Evolution of Einkorn wheat centromeres is driven by the mutualistic interplay of two LTR retrotransposons.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Centromere function is highly conserved across eukaryotes, but the underlying centromeric DNA sequences vary dramatically between species. Centromeres often contain a high proportion of repetitive DNA, such as tandem repeats and/or transposable elements (TEs). Einkorn wheat centromeres lack tandem repeat arrays and are instead composed mostly of the two long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon families RLG_Cereba and RLG_Quinta which specifically insert in centromeres. However, it is poorly understood how these two TE families relate to each other and if and how they contribute to centromere function and evolution.

Results

Based on conservation of diagnostic motifs (LTRs, integrase and primer binding site and polypurine-tract), we propose that RLG_Cereba and RLG

SUBMITTER: Heuberger M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11302176 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature