Transposons Increase Transcriptional Complexity: The Good Parasite?

Joachim M Surm; Yehu Moran

doi:10.1016/j.tig.2021.03.009

Transposons Increase Transcriptional Complexity: The Good Parasite?

Trends Genet. 2021 Jul;37(7):606-607. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.03.009. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Authors

Joachim M Surm¹, Yehu Moran²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel. Electronic address: joachim.surm@mail.huji.ac.il.
² Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel. Electronic address: yehu.moran@mail.huji.ac.il.

PMID: 33858672
DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.03.009

Abstract

A recent study by Cosby et al. sheds light on the role of transposons in the adaptive evolution of their hosts. These genetic elements were thought to be largely deleterious. However, when coupled with alternative splicing, there appears to be an exponential increase in the diversity of proteins encoded, which display novel functions and are conserved by natural selection.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Physiological / genetics
Alternative Splicing / genetics
DNA Transposable Elements / genetics*
Evolution, Molecular*
Proteins / genetics
Selection, Genetic / genetics*
Transcription, Genetic / genetics*

Substances

DNA Transposable Elements
Proteins