Off-target piRNA gene silencing in Drosophila melanogaster rescued by a transposable element insertion.

ABSTRACT: Transposable elements (TE) are selfish genetic elements that can cause harmful mutations. In Drosophila, it has been estimated that half of all spontaneous visible marker phenotypes are mutations caused by TE insertions. Several factors likely limit the accumulation of exponentially amplifying TEs within genomes. First, synergistic interactions between TEs that amplify their harm with increasing copy number are proposed to limit TE copy number. However, the nature of this synergy is poorly understood. Second, because of the harm posed by TEs, eukaryotes have evolved systems of small RNA-based genome defense to limit transposition. However, as in all immune systems, there is a cost of autoimmunity and small RNA-based systems that silence TEs can inadvertently silence genes flanking TE inser

SUBMITTER: Miller DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9983838 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature