Gypsy/Ty3-like elements in the genome of the terrestrial salamanderHydromantes (Amphibia, Urodela) (original) (raw)

Abstract

We have studied a family of long repetitive DNA sequences (Hsr1) interspersed in the large genome of the European plethodontid salamander_Hydromantes_. The sequence analysis of a 5-kb fragment (Hsr1A) of one member has revealed significant similarities with aminoacidic domains of retroviruses and retrotransposons. The similarity of the reverse transcriptase domain and the gene organization identifies Hsr1A as a member of the_gypsy/Ty3_ class of retrotransposons. We hypothesize that Hsr1 sequences are vestiges of an invasion of the_Hydromantes_ genome that occurred early in the evolutionary history of these European plethodontids. About 106 Hsr1 sequences are present in the large_Hydromantes_ genome. This is the highest number of copies so far discovered for retrotransposon-like elements in eukaryote organisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica, Laboratori di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, via Carducci 13, 56010, Ghezzano, Pisa, Italy
   Silvia Marracci, Renata Batistoni & Irma Nardi
2. Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
   Graziano Pesole
3. Istituto di Mutagenesi e Differenziamento, CNR, via Svezia 10, 56100, Pisa, Italy
   Lorenzo Citti

Authors

1. Silvia Marracci
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2. Renata Batistoni
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3. Graziano Pesole
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4. Lorenzo Citti
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5. Irma Nardi
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Marracci, S., Batistoni, R., Pesole, G. et al. Gypsy/Ty3_-like elements in the genome of the terrestrial salamander_Hydromantes (Amphibia, Urodela).J Mol Evol 43, 584–593 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202106

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• Received: 07 February 1996
• Accepted: 11 June 1996
• Issue Date: December 1996
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202106

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