Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are present in almost all organisms and affect the host in various ways. TE activity can increase genomic variation and thereby affect host evolution. Currently active TEs are particularly interesting because they are likely generating new genomic diversity. These active TEs have been poorly studied outside of model organisms. In this study, we aimed to identify currently active TEs of a notorious invasive species, the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta. Using RNA profiling of male and female germline tissues, we found that the majority of TE-containing transcripts in the fire ant germline belong to the IS630-Tc1-Mariner superfamily. Subsequent genomic characterization of fire ant mariner content, molecular evolution analysis, and population comparisons revealed a highly expressed and highly polymorphic mariner element that is rapidly expanding in the fire ant genome. Additionally, using comparative genomics of multiple insect species we showed that this mariner has undergone several recent horizontal transfer events (<5.1 My). Our results document a rare case of a currently active TE originating from horizontal transfer.
Highlights
Transposable elements (TEs) are parasitic genetic elements that can jump to different positions in the genome and, occasionally, into other genomes
Using RNA profiling of male and female germline tissues, we found that the majority of TE-containing transcripts in the fire ant germline belong to the IS630-Tc1-Mariner superfamily
We report an analysis of the TE content of both the ovary and testis germline transcriptomes for the fire ant, which is the first for a hymenopteran insect
Summary
Transposable elements (TEs) are parasitic genetic elements that can jump to different positions in the genome and, occasionally, into other genomes. All organisms harbor TEs, with genome occupancy ranging from
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