Title (en)
The genomic distribution of transposable elements is driven by spatially variable purifying selection
Language
English
Description (en)
It is widely accepted that the genomic distribution of transposable elements (TEs) mainly reflects the outcome of purifying selection and insertion bias (1). Nevertheless, the relative importance of these two evolutionary forces could not be tested thoroughly. Here, we introduce an experimental system, which allows separating purifying selection from TE insertion bias. We used experimental evolution to study the TE insertion patterns in Drosophila simulans founder populations harboring 1040 insertions of an active P-element. After 10 generations at a large population size, we detected strong selection against P-element insertions. The exception were P-element insertions in genomic regions for which a strong insertion bias has been proposed (2-4). Because recurrent P-element insertions cannot explain this pattern, we conclude that purifying selection, with variable strength along the chromosomes, is the major determinant of the genomic distribution of P-elements. Genomic regions with relaxed purifying selection against P-element insertions exhibit normal levels of purifying selection against base substitutions. This suggests that different types of purifying selection operate on base substitutions and P-element insertions. Our results highlight the power of experimental evolution to understand basic evolutionary processes, which are difficult to infer from patterns of natural variation alone.
Keywords (en)
Animals; DNA Transposable Elementsgenetics; Genomics; Chromosomes; Evolution, Molecular; Drosophila melanogastergenetics; Selection, Genetic
DOI
10.1093/nar/gkad635
Author of the digital object
Anna M. Langmüller (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Christian Schlötterer (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Viola Nolte (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Marlies Dolezal (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Format
application/pdf
Size
1.0 MB
Licence Selected
CC BY 4.0 International
Type of publication
Article
Name of Publication (rm)
Nucleic Acids
Pages or Volume
11
Volume
51
Number
1
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publication Date
2023
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Persistent identifier
DOI
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:2261
https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkad635 - DetailsObject typePDFDocumentFormatapplication/pdfCreated31.10.2023 12:25:30
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