hobo-brothers elements and their time and place for horizontal transfer

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Evolution
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic sequences found in most genomes.
• The hobo element, a class II TE from Drosophila melanogaster, has known relatives in other Drosophila species.
• Understanding TE distribution and evolution is crucial for genome dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize novel hobo-like transposable elements in Drosophilidae species.
• To investigate the phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary history of these elements.
• To explore potential horizontal transfer events and their impact on genome evolution.

Main Methods:

• Degenerate PCR using primers targeting hobo-like sequences in 36 Drosophilidae species.
• In silico analysis of 21 available Drosophila genomes.
• Phylogenetic analyses to determine the evolutionary relationships of identified elements.

Main Results:

• Identification of a new group of hobo-related elements, termed 'hobo-brothers'.
• These elements exhibit a patchy distribution, predominantly in New World Drosophila species, particularly in Neotropical regions.
• Phylogenetic incongruities suggest multiple horizontal transfer events, indicating recent or ongoing activity and expansion.

Conclusions:

• The 'hobo-brothers' elements represent a distinct lineage closely related to the canonical hobo element.
• Evidence strongly supports horizontal transfer as a major mechanism driving the distribution and evolution of these TEs.
• The findings highlight the dynamic nature of transposon evolution and their significant role in shaping Neotropical insect genomes.