The somatic mobilization of transposable element mariner-Mos1 during the Drosophila lifespan and its biological...

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences on genomes. Some elements are able to transpose in somatic cells, a process known as somatic transposition (ST), which has been associated with detrimental biological effects. The mariner-Mos1 element of Drosophila promotes transposition in somatic and germline cells and is an excellent model for studies related to the biological consequence of somatic excision (SE). In this work, we used temperature stress to induce increasing transposition of mariner-Mos1 during different stages of the development of D. simulans, aiming to quantify SE during lifespan. Furthermore, strains of D. melanogaster exhibiting differential expression of mariner-Mos1 were employed for estimating some biological consequences of mariner mobilization. It is shown that SE of mariner-Mos1 was not constant during development; the larval phase had the highest rates while the pupal stage exhibited lower rates, and in the embryonic stage, no difference was detected. SE can be detrimental, as suggested by correlation in SE level and reduction in behavioral activities and embryonic viability. This study showed that mariner-Mos1 SE accumulates during the Drosophila life cycle, and can be involved in detrimental effects.