Variation in piRNA and transposable element content in strains of Drosophila melanogaster Journal Article


Authors: Song, J.; Liu, J.; Schnakenberg, S. L.; Ha, H.; Xing, J.; Chen, K. C.
Article Title: Variation in piRNA and transposable element content in strains of Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract: Transposable elements (TEs) are one of the most important features of genome architecture, so their evolution and relationship with host defense mechanisms have been topics of intense study, especially in model systems such as Drosophila melanogaster. Recently, a novel small RNA-based defense mechanism in animals called the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway was discovered to form an adaptive defense mechanism against TEs. To investigate the relationship between piRNA and TE content between strains of a species, we sequenced piRNAs from 16 inbred lines of D. melanogaster from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel. Instead of a global correlation of piRNA expression and TE content, we found evidence for a host response through de novo piRNA production from novel TE insertions. Although approximately 20% of novel TE insertions induced de novo piRNA production, the abundance of de novo piRNAs was low and did not markedly affect the global pool of ovarian piRNAs. Our results provide new insights into the evolution of TEs and the piRNA system in an important model organism. © The Author(s) 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.
Keywords: genetics; animal; animals; small interfering rna; rna, small interfering; drosophila; drosophila melanogaster; transposon; genetic selection; selection, genetic; dna transposable elements; pirna; transposable elements; male; female; de novo pirna production
Journal Title: Genome Biology and Evolution
Volume: 6
Issue: 10
ISSN: 1759-6653
Publisher: Oxford University Press  
Date Published: 2014-09-29
Start Page: 2786
End Page: 2798
Language: English
DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evu217
PUBMED: 25267446
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC4224344
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 3 August 2015 -- Source: Scopus
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