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The GC-Rich Transposon Bytmar1 from the Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Crab, Bythograea thermydron, May Encode Three Transposase Isoforms from a Single ORF

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Abstract

Mariner-like elements (MLEs) are classII transposons with highly conserved sequence properties and are widespread in the genome of animal species living in continental environments. We describe here the first full-length MLE found in the genome of a marine crustacean species, the deep-sea hydrothermal crab Bythograea thermydron (Crustacea), named Bytmar1. A comparison of its sequence features with those of the MLEs contained in the genomes of continental species reveals several distinctive characteristics. First, Bytmar1 elements contains an ORF that may encode three transposase isoforms 349, 379, and 398 amino acids (aa) in long. The two biggest proteins are due to the presence of a 30- and 49-aa flag, respectively, at the N-terminal end of the 349-aa cardinal MLE transposase. Their GC contents are also significantly higher than those found in continental MLEs. This feature is mainly due to codon usage in the transposase ORF and directly interferes with the curvature propensities of the Bytmar1 nucleic acid sequence. Such an elevated GC content may interfere with the ability of Bytmar 1 to form an excision complex and, in consequence, with its efficiency to transpose. Finally, the origin of these characteristics and their possible consequences on transposition efficiency are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Senior Scientist F. Lallier and the captain and crew of the Hope 99 cruise for their support. We thank Dr. C. Augé-Gouillou and Prof. P Capy for their suggestions and helpful criticism during our work and J. Rossignol and S. Amiard for their technical assistance. The English text was revised by Monika Ghosh. The studies were funded by grants from l’Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers, le Ministère de l’Éducation de la Recherche et de la Technologie, le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, the University of Le Mans, and the University of Tours.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie et Génétique Évolutive, E.A. 3565, Université du Maine, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085, Le Mans, France

    N. Halaimia-Toumi, E. Pradier & M. Laulier

  2. Laboratoire d’Étude des Parasites Génétiques, Université de Tours, UFR des Sciences et Techniques, Parc de Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France

    N. Casse, M.V. Demattei, S. Renault & Y. Bigot

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  1. N. Halaimia-Toumi
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  2. N. Casse
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  3. M.V. Demattei
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  4. S. Renault
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  5. E. Pradier
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  6. Y. Bigot
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  7. M. Laulier
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Correspondence to Y. Bigot.

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Reviewing Editor: Dr. Nicolas Galtier

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Halaimia-Toumi, N., Casse, N., Demattei, M. et al. The GC-Rich Transposon Bytmar1 from the Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Crab, Bythograea thermydron, May Encode Three Transposase Isoforms from a Single ORF. J Mol Evol 59, 747–760 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-004-2665-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00239-004-2665-0

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