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Transposable element islands facilitate adaptation to novel environments in an invasive species

Author

Listed:
  • Lukas Schrader

    (Institut für Zoologie, Universität Regensburg)

  • Jay W. Kim

    (University of California at Santa Cruz)

  • Daniel Ence

    (Eccles Institute of Human Genetics, University of Utah)

  • Aleksey Zimin

    (Institute for Physical Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland)

  • Antonia Klein

    (Institut für Zoologie, Universität Regensburg)

  • Katharina Wyschetzki

    (Institut für Zoologie, Universität Regensburg)

  • Tobias Weichselgartner

    (Institut für Zoologie, Universität Regensburg)

  • Carsten Kemena

    (Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität)

  • Johannes Stökl

    (Institut für Zoologie, Universität Regensburg)

  • Eva Schultner

    (University of Helsinki)

  • Yannick Wurm

    (School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London)

  • Christopher D. Smith

    (San Francisco State University)

  • Mark Yandell

    (Eccles Institute of Human Genetics, University of Utah
    Utah Center for Genetic Discovery, University of Utah)

  • Jürgen Heinze

    (Institut für Zoologie, Universität Regensburg)

  • Jürgen Gadau

    (School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University)

  • Jan Oettler

    (Institut für Zoologie, Universität Regensburg)

Abstract

Adaptation requires genetic variation, but founder populations are generally genetically depleted. Here we sequence two populations of an inbred ant that diverge in phenotype to determine how variability is generated. Cardiocondyla obscurior has the smallest of the sequenced ant genomes and its structure suggests a fundamental role of transposable elements (TEs) in adaptive evolution. Accumulations of TEs (TE islands) comprising 7.18% of the genome evolve faster than other regions with regard to single-nucleotide variants, gene/exon duplications and deletions and gene homology. A non-random distribution of gene families, larvae/adult specific gene expression and signs of differential methylation in TE islands indicate intragenomic differences in regulation, evolutionary rates and coalescent effective population size. Our study reveals a tripartite interplay between TEs, life history and adaptation in an invasive species.

Suggested Citation

  • Lukas Schrader & Jay W. Kim & Daniel Ence & Aleksey Zimin & Antonia Klein & Katharina Wyschetzki & Tobias Weichselgartner & Carsten Kemena & Johannes Stökl & Eva Schultner & Yannick Wurm & Christopher, 2014. "Transposable element islands facilitate adaptation to novel environments in an invasive species," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6495
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6495
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaohe Lin & Junjie Yin & Yifan Wang & Jing Yao & Qingshun Q. Li & Vit Latzel & Oliver Bossdorf & Yuan-Ye Zhang, 2024. "Environment-induced heritable variations are common in Arabidopsis thaliana," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.

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