Global survey of mobile DNA horizontal transfer in arthropods reveals Lepidoptera as a prime hotspot

• Published in: PLoS genetics Vol. 15; no. 2; p. e1007965
• Main Authors: Reiss, Daphné, Mialdea, Gladys, Miele, Vincent, de Vienne, Damien M., Peccoud, Jean, Gilbert, Clément, Duret, Laurent, Charlat, Sylvain
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.02.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Arthropoda; Arthropods; Arthropods - classification; Arthropods - genetics; Baculoviridae - genetics; Biodiversity; Bioinformatics; Biology and Life Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA Transposable Elements; Evolution; Evolution, Molecular; Gene Transfer, Horizontal; Genetic aspects; Genetic research; Genetic Variation; Genome, Insect; Genomes; Heredity; Horizontal transfer; Investigations; Lepidoptera; Lepidoptera - classification; Lepidoptera - genetics; Lepidoptera - virology; Life Sciences; Models, Genetic; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Polynesia; Populations and Evolution; Research and Analysis Methods; Software; Taxonomy; Transposition; Transposons; Vectors; Viruses; Polynesia; France
• ISSN: 1553-7404; 1553-7390; 1553-7404
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007965

More than any other genome components, Transposable Elements (TEs) have the capacity to move across species barriers through Horizontal Transfer (HT), with substantial evolutionary consequences. Previous large-scale surveys, based on full-genomes comparisons, have revealed the transposition mode as an important predictor of HT rates variation across TE superfamilies. However, host biology could represent another major explanatory factor, one that needs to be investigated through extensive taxonomic sampling. Here we test this hypothesis using a field collection of 460 arthropod species from Tahiti and surrounding islands. Through targeted massive parallel sequencing, we uncover patterns of HT in three widely-distributed TE superfamilies with contrasted modes of transposition. In line with earlier findings, the DNA transposons under study (TC1-Mariner) were found to transfer horizontally at the highest frequency, closely followed by the LTR superfamily (Copia), in contrast with the non-LTR superfamily (Jockey), that mostly diversifies through vertical inheritance and persists longer within genomes. Strikingly, across all superfamilies, we observe a marked excess of HTs in Lepidoptera, an insect order that also commonly hosts baculoviruses, known for their ability to transport host TEs. These results turn the spotlight on baculoviruses as major potential vectors of TEs in arthropods, and further emphasize the importance of non-vertical TE inheritance in genome evolution.