The Evolution of Small-RNA-Mediated Silencing of an Invading Transposable Element.

ABSTRACT: Transposable elements (TEs) are genomic parasites that impose fitness costs on their hosts by producing deleterious mutations and disrupting gametogenesis. Host genomes avoid these costs by regulating TE activity, particularly in germline cells where new insertions are heritable and TEs are exceptionally active. However, the capacity of different TE-associated fitness costs to select for repression in the host, and the role of selection in the evolution of TE regulation more generally remain controversial. In this study, we use forward, individual-based simulations to examine the evolution of small-RNA-mediated TE regulation, a conserved mechanism for TE repression that is employed by both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. To design and parameterize a biologically realistic model, we drew on an

SUBMITTER: Kelleher ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6404463 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature