Transposable elements and the impact in plant and bacterial genomes

• Grant number: 04/02851-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2004
• End date: April 30, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Marie-Anne Van Sluys
• Grantee: Marie-Anne Van Sluys
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Transposable elements are being considered important components of the maintenance and diversification of genomes. Their presence is being associated as main components of the genome for restructuring under stressed conditions. Transposition involves a gene function encoded by the element and DNA repair functions encoded by the host and this dual configuration is essential for the control of their activity. This project aims to understand how plant and bacterial genomes and transposable elements interact and we will take advantage of the current knowledge of the group on some particular elements and/or genomes. Retrotransposon Retrolycl was originally isolated from Lycopersicon perovianum and was found to be differentially spread on the whole genus. We will now focus on the control of the element gene expression. Among the Solanaceae, an exploratory study will be initiated to identify retrotransposons in wild and cultivated Solanum that harbor differential ploidies. We intend to evaluate polymorphism associated to retrotransposons activity and correlate those to the domestication process. As a consequence of the SUCEST sequencing program, a total of 21 transposable element families were identified in the sugarcane transcriptome. We will concentrate on the evaluation of activity, polymorphism and expression pattern of four of these families which are Mu-like and hAT-like transposons and two retrotransposons families, Tntl and Hopscotch. Sugarcane is a interspecific hybrid genome and comparative analyses will be undertaken as to compare the progenitors contribution on the transposable element constitution of this hybrid genome. Differential proliferating activity of transposable elements may be a result of remodeling closely related genomes. The perception of the impact of transposable elements and phages in the evolution of bacterial genomes is increasing with the information input made by the genome sequencing projects. Integrase catalytic function is essential to introduce any invading DNA and they are associated to horizontal gene transfer among different bacterial species. We will compare the integrase content and associated genes in four Xylella fastidiosa strains. Genetic contribution of the associated integrase regions will be analyzed in silico and stored in a database developed along the present project. Contributions are expected in the area of genome evolution and diversification among closely related organisms. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE SETTA, NATHALIA; VAN SLUYS, MARIE-ANNE; CAPY, PIERRE; APARECIDA CARARETO, CLAUDIA MARCIA. Copia Retrotransposon in the Zaprionus Genus: Another Case of Transposable Element Sharing with the Drosophila melanogaster Subgroup. Journal of Molecular Evolution, v. 72, n. 3, p. 326-338, MAR 2011. (04/02851-9)

ZERILLO, MARCELO M.; VAN SLUYS, MARIE-ANNE; CAMARGO, LUIS EDUARDO A.; MONTEIRO-VITORELLO, CLAUDIA B.. Characterization of new IS elements and studies of their dispersion in two subspecies of Leifsonia xyli. BMC Microbiology, v. 8, 2008. (04/02851-9)

MENOSSI, M.; SILVA-FILHO, M. C.; VINCENTZ, M.; VAN-SLUYS, M.-A.; SOUZA, G. M.. Sugarcane functional genomics: gene discovery for agronomic trait development. International Journal of Plant Genomics, v. 2008, 2008. (04/02851-9)

DE SETTA, NATHALIA; VAN SLUYS, MARIE-ANNE; CAPY, PIERRE; CARARETO, CLAUDIA M. A.. Multiple invasions of Gypsy and Micropia retroelements in genus Zaprionus and melanogaster subgroup of the genus Drosophila. BMC Evolutionary Biology, v. 9, DEC 2 2009. (04/02851-9)

MONTEIRO-VITORELLO, CLAUDIA BARROS; ZERILLO, MARCELO MARQUES; VAN SLUYS, MARIE-ANNE; ARANHA CAMARGO, LUIS EDUARDO; KITAJIMA, JOAO PAULO. Complete Genome Sequence of Leifsonia xyli subsp. cynodontis Strain DSM46306, a Gram-Positive Bacterial Pathogen of Grasses. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 1, n. 6, p. 2-pg., 2013-11-01. (04/02851-9)