Improved repeat identification and masking in Dipterans

Gene. 2007 Mar 1;389(1):1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2006.09.011. Epub 2006 Oct 12.

Abstract

Repetitive sequences are a major constituent of many eukaryote genomes and play roles in gene regulation, chromosome inheritance, nuclear architecture, and genome stability. The identification of repetitive elements has traditionally relied on in-depth, manual curation and computational determination of close relatives based on DNA identity. However, the rapid divergence of repetitive sequence has made identification of repeats by DNA identity difficult even in closely related species. Hence, the presence of unidentified repeats in genome sequences affects the quality of gene annotations and annotation-dependent analyses (e.g. microarray analyses). We have developed an enhanced repeat identification pipeline using two approaches. First, the de novo repeat finding program PILER-DF was used to identify interspersed repetitive elements in several recently finished Dipteran genomes. Repeats were classified, when possible, according to their similarity to known elements described in Repbase and GenBank, and also screened against annotated genes as one means of eliminating false positives. Second, we used a new program called RepeatRunner, which integrates results from both RepeatMasker nucleotide searches and protein searches using BLASTX. Using RepeatRunner with PILER-DF predictions, we masked repeats in thirteen Dipteran genomes and conclude that combining PILER-DF and RepeatRunner greatly enhances repeat identification in both well-characterized and un-annotated genomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics
  • Diptera / genetics*
  • Euchromatin / genetics
  • Genome, Insect
  • Heterochromatin / genetics
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Software
  • Species Specificity
  • Tandem Repeat Sequences / genetics

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Euchromatin
  • Heterochromatin