Gene function and expression level influence the insertion/fixation dynamics of distinct transposon families in mammalian introns.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transposable elements (TEs) represent more than 45% of the human and mouse genomes. Both parasitic and mutualistic features have been shown to apply to the host-TE relationship but a comprehensive scenario of the forces driving TE fixation within mammalian genes is still missing.

Results

We show that intronic multispecies conserved sequences (MCSs) have been affecting TE integration frequency over time. We verify that a selective economizing pressure has been acting on TEs to decrease their frequency in highly expressed genes. After correcting for GC content, MCS density and intron size, we identified TE-enriched and TE-depleted gene categories. In addition to developmental regulators and transcription factors, TE-depleted regions encompass loci that might require

SUBMITTER: Sironi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1794433 | biostudies-literature | 2006

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature