Identification of a mariner-like repetitive sequence in C. elegans

A repetitive element in C.elegans has been found that bears high homology to the element mariner of Drosophila mauritiana (EMBL accession number X77804). This element is present in about 20 copies in the N2 strain of C.elegans, and appears in roughly equal copy numbers in the related strain BO and in the hybrid strains RW7097 and TR679. There is only one copy of this MLE in three related species of Caenorhabditis. A cDNA of this mariner-like element (MLE) codes for a protein with 58% homology to the Drosophila transposase. The mariner-like element is not mobile in N2. This class of elements has now been described in insects, planaria and nematodes (GenBank accession number M98552 and this report).