Terminal-Repeat Retrotransposons with GAG Domain in Plant Genomes: A New Testimony on the Complex World of Transposable Elements

A novel structure of nonautonomous long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons called terminal repeat with GAG domain (TR-GAG) has been described in plants, both in monocotyledonous, dicotyledonous and basal angiosperm genomes. TR-GAGs are relatively short elements in length (<4 kb) showing the typical features of LTR-retrotransposons. However, they carry only one open reading frame coding for the GAG precursor protein involved for instance in transposition, the assembly, and the packaging of the element into the virus-like particle. GAG precursors show similarities with both Copia and Gypsy GAG proteins, suggesting evolutionary relationships of TR-GAG elements with both families. Despite the lack of the enzymatic machinery required for their mobility, strong evidences suggest that TR-GAGs are still active. TR-GAGs represent ubiquitous nonautonomous structures that could be involved in the molecular diversities of plant genomes.

Keyword(s)

nonautonomous elements, LTR-retrotransposons, GAG, conservation in plant genomes

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Chaparro Cristian, Gayraud Thomas, de Souza Rogerio Fernandes, Domingues Douglas Silva, Akaffou Selastique, Laforga Vanzela Andre Luis, de Kochko Alexandre, Rigoreau Michel, Crouzillat Dominique, Hamon Serge, Hamon Perla, Guyot Romain (2015). Terminal-Repeat Retrotransposons with GAG Domain in Plant Genomes: A New Testimony on the Complex World of Transposable Elements. Genome Biology And Evolution. 7 (2). 493-504. https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evv001, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00615/72715/

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