Asexual reproduction reduces transposable element load in experimental yeast populations

eLife

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[1] Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland;Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland;Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland;UMI3614 Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Alga, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Roscoff, France;Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France;

关键词: evolution of sex;    transposable elements;    asexuality;    S. cerevisiae;   

DOI  :  10.7554/eLife.48548

来源: publisher

【 摘 要 】

10.7554/eLife.48548.001Theory predicts that sexual reproduction can either facilitate or restrain transposable element (TE) accumulation by providing TEs with a means of spreading to all individuals in a population, versus facilitating TE load reduction via purifying selection. By quantifying genomic TE loads over time in experimental sexual and asexual Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations, we provide direct evidence that TE loads decrease rapidly under asexual reproduction. We show, using simulations, that this reduction may occur via evolution of TE activity, most likely via increased excision rates. Thus, sex is a major driver of genomic TE loads and at the root of the success of TEs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY