Repetitive Elements (Repetitive DNA, Repeats)

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Repetitive Elements ◽  
Dna Repeats

scholarly journals The Pontastacus leptodactylus (Astacidae) Repeatome Provides Insight Into Genome Evolution and Reveals Remarkable Diversity of Satellite DNA

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljudevit Luka Boštjančić ◽  
Lena Bonassin ◽  
Lucija Anušić ◽  
Leona Lovrenčić ◽  
Višnja Besendorfer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Satellite Dna ◽  
Chromosomal Evolution ◽  
Repetitive Elements ◽  
Centromeric Heterochromatin ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Satellite Repeats ◽  
Interstitial Telomeric Repeats ◽  
Low Coverage ◽  
First Time

Pontastacus leptodactylus is a native European crayfish species found in both freshwater and brackish environments. It has commercial importance for fisheries and aquaculture industries. Up till now, most studies concerning P. leptodactylus have focused onto gaining knowledge about its phylogeny and population genetics. However, little is known about the chromosomal evolution and genome organization of this species. Therefore, we performed clustering analysis of a low coverage genomic dataset to identify and characterize repetitive DNA in the P. leptodactylus genome. In addition, the karyogram of P. leptodactylus (2n = 180) is presented here for the first time consisting of 75 metacentric, 14 submetacentric, and a submetacentric/metacentric heteromorphic chromosome pair. We determined the genome size to be at ~18.7 gigabase pairs. Repetitive DNA represents about 54.85% of the genome. Satellite DNA repeats are the most abundant type of repetitive DNA, making up to ~28% of the total amount of repetitive elements, followed by the Ty3/Gypsy retroelements (~15%). Our study established a surprisingly high diversity of satellite repeats in P. leptodactylus. The genome of P. leptodactylus is by far the most satellite-rich genome discovered to date with 258 satellite families described. Of the five mapped satellite DNA families on chromosomes, PlSAT3-411 co-localizes with the AT-rich DAPI positive probable (peri)centromeric heterochromatin on all chromosomes, while PlSAT14-79 co-localizes with the AT-rich DAPI positive (peri)centromeric heterochromatin on one chromosome and is also located subterminally and intercalary on some chromosomes. PlSAT1-21 is located intercalary in the vicinity of the (peri)centromeric heterochromatin on some chromosomes, while PlSAT6-70 and PlSAT7-134 are located intercalary on some P. leptodactylus chromosomes. The FISH results reveal amplification of interstitial telomeric repeats (ITRs) in P. leptodactylus. The prevalence of repetitive elements, especially the satellite DNA repeats, may have provided a driving force for the evolution of the P. leptodactylus genome.

Highly Condensed Potato Pericentromeric Heterochromatin Contains rDNA-Related Tandem Repeats

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 162 (3) ◽  
pp. 1435-1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M Stupar ◽  
Junqi Song ◽  
Ahmet L Tek ◽  
Zhukuan Cheng ◽  
Fenggao Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Intergenic Spacer ◽  
Pericentromeric Heterochromatin ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Solanum Bulbocastanum ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
Potato Genome ◽  
Dna Elements

Abstract The heterochromatin in eukaryotic genomes represents gene-poor regions and contains highly repetitive DNA sequences. The origin and evolution of DNA sequences in the heterochromatic regions are poorly understood. Here we report a unique class of pericentromeric heterochromatin consisting of DNA sequences highly homologous to the intergenic spacer (IGS) of the 18S•25S ribosomal RNA genes in potato. A 5.9-kb tandem repeat, named 2D8, was isolated from a diploid potato species Solanum bulbocastanum. Sequence analysis indicates that the 2D8 repeat is related to the IGS of potato rDNA. This repeat is associated with highly condensed pericentromeric heterochromatin at several hemizygous loci. The 2D8 repeat is highly variable in structure and copy number throughout the Solanum genus, suggesting that it is evolutionarily dynamic. Additional IGS-related repetitive DNA elements were also identified in the potato genome. The possible mechanism of the origin and evolution of the IGS-related repeats is discussed. We demonstrate that potato serves as an interesting model for studying repetitive DNA families because it is propagated vegetatively, thus minimizing the meiotic mechanisms that can remove novel DNA repeats.

scholarly journals Structures and stability of simple DNA repeats from bacteria

2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaclav Brazda ◽  
Miroslav Fojta ◽  
Richard P. Bowater
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Genetic Instability ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Repetitive Dna Sequences ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Dna Structures

DNA is a fundamentally important molecule for all cellular organisms due to its biological role as the store of hereditary, genetic information. On the one hand, genomic DNA is very stable, both in chemical and biological contexts, and this assists its genetic functions. On the other hand, it is also a dynamic molecule, and constant changes in its structure and sequence drive many biological processes, including adaptation and evolution of organisms. DNA genomes contain significant amounts of repetitive sequences, which have divergent functions in the complex processes that involve DNA, including replication, recombination, repair, and transcription. Through their involvement in these processes, repetitive DNA sequences influence the genetic instability and evolution of DNA molecules and they are located non-randomly in all genomes. Mechanisms that influence such genetic instability have been studied in many organisms, including within human genomes where they are linked to various human diseases. Here, we review our understanding of short, simple DNA repeats across a diverse range of bacteria, comparing the prevalence of repetitive DNA sequences in different genomes. We describe the range of DNA structures that have been observed in such repeats, focusing on their propensity to form local, non-B-DNA structures. Finally, we discuss the biological significance of such unusual DNA structures and relate this to studies where the impacts of DNA metabolism on genetic stability are linked to human diseases. Overall, we show that simple DNA repeats in bacteria serve as excellent and tractable experimental models for biochemical studies of their cellular functions and influences.

Abundance and DNA sequence of two-base repeat regions in tropical tree genomes

Genome ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Condit ◽  
Stephen P. Hubbell
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Length Variation ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Dinucleotide Repeats ◽  
Genomic Libraries ◽  
Plant Genomes ◽  
Tropical Plant ◽  
Abundance Estimates ◽  
Phage Libraries ◽  
Forest Plants

Tandem DNA repeats of two-base pairs are potentially important tools for population genetic studies because of their abundance and length variation. As part of our research into the ecology of tropical forest plants, we began a study of dinucleotide repeat regions in several genera of tropical trees. Genomic libraries in bacteriophase λ were screened with the oligonucleotide probes poly(GT) and poly(AG). Both types of repeat regions were abundant in the genomes of all six plant species examined. Using the size of inserts in the phage libraries and number of phage screened, we estimated that there were 5 × 103 to 3 × 105 poly(AC) and poly(AG) sites per genome, with slightly more AG than AC sites. When libraries were made from smaller fragments of genomic DNA, abundance estimates were higher, suggesting that two-base repeat sites were clustered in the genome. Poly(AC) sites were 16–22 bp in length, and four of the five sequenced were adjacent to either poly(AG) or poly(AT) sites. Other repeat regions appeared in DNA flanking the AC sites. This further demonstrated that two-base repeats and other repetitive DNA were clustered in the genome. Two-base repeats are abundant in plant genomes and could provide a large number of polymorphic markers for studies of plant population genetics.Key words: repetitive DNA, dinucleotide repeats, tropical plant genomes.

scholarly journals Region-specific H3K9me3 gain in aged somatic tissues in Caenorhabditis elegans

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. e1009432
Author(s):  
Cheng-Lin Li ◽  
Mintie Pu ◽  
Wenke Wang ◽  
Amaresh Chaturbedi ◽  
Felicity J. Emerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Repetitive Elements ◽  
Histone Marks ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Somatic Tissues ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Dna Elements ◽  
Cellular Stresses ◽  
Repetitive Dna Elements

Epigenetic alterations occur as organisms age, and lead to chromatin deterioration, loss of transcriptional silencing and genomic instability. Dysregulation of the epigenome has been associated with increased susceptibility to age-related disorders. In this study, we aimed to characterize the age-dependent changes of the epigenome and, in turn, to understand epigenetic processes that drive aging phenotypes. We focused on the aging-associated changes in the repressive histone marks H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 in C. elegans. We observed region-specific gain and loss of both histone marks, but the changes are more evident for H3K9me3. We further found alteration of heterochromatic boundaries in aged somatic tissues. Interestingly, we discovered that the most statistically significant changes reflected H3K9me3-marked regions that are formed during aging, and are absent in developing worms, which we termed “aging-specific repressive regions” (ASRRs). These ASRRs preferentially occur in genic regions that are marked by high levels of H3K9me2 and H3K36me2 in larval stages. Maintenance of high H3K9me2 levels in these regions have been shown to correlate with a longer lifespan. Next, we examined whether the changes in repressive histone marks lead to de-silencing of repetitive DNA elements, as reported for several other organisms. We observed increased expression of active repetitive DNA elements but not global re-activation of silent repeats in old worms, likely due to the distributed nature of repetitive elements in the C. elegans genome. Intriguingly, CELE45, a putative short interspersed nuclear element (SINE), was greatly overexpressed at old age and upon heat stress. SINEs have been suggested to regulate transcription in response to various cellular stresses in mammals. It is likely that CELE45 RNAs also play roles in stress response and aging in C. elegans. Taken together, our study revealed significant and specific age-dependent changes in repressive histone modifications and repetitive elements, providing important insights into aging biology.

scholarly journals Comparative analysis of morabine grasshopper genomes reveals highly abundant transposable elements and rapidly proliferating satellite DNA repeats

BMC Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Octavio M. Palacios-Gimenez ◽  
Julia Koelman ◽  
Marc Palmada-Flores ◽  
Tessa M. Bradford ◽  
Karl K. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Genome Evolution ◽  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Satellite Dna ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Repetitive Dna Sequences ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Large Genome ◽  
Chromosomal Races

Abstract Background Repetitive DNA sequences, including transposable elements (TEs) and tandemly repeated satellite DNA (satDNAs), collectively called the “repeatome”, are found in high proportion in organisms across the Tree of Life. Grasshoppers have large genomes, averaging 9 Gb, that contain a high proportion of repetitive DNA, which has hampered progress in assembling reference genomes. Here we combined linked-read genomics with transcriptomics to assemble, characterize, and compare the structure of repetitive DNA sequences in four chromosomal races of the morabine grasshopper Vandiemenella viatica species complex and determine their contribution to genome evolution. Results We obtained linked-read genome assemblies of 2.73–3.27 Gb from estimated genome sizes of 4.26–5.07 Gb DNA per haploid genome of the four chromosomal races of V. viatica. These constitute the third largest insect genomes assembled so far. Combining complementary annotation tools and manual curation, we found a large diversity of TEs and satDNAs, constituting 66 to 75% per genome assembly. A comparison of sequence divergence within the TE classes revealed massive accumulation of recent TEs in all four races (314–463 Mb per assembly), indicating that their large genome sizes are likely due to similar rates of TE accumulation. Transcriptome sequencing showed more biased TE expression in reproductive tissues than somatic tissues, implying permissive transcription in gametogenesis. Out of 129 satDNA families, 102 satDNA families were shared among the four chromosomal races, which likely represent a diversity of satDNA families in the ancestor of the V. viatica chromosomal races. Notably, 50 of these shared satDNA families underwent differential proliferation since the recent diversification of the V. viatica species complex. Conclusion This in-depth annotation of the repeatome in morabine grasshoppers provided new insights into the genome evolution of Orthoptera. Our TEs analysis revealed a massive recent accumulation of TEs equivalent to the size of entire Drosophila genomes, which likely explains the large genome sizes in grasshoppers. Despite an overall high similarity of the TE and satDNA diversity between races, the patterns of TE expression and satDNA proliferation suggest rapid evolution of grasshopper genomes on recent timescales.

scholarly journals Plasticity of Repetitive DNA Sequences within a Bacterial (Type IV) Secretion System Component

2003 ◽  
Vol 198 (9) ◽  
pp. 1349-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul A. Aras ◽  
Wolfgang Fischer ◽  
Guillermo I. Perez-Perez ◽  
MariaLuisa Crosatti ◽  
Takafumi Ando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Secretion System ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
System Component ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Antibody Recognition ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
Secretory System

DNA rearrangement permits bacteria to regulate gene content and expression. In Helicobacter pylori, cagY, which contains an extraordinary number of direct DNA repeats, encodes a surface-exposed subunit of a (type IV) bacterial secretory system. Examining potential DNA rearrangements involving the cagY repeats indicated that recombination events invariably yield in-frame open reading frames, producing alternatively expressed genes. In individual hosts, H. pylori cell populations include strains that produce CagY proteins that differ in size, due to the predicted in-frame deletions or duplications, and elicit minimal or no host antibody recognition. Using repetitive DNA, H. pylori rearrangements in a host-exposed subunit of a conserved bacterial secretion system may permit a novel form of antigenic evasion.

scholarly journals Impact of Repetitive DNA Elements on Snake Genome Biology and Evolution

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1707
Author(s):  
Syed Farhan Ahmad ◽  
Worapong Singchat ◽  
Thitipong Panthum ◽  
Kornsorn Srikulnath
Keyword(s):  
Repetitive Dna ◽  
Repetitive Elements ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Satellite Repeats ◽  
Evolutionary Features ◽  
Dna Elements ◽  
Genomic Repeats ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Repetitive Dna Elements

The distinctive biology and unique evolutionary features of snakes make them fascinating model systems to elucidate how genomes evolve and how variation at the genomic level is interlinked with phenotypic-level evolution. Similar to other eukaryotic genomes, large proportions of snake genomes contain repetitive DNA, including transposable elements (TEs) and satellite repeats. The importance of repetitive DNA and its structural and functional role in the snake genome, remain unclear. This review highlights the major types of repeats and their proportions in snake genomes, reflecting the high diversity and composition of snake repeats. We present snakes as an emerging and important model system for the study of repetitive DNA under the impact of sex and microchromosome evolution. We assemble evidence to show that certain repetitive elements in snakes are transcriptionally active and demonstrate highly dynamic lineage-specific patterns as repeat sequences. We hypothesize that particular TEs can trigger different genomic mechanisms that might contribute to driving adaptive evolution in snakes. Finally, we review emerging approaches that may be used to study the expression of repetitive elements in complex genomes, such as snakes. The specific aspects presented here will stimulate further discussion on the role of genomic repeats in shaping snake evolution.

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