Host–transposon interactions: conflict, cooperation, and cooption
Open access.
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences that colonize genomes and threaten genome integrity. As a result, several mechanisms appear to have emerged during eukaryotic evolution to suppress TE activity. However, TEs are ubiquitous and account for a prominent fraction of most eukaryotic genomes. We argue that the evolutionary success of TEs cannot be explained solely by evasion from host control mechanisms. Rather, some TEs have evolved commensal and even mutualistic strategies that mitigate the cost of their propagation. These coevolutionary processes promote the emergence of complex cellular activities, which in turn pave the way for cooption of TE sequences for organismal function.
Authors
Rachel L Cosby, Ni-Chen Chang and Cédric Feschotte
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
Keywords gene regulation genomics
KRAB zinc finger fetrotransposons transposable elements piRNA
Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences that colonize genomes and threaten genome integrity. As a result, several mechanisms appear to have emerged during eukaryotic evolution to suppress TE activity. However, TEs are ubiquitous and account for a prominent fraction of most eukaryotic genomes. We argue that the evolutionary success of TEs cannot be explained solely by evasion from host control mechanisms. Rather, some TEs have evolved commensal and even mutualistic strategies that mitigate the cost of their propagation. These coevolutionary processes promote the emergence of complex cellular activities, which in turn pave the way for cooption of TE sequences for organismal function.
Authors
Rachel L Cosby, Ni-Chen Chang and Cédric Feschotte
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
Keywords gene regulation genomics
KRAB zinc finger fetrotransposons transposable elements piRNA
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