DNA transposons of maT family in the Cnidaria

Abstract

Transposable elements exert a significant influence on the structure and size of eukaryotic genomes. Representatives of Tc1/mariner superfamily of DNA transposons form a prevalent and highly variable group, which includes the relatively well studied TLE/DD34-38E, MLE/DD34D, maT/DD37D, Visitor/DD41D, Guest/DD39D, mosquito/DD37E and L18/DD37E families. A detailed study of distribution and diversity of Tc1/mariner transposons will help us to better investigate the co-evolution of TEs and eukaryotic genomes. We performed a profound analysis of maT/DD37D family in the cnidarians. maT transposons were shown to exist in a limited number of cnidarian species belonging to Cubozoa, Hydrozoa and Scyphozoa classes. maT transposons of the cnidarians are thought to be the descendants of several individual invasion events, which have occurred at different times in the past. The mosquito/DD37E transposons of the cnidarians have also been described. These TEs were shown to be present in Hydridae family (class Hydrozoa) only. An analysis of TE distribution, diversity, evolutionary history and phylogeny established that theTEs undergo their unique evolution not only in different species, but also within a particular species. These results improve our knowledge of Tc1/mariner diversity and evolution, as well as their influence of eukaryotic genomes.