Horizontal transfer of transposable elements in plants

Abstract

The analysis of genomes suggests that horizontal transfers are frequent phenomena. In eukaryotes these transfer often involve transposable elements and can be detected by sequence analysis or phylogenetic reconstruction. Nevertheless, the dynamics of transposable elements and reticulation in species history, especially in plants, can sometimes be misleading. While the horizontal transfer of transposable elements is well documented in animals, only two cases have been described in plants despite the abundance of these elements in plant genomes. The study of horizontal transfers of transposable elements in plants represents a new challenge to understand their impact on genomic diversity and consequently on the process of adaptation to their environment.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1 Horizontal transposition: hybridization between species A and B is followed by TE activation in the hybrid. TE is this way transferred from sub-genome A to B. Recurrent backcrosses between the hybrid and species B lead to the restoration of plant B phenotype (presence of B chromosomes only) but harboring the transferred element.

Figure 2 Vector mediated transfer: TE is activated in species A and integrated in the viral genome. Virus infect species B. TE is activated and integrated into species B genome leading to the transfer of the TE from species A to species B.