Distribution of Merlin in eukaryotes and first report of DNA transposons in kinetoplastid protists.

ABSTRACT: DNA transposons are defined as repeated DNA sequences that can move within the host genome through the action of transposases. The transposon superfamily Merlin was originally found mainly in animal genomes. Here, we describe a global distribution of the Merlin in animals, fungi, plants and protists, reporting for the first time their presence in Rhodophyceae, Metamonada, Discoba and Alveolata. We identified a great variety of potentially active Merlin families, some containing highly imperfect terminal inverted repeats and internal tandem repeats. Merlin-related sequences with no evidence of mobilization capacity were also observed and may be products of domestication. The evolutionary trees support that Merlin is likely an ancient superfamily, with early events of diversification and sec

SUBMITTER: Lopes ALK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8101967 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature