegypti proteins. The PIT analysis also identified hotspots of incomplete genome annotation, and showed that poor sequence and assembly quality do not explain all annotation gaps. Finally, in a proof-of-principle study, we developed criteria for the characterisation of proteomically active TEs. Protein expression did not correlate with a TE's genomic abundance at different levels of classification. Most notably, long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons were markedly enriched compared to other elements. PIT was superior to 'conventional' proteomic approaches in both our transposon and genome annotation analyses. CONCLUSIONS We present the first proteomic characterisation of an organism's repertoire of mobile genetic elements, which will open new avenues of research into the function of transposon proteins in health and disease. Furthermore, our study provides a proof-of-concept that PIT can be used to evaluate a genome's annotation to guide annotation efforts which has the potential to improve the efficiency of annotation projects in non-model organisms. PIT therefore represents a valuable new tool to study the biology of the important vector species Ae. aegypti, including its role in transmitting emerging viruses of global public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Maringer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK. .,Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, 10029, NY, USA. .,Present address: Department of Microbial Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Amjad Yousuf
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.,College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Kate J Heesom
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Jun Fan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - David Lee
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Ana Fernandez-Sesma
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Conrad Bessant
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - David A Matthews
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Andrew D Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
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45
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Maringer K, Yousuf A, Heesom KJ, Fan J, Lee D, Fernandez-Sesma A, Bessant C, Matthews DA, Davidson AD. Proteomics informed by transcriptomics for characterising active transposable elements and genome annotation in Aedes aegypti. BMC Genomics 2017. [PMID: 28103802 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3432-5 10.1186/s12864-016-3432-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti is a vector for the (re-)emerging human pathogens dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika viruses. Almost half of the Ae. aegypti genome is comprised of transposable elements (TEs). Transposons have been linked to diverse cellular processes, including the establishment of viral persistence in insects, an essential step in the transmission of vector-borne viruses. However, up until now it has not been possible to study the overall proteome derived from an organism's mobile genetic elements, partly due to the highly divergent nature of TEs. Furthermore, as for many non-model organisms, incomplete genome annotation has hampered proteomic studies on Ae. aegypti. RESULTS We analysed the Ae. aegypti proteome using our new proteomics informed by transcriptomics (PIT) technique, which bypasses the need for genome annotation by identifying proteins through matched transcriptomic (rather than genomic) data. Our data vastly increase the number of experimentally confirmed Ae. aegypti proteins. The PIT analysis also identified hotspots of incomplete genome annotation, and showed that poor sequence and assembly quality do not explain all annotation gaps. Finally, in a proof-of-principle study, we developed criteria for the characterisation of proteomically active TEs. Protein expression did not correlate with a TE's genomic abundance at different levels of classification. Most notably, long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons were markedly enriched compared to other elements. PIT was superior to 'conventional' proteomic approaches in both our transposon and genome annotation analyses. CONCLUSIONS We present the first proteomic characterisation of an organism's repertoire of mobile genetic elements, which will open new avenues of research into the function of transposon proteins in health and disease. Furthermore, our study provides a proof-of-concept that PIT can be used to evaluate a genome's annotation to guide annotation efforts which has the potential to improve the efficiency of annotation projects in non-model organisms. PIT therefore represents a valuable new tool to study the biology of the important vector species Ae. aegypti, including its role in transmitting emerging viruses of global public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Maringer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK. .,Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, 10029, NY, USA. .,Present address: Department of Microbial Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Amjad Yousuf
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.,College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Kate J Heesom
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Jun Fan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - David Lee
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Ana Fernandez-Sesma
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, 10029, NY, USA
| | - Conrad Bessant
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - David A Matthews
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Andrew D Davidson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.
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Abstract
A significant part of eukaryotic genomes is formed by transposable elements (TEs) containing not only genes but also regulatory sequences. Some of the regulatory sequences located within TEs can form secondary structures like hairpins or three-stranded (triplex DNA) and four-stranded (quadruplex DNA) conformations. This review focuses on recent evidence showing that G-quadruplex-forming sequences in particular are often present in specific parts of TEs in plants and humans. We discuss the potential role of these structures in the TE life cycle as well as the impact of G-quadruplexes on replication, transcription, translation, chromatin status, and recombination. The aim of this review is to emphasize that TEs may serve as vehicles for the genomic spread of G-quadruplexes. These non-canonical DNA structures and their conformational switches may constitute another regulatory system that, together with small and long non-coding RNA molecules and proteins, contribute to the complex cellular network resulting in the large diversity of eukaryotes.
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Fletcher RS, Herrmann D, Mullen JL, Li Q, Schrider DR, Price N, Lin J, Grogan K, Kern A, McKay JK. Identification of Polymorphisms Associated with Drought Adaptation QTL in Brassica napus by Resequencing. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2016; 6:793-803. [PMID: 26801646 PMCID: PMC4825650 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.021279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Brassica napus is a globally important oilseed for which little is known about the genetics of drought adaptation. We previously mapped twelve quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying drought-related traits in a biparental mapping population created from a cross between winter and spring B. napus cultivars. Here we resequence the genomes of the mapping population parents to identify genetic diversity across the genome and within QTL regions. We sequenced each parental cultivar on the Illumina HiSeq platform to a minimum depth of 23 × and performed a reference based assembly in order to describe the molecular variation differentiating them at the scale of the genome, QTL and gene. Genome-wide patterns of variation were characterized by an overall higher single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) density in the A genome and a higher ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions in the C genome. Nonsynonymous substitutions were used to categorize gene ontology terms differentiating the parent genomes along with a list of putative functional variants contained within each QTL. Marker assays were developed for several of the discovered polymorphisms within a pleiotropic QTL on chromosome A10. QTL analysis with the new, denser map showed the most associated marker to be that developed from an insertion/deletion polymorphism located in the candidate gene Bna.FLC.A10, and it was the only candidate within the QTL interval with observed polymorphism. Together, these results provide a glimpse of genome-wide variation differentiating annual and biennial B. napus ecotypes as well as a better understanding of the genetic basis of root and drought phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Herrmann
- Cargill Specialty Seeds & Oils, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
| | - Jack L Mullen
- Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
| | - Qinfei Li
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Daniel R Schrider
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | - Nicholas Price
- Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
| | - Junjiang Lin
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Ontario M5S 2J7, Canada
| | - Kelsi Grogan
- Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
| | - Andrew Kern
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | - John K McKay
- Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
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48
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Identification of transposable element-mediated deletions in 27 Korean individuals based on whole genome sequencing data. Genes Genomics 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13258-015-0370-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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49
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Abstract
Viruses are notorious for rapidly exchanging genetic information between close relatives and with the host cells they infect. This exchange has profound effects on the nature and rapidity of virus and host evolution. Recombination between dsDNA viruses is common, as is genetic exchange between dsDNA viruses or retroviruses and host genomes. Recombination between RNA virus genomes is also well known. In contrast, genetic exchange across viral kingdoms, for instance between nonretroviral RNA viruses or ssDNA viruses and host genomes or between RNA and DNA viruses, was previously thought to be practically nonexistent. However, there is now growing evidence for both RNA and ssDNA viruses recombining with host dsDNA genomes and, more surprisingly, RNA virus genes recombining with ssDNA virus genomes. Mechanisms are still unclear, but this deep recombination greatly expands the breadth of virus evolution and confounds virus taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M Stedman
- Biology Department and Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97207;
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50
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Faber-Hammond JJ, Phillips RB, Brown KH. Comparative Analysis of the Shared Sex-Determination Region (SDR) among Salmonid Fishes. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 7:1972-87. [PMID: 26112966 PMCID: PMC4524489 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonids present an excellent model for studying evolution of young sex-chromosomes. Within the genus, Oncorhynchus, at least six independent sex-chromosome pairs have evolved, many unique to individual species. This variation results from the movement of the sex-determining gene, sdY, throughout the salmonid genome. While sdY is known to define sexual differentiation in salmonids, the mechanism of its movement throughout the genome has remained elusive due to high frequencies of repetitive elements, rDNA sequences, and transposons surrounding the sex-determining regions (SDR). Despite these difficulties, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library clones from both rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon containing the sdY region have been reported. Here, we report the sequences for these BACs as well as the extended sequence for the known SDR in Chinook gained through genome walking methods. Comparative analysis allowed us to study the overlapping SDRs from three unique salmonid Y chromosomes to define the specific content, size, and variation present between the species. We found approximately 4.1 kb of orthologous sequence common to all three species, which contains the genetic content necessary for masculinization. The regions contain transposable elements that may be responsible for the translocations of the SDR throughout salmonid genomes and we examine potential mechanistic roles of each one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Faber-Hammond
- Department of Biology, Portland State University School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University Vancouver
| | - Ruth B Phillips
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University Vancouver Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman
| | - Kim H Brown
- Department of Biology, Portland State University
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