Transposition favors the generation of large effect mutations that may facilitate rapid adaption

Leandro Quadrana (), Mathilde Etcheverry, Arthur Gilly, Erwann Caillieux, Mohammed-Amin Madoui, Julie Guy, Amanda Bortolini Silveira, Stefan Engelen, Victoire Baillet, Patrick Wincker, Jean-Marc Aury and Vincent Colot ()
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Leandro Quadrana: PSL Research University
Mathilde Etcheverry: PSL Research University
Arthur Gilly: Universite Paris-Saclay
Erwann Caillieux: PSL Research University
Mohammed-Amin Madoui: Universite d’Evry, Universite Paris-Saclay
Julie Guy: Universite Paris-Saclay
Amanda Bortolini Silveira: PSL Research University
Stefan Engelen: Universite Paris-Saclay
Victoire Baillet: PSL Research University
Patrick Wincker: Universite d’Evry, Universite Paris-Saclay
Jean-Marc Aury: Universite Paris-Saclay
Vincent Colot: PSL Research University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile parasitic sequences that have been repeatedly coopted during evolution to generate new functions and rewire gene regulatory networks. Yet, the contribution of active TEs to the creation of heritable mutations remains unknown. Using TE accumulation lines in Arabidopsis thaliana we show that once initiated, transposition produces an exponential spread of TE copies, which rapidly leads to high mutation rates. Most insertions occur near or within genes and targets differ between TE families. Furthermore, we uncover an essential role of the histone variant H2A.Z in the preferential integration of Ty1/copia retrotransposons within environmentally responsive genes and away from essential genes. We also show that epigenetic silencing of new Ty1/copia copies can affect their impact on major fitness-related traits, including flowering time. Our findings demonstrate that TEs are potent episodic (epi)mutagens that, thanks to marked chromatin tropisms, limit the mutation load and increase the potential for rapid adaptation.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11385-5

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