Transposable Element Targeting by piRNAs in Laurasiatherians with Distinct Transposable Element Histories.
Abstract: PIWI proteins and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are part of a cellular pathway that has evolved to protect genomes against the proliferation of transposable elements (TEs). PIWIs and piRNAs assemble into complexes that are involved in epigenetic and post-transcriptional repression of TEs. Most of our understanding of the mechanisms of piRNA-mediated TE silencing comes from fruit fly and mouse models. However, even in these well-studied animals it is unclear how piRNA responses relate to variable TE expression and whether the strength of the piRNA response affects TE content over time. Here, we assessed the evolutionary interactions between TE and piRNAs in a statistical framework using three nonmodel laurasiatherian mammals as a study system: dog, horse, and a vesper bat. These three species diverged ∼80 million years ago and have distinct genomic TE contents. By comparing species with distinct TE landscapes, we aimed to identify clear relationships among TE content, expression, and piRNAs. We found that the TE subfamilies that are the most transcribed appear to elicit the strongest "ping-pong" response. This was most evident among long interspersed elements, but the relationships between expression and ping-pong pilRNA (piRNA-like) expression were more complex among SINEs. SINE transcripts were equally abundant in the dog and horse yet new SINE insertions were relatively rare in the horse genome, where we identified a stronger piRNA response. Our analyses suggest that the piRNA response can have a strong impact on the TE composition of a genome. However, our results also suggest that the presence of a robust piRNA response is apparently not sufficient to stop TE mobilization and accumulation.
© The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.
Publication Date: 2016-05-09 PubMed ID: 27060702PubMed Central: PMC4898795DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw078Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research explores how PIWI proteins and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) – components of cellular pathways that protect genomes from transposable elements (TEs) – work in various mammals. By studying three different species – dog, horse, and vesper bat – the researchers aim to understand the relationship between TE content, their expression, and piRNAs. The findings suggest that a robust piRNA response doesn’t necessarily stop TE mobilization and build-up.
More on PIWI Proteins and PIWI-Interacting RNAs (piRNAs)
- These are critical components of cellular pathways that evolved to shield genomes against the proliferation of transposable elements (TEs).
- These PIWIs and piRNAs gather into complexes that play a role in the epigenetic and post-transcriptional repression of TEs.
- Understanding of piRNA-mediated TE silencing is largely from fruit fly and mouse models. Even in these models, it is not quite clear how the piRNA responses are related to variable TE expression and how the strength of the piRNA response affects TE content over time.
Research Aims and Approach
- The research sought to study the evolutionary interaction between TE and piRNAs using a statistical framework and using nonmodel laurasiatherian mammals (dog, horse, and vesper bat) as the subjects.
- These three species were chosen because they separated approximately 80 million years ago and each has distinct genomic TE contents.
- The goal was to identify clear relationships among TE content, TE expression, and piRNAs by comparing the species that have distinct TE landscapes.
Findings of the Study
- The researchers found that TE subfamilies that are most transcribed tend to cause the strongest “ping-pong” response.
- This “ping-pong” response is primarily seen among long interspersed elements, but the relationships between expression and ping-pong pilRNA (piRNA-like) expression were more complex among SINEs.
- SINE transcripts were equally abundant in the dog and horse, but new SINE insertions were rare in the horse genome, where there was a stronger piRNA response.
- The study suggests that piRNA response can strongly impact the TE composition of a genome. However, a robust piRNA response does not appear to be sufficient in stopping TE mobilization and accumulation.
Cite This Article
APA
Vandewege MW, Platt RN, Ray DA, Hoffmann FG.
(2016).
Transposable Element Targeting by piRNAs in Laurasiatherians with Distinct Transposable Element Histories.
Genome Biol Evol, 8(5), 1327-1337.
https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evw078 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University.
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University.
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University federico.g.hoffmann@gmail.com david.4.ray@gmail.com.
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University federico.g.hoffmann@gmail.com david.4.ray@gmail.com.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chiroptera
- DNA Transposable Elements / genetics
- Dogs
- Evolution, Molecular
- Gene Silencing
- Horses
- Mice
- RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
- Selection, Genetic
- Transcription, Genetic
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