Chiropterans Are a Hotspot for Horizontal Transfer of DNA Transposons in Mammalia.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2-2023

Publication Title

Molecular biology and evolution

Keywords

washington; isb; genomics; echidna; endogenous retrovirus; fusogenic envelope protein; monotremes; platypus; Animals; DNA Transposable Elements; Chiroptera; Gene Transfer, Horizontal; Evolution, Molecular; Mammals; Phylogeny

Abstract

Horizontal transfer of transposable elements (TEs) is an important mechanism contributing to genetic diversity and innovation. Bats (order Chiroptera) have repeatedly been shown to experience horizontal transfer of TEs at what appears to be a high rate compared with other mammals. We investigated the occurrence of horizontally transferred (HT) DNA transposons involving bats. We found over 200 putative HT elements within bats; 16 transposons were shared across distantly related mammalian clades, and 2 other elements were shared with a fish and two lizard species. Our results indicate that bats are a hotspot for horizontal transfer of DNA transposons. These events broadly coincide with the diversification of several bat clades, supporting the hypothesis that DNA transposon invasions have contributed to genetic diversification of bats.

Department

Institute for Systems Biology

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