Effects of Wolbachia on Transposable Element Expression Vary Between Drosophila melanogaster Host Genotypes.

ABSTRACT: Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive DNA sequences capable of changing position in host genomes, thereby causing mutations. TE insertions typically have deleterious effects but they can also be beneficial. Increasing evidence of the contribution of TEs to adaptive evolution further raises interest in understanding what factors impact TE activity. Based on previous studies associating the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia with changes in the abundance of piRNAs, a mechanism for TE repression, and to transposition of specific TEs, we hypothesized that Wolbachia infection would interfere with TE activity. We tested this hypothesis by studying the expression of 14 TEs in a panel of 25 Drosophila melanogaster host genotypes, naturally infected with Wolbachia and annotated for TE insertions

SUBMITTER: Eugenio AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10025071 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature