The impact of insertion bias into piRNA clusters on the invasion of transposable elements.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In our current understanding of transposable element (TE) invasions, TEs move freely until they accidentally insert into a piRNA cluster, where they are silenced by the production of piRNA cognate to the TE. Under this model, one would expect that selection might favor TEs that avoid piRNA clusters. However, empirical observations show that some TEs, such as the P-element, insert into piRNA clusters preferentially. We were thus wondering if such a bias, by minimizing harm to the host, could facilitate the spread of TEs throughout a population.

Results

We performed extensive forward simulations of TE invasions with different insertion biases into piRNA clusters to determine if there was ever a situation in which the insertion bias was beneficial to the TE. We found

SUBMITTER: Pritam S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12357481 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature