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PreprintCited by 57Chromosomal and Genetic VariationsFungal and yeast genetics researchBacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

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Starships are active eukaryotic transposable elements mobilized by a new family of tyrosine recombinases

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Urquhart, Andrew S, Vogan, Aaron A, Gardiner, Donald M, Idnurm, Alexander·2022·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1101/2022.08.04.502770PMC PMC10104507

Preprint — published as 10.1073/pnas.2214521120 · Paper page

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Abstract

Transposable elements in eukaryotic organisms have historically been considered ‘selfish’, at best conferring indirect benefits to their host organisms. The Starships are a recently discovered feature in fungal genomes that are predicted to confer beneficial traits to their hosts and also have hallmarks of being transposable elements. Here, we provide experimental evidence that Starships are indeed autonomous transposons, using the model Paecilomyces variotii , and identify the HhpA ‘Captain’ tyrosine recombinase as essential for their mobilization into genomic sites with a specific target site consensus sequence. Furthermore, we identify multiple recent horizontal gene transfer of Starships , implying that they frequency jump between species. Fungal genomes have mechanisms to defend against mobile elements, which are frequently detrimental to the host. We discover that Starships are also vulnerable to repeat-induced point mutation defence, thereby having implications on the evolutionary stability of such elements.

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Metadata

Authors
Urquhart, A. S., Vogan, A. A., Gardiner, D. M., & Idnurm, A.
Affiliations
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
  • Uppsala University (SE)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
Corresponding author
Urquhart, Andrew S
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2022-08-04
Volume
120
Issue
15
Pages
e2214521120-e2214521120
ISSN
0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1101/2022.08.04.502770
PMC
PMC10104507
OpenAlex
W4362657308
Cited by
57
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1
FWCI
8.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
  • Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas (2019-01227)
  • Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of Canada
  • Vetenskapsrådet (2021-04290)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fungal and yeast genetics research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
Keywords
Starship, transposable elements, autonomous transposons, tyrosine recombinases, Paecilomyces variotii, fungal genome, horizontal gene transfer, repeat-induced point mutation, transposon defense, mobile genetic elements
MeSH terms
DNA Transposable Elements, Tyrosine, Evolution, Molecular, Gene Transfer, Horizontal, Recombinases, Eukaryota

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