Comparative phylogenetics of repetitive elements in a diverse order of flowering plants (Brassicales)

Alexandra Beric, Makenzie E. Mabry, Alex Harkess, Julia M. Brose, M.E. Schranz, Gavin C. Conant, Patrick P. Edger, B.C. Meyers, J.C. Pires*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Genome sizes of plants have long piqued the interest of researchers due to the vast differences among organisms. However, the mechanisms that drive size differences have yet to be fully understood. Two important contributing factors to genome size are expansions of repetitive elements, such as transposable elements (TEs), and whole-genome duplications (WGD). Although studies have found correlations between genome size and both TE abundance and polyploidy, these studies typically test for these patterns within a genus or species. The plant order Brassicales provides an excellent system to further test if genome size evolution patterns are consistent across larger time scales, as there are numerous WGDs. This order is also home to one of the smallest plant genomes, Arabidopsis thaliana—chosen as the model plant system for this reason—as well as to species with very large genomes. With new methods that allow for TE characterization from low-coverage genome shotgun data and 71 taxa across the Brassicales, we confirm correlation between genome size and TE content, however, we are unable to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and do not detect any shift in TE abundance associated with WGD.
Original languageEnglish
Article numberjkab140
JournalG3 : Genes Genomes Genetics
Volume11
Issue number7
Early online date16 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Brassicales
  • Evolution
  • Genome size
  • Repetitive elements
  • Whole-genome duplication

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