Presence of Ty1-copia group retrotransposon sequences in the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans

The Role of Transposable Elements in Speciation

Understanding the phenotypic and molecular mechanisms that contribute to genetic diversity between and within species is fundamental in studying the evolution of species. In particular, identifying the interspecific differences that lead to the reduction or even cessation of gene flow between nascent species is one of the main goals of speciation genetic research. Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences with the ability to move within genomes. TEs are ubiquitous throughout eukaryotic genomes and have been shown to alter regulatory networks, gene expression, and to rearrange genomes as a result of their transposition. However, no systematic effort has evaluated the role of TEs in speciation. We compiled the evidence for TEs as potential causes of reproductive isolation across a diversity of taxa. We find that TEs are often associated with hybrid defects that might preclude the fusion between species, but that the involvement of TEs in other barriers to gene flow different from postzygotic isolation is still relatively unknown. Finally, we list a series of guides and research avenues to disentangle the effects of TEs on the origin of new species.

Identification and occurrence of the LTR-Copia-like retrotransposon, PSCR and other Copia-like elements in the genome of Phytophthora sojae

Sequence analysis of the genomic region of Phytophthora sojae close to the Avr4/6 locus specifying virulence on soybean identified a Ty1/Copia-like retrotransposon that we have named Phytophthora sojae Copia-like retrotransposon (PSCR). Twelve near-complete homologs of PSCR were found in the published P. sojae genome sequence, none of which encoded a full-length polyprotein characteristic of Copia-like retrotransposons, or appears to exhibit transcriptional activity or show evidence of recent movement, suggesting they are non-functional and unlikely to have caused pathogenic variability. However, reconstructed consensus PSCR sequence encoding a full-length polyprotein resembles a functional, ancestral retroelement within P. sojae. Homologs were also found in sequence databases of other Phytophthora species. Database searches found other families of Copia-like elements in genomes of P. sojae, P. ramorum and P. infestans that were different from members of the PSCR family and from Copia-like elements reported in other organisms. It is possible that the various families of Copia-like retroelements identified in this study represent introgressions into the genome of ancient ancestor(s) of current Phytophthora species, where they have evolved and diverged considerably during the speciation. Some Copia-like families are transcriptionally active with the potential to transpose and contribute to pathogenic variation in current populations of P. sojae.

Genomics of the plant pathogenic oomycete Phytophthora: insights into biology and evolution

The genus Phytophthora includes many destructive pathogens of plants. Although having "fungus-like" appearances, Phytophthora species reside in a eukaryotic kingdom separate from that of true fungi. Distinct strategies are therefore required to study and defend against Phytophthora. Large sequence databases have recently been developed for several species, and tools for functional genomics have been enhanced. This chapter will review current progress in understanding the genome and transcriptome of Phytophthora, and provide examples of how genomics resources are advancing molecular studies of pathogenesis, development, transcription, and evolution. A better understanding of these remarkable pathogens should lead to new approaches for managing their diseases.

Families of short interspersed elements in the genome of the oomycete plant pathogen, Phytophthora infestans

The first known families of tRNA-related short interspersed elements (SINEs) in the oomycetes were identified by exploiting the genomic DNA sequence resources for the potato late blight pathogen, Phytophthora infestans. Fifteen families of tRNA-related SINEs, as well as predicted tRNAs, and other possible RNA polymerase III-transcribed sequences were identified. The size of individual elements ranges from 101 to 392 bp, representing sequences present from low (1) to highly abundant (over 2000) copy number in the P. infestans genome, based on quantitative PCR analysis. Putative short direct repeat sequences (6-14 bp) flanking the elements were also identified for eight of the SINEs. Predicted SINEs were named in a series prefixed infSINE (for infestans-SINE). Two SINEs were apparently present as multimers of tRNA-related units; four copies of a related unit for infSINEr, and two unrelated units for infSINEz. Two SINEs, infSINEh and infSINEi, were typically located within 400 bp of each other. These were also the only two elements identified as being actively transcribed in the mycelial stage of P. infestans by RT-PCR. It is possible that infSINEh and infSINEi represent active retrotransposons in P. infestans. Based on the quantitative PCR estimates of copy number for all of the elements identified, tRNA-related SINEs were estimated to comprise 0.3% of the 250 Mb P. infestans genome. InfSINE-related sequences were found to occur in species throughout the genus Phytophthora. However, seven elements were shown to be exclusive to P. infestans.

Elicitin genes in Phytophthora infestans are clustered and interspersed with various transposon-like elements

Sequencing and annotation of a contiguous stretch of genomic DNA (112.3 kb) from the oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans revealed the order, spacing and genomic context of four members of the elicitin (inf) gene family. Analysis of the GC content at the third codon position (GC3) of six genes encoded in the region, and a set of randomly selected coding regions as well as random genomic regions, showed that a high GC3 value is a general feature of Phytophthora genes that can be exploited to optimize gene prediction programs for Phytophthora species. At least one-third of the annotated 112.3-kb P. infestans sequence consisted of transposons or transposon-like elements. The most prominent were four Tc3/gypsy and Tc1/copia type retrotransposons and three DNA transposons that belong to the Tc1/mariner, Pogo and PiggyBac groups, respectively. Comparative analysis of other available genomic sequences suggests that transposable elements are highly heterogeneous and ubiquitous in the P. infestans genome.

The hAT -like DNA transposon DodoPi resides in a cluster of retro- and DNA transposons in the stramenopile Phytophthora infestans

A family of transposable elements belonging to the hAT group of DNA transposons is described from an oomycete, the plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans. The family, named DodoPi, was identified by studying a hotspot for retro- and DNA transposon insertions adjacent to the mating type locus. The DodoPi family comprises a small number of full-length copies, each of which is 2.7 kb long and predicted to encode a transposase-like protein consisting of 617 amino acids, and several truncated copies. Both types contain 12-bp terminal inverted repeats and are flanked by 8-bp target site duplications. Despite the detection of a DodoPi transcript and of many polymorphisms between isolates, conclusive evidence of recent transposition was not obtained. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that DodoPi was novel, with only modest similarity to some elements from plants and fungi. Relatives were detected in only some members of the genus. This is the first DNA transposon identified in the stramenopile group of eukaryotes.

Purcopia, a Ty1-copia truncated retroelement in the genome of Claviceps purpurea

Truncated copy of reverse transcriptase of Ty1/copia retroelement (Purcopia) was found as part of the species-specific RAPD 257(540) marker of Claviceps purpurea. A region of 94 bp with 78.9% identity to an unannotated region of the genomic clone of the rice blast fungus Pyricularia grisea (accession no. AQ162050) was found at the 5' end of the pseudogene. Comparison with database sequences revealed that Purcopia is close to the plant retroelements represented by Tto1, Ta1-3 and Bare-1, whereas the other fungal elements of the Ty1/copia type grouped with Hopscotch elements. Restriction patterns obtained by hybridization of the labeled marker to HindIII digested genomic DNA of various C. purpurea isolates contained multiple bands. The banding was individual and did not yield any species- or population-specific fragments or patterns.

Development of Contamination-Free Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Probes for the Obligate Biotroph Peronospora tabacina, an Oomycete Causing Blue Mold of Tobacco

ABSTRACT Peronospora tabacina is an obligately parasitic oomycete that causes blue mold, a devastating disease of tobacco. Genetic studies of this pathogen have been hampered by the lack of molecular markers. We generated a set of molecular markers for P. tabacina by collecting sporangiospores from infected tobacco leaves, extracting spore DNA, and cloning it in a plasmid vector. The resulting clones were then used to probe DNA from a collection of P. tabacina isolates to survey for polymorphisms. Most probes gave unexpected hybridization patterns with signal intensities that varied significantly from one DNA sample to another or between different DNA preparations of the same isolate. These results indicated that certain DNA preparations contained DNA from a source other than P. tabacina, which in turn suggested that some probes might have been derived from contaminating organisms present in the spore suspensions. Therefore, we characterized the inserts of several recombinant plasmids to determine their origins. Sequence analysis revealed that several of the inserts encoded peptides with similarity to bacterial proteins, suggesting that they were derived from bacterial contaminants. Of the remaining clones, five exhibited similarity to retroelements, one resembled eukaryotic helicase genes, and nine had no similarity to sequences in the databases. These were postulated to be true P. tabacina DNA clones. Verification of the origin of each probe was achieved by filtering a spore suspension, extracting DNA from the retentate and filtrate, and probing Southern blots of these DNA samples. These experiments confirmed the probe origins predicted by sequence analysis, resulting in the generation of 20 different restriction fragment length polymorphism probes that are specific for P. tabacina DNA. These probes should enable identification of reliable genetic markers for population studies of the blue mold organism.

Sequence variation and genomic amplification of a family of Gypsy-like elements in the oomycete genus Phytophthora

A family of sequences resembling Gypsy retroelements was identified and shown to be widely distributed throughout the genus Phytophthora, a member of the algallike oomycete fungi. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific and degenerate primers detected the family in 29 of 37 species tested. DNA hybridization also failed to detect the sequences in the eight species that were negative in PCR. The element appears to have been a major force in the shaping of Phytophthora genomes because its abundance varied drastically from about 10 to more than 10,000 copies per genome within the species containing the element. Family members diverged from each other by single-base changes, insertions, and deletions, with a mean nucleotide divergence of 16.7%. By constructing phylogenies of the elements, lineages were identified that predated speciation events within Phytophthora and subfamilies that had diverged more recently. The element was studied in detail in Phytophthora infestans, in which about 30 copies are dispersed throughout the genome. Phylogenetic comparisons of the reverse transcriptases placed the family within the Ty3/Gypsy group of long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons, with the closest affinities to elements from plants. However, each of 12 family members sequenced contained defects that would render their protein products inactive, including frameshift mutations within reverse transcriptase domains and truncations that appeared to eliminate gag, protease, and terminal repeat sequences.

Transposition of the retrotransposon MAGGY in heterologous species of filamentous fungi

MAGGY is a gypsy-like LTR retrotransposon isolated from the blast fungus Pyricularia grisea (teleomorph, Magnaporthe grisea). We examined transposition of MAGGY in three P. grisea isolates (wheat, finger millet, and crabgrass pathogen), which did not originally possess a MAGGY element, and in two heterologous species of filamentous fungi, Colletotrichum lagenarium and P. zingiberi. Genomic Southern analysis of MAGGY transformants suggested that transposition of MAGGY occurred in all filamentous fungi tested. In contrast, no transposition was observed in any transformants with a modified MAGGY containing a 513-bp deletion in the reverse transcriptase domain. When a MAGGY derivative carrying an artificial intron was introduced into the wheat isolate of P. grisea and C. lagenarium, loss of the intron was observed. These results showed that MAGGY can undergo autonomous RNA-mediated transposition in heterologous filamentous fungi. The frequency of transposition differed among fungal species. MAGGY transposed actively in the wheat isolate of P. grisea and P. zingiberi, but transposition in C. lagenarium appeared to be rare. This is the first report that demonstrates active transposition of a fungal transposable element in heterologous hosts. Possible usage of MAGGY as a genetic tagging tool in filamentous fungi is discussed.

The genetics and biology of Phytophthora infestans: modern approaches to a historical challenge

The oomyceteous fungus Phytophthora infestans, which causes the late blight diseases of potato and tomato, has a history that is closely associated with that of mycology and plant pathology. Nevertheless, P. infestans and other oomycetes remain poorly understood relative to fungi in other groups. A resurgence in the worldwide impact of late blight has recently increased interest in the species. Fortunately, over the past decade improved tools for laboratory analysis have been developed which provide an opportunity to advance our understanding of this important pathogen. Since oomycetes do not have a close taxonomic affinity with well-characterized organisms such as ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, it is likely that studies of P. infestans will yield novel biological findings. This review provides an update on the status of research into the fundamental aspects of the biology, genetics, and pathology of P. infestans and describes prospects for future advances.

AFLP Linkage Map of the Oomycete Phytophthora infestans

Here we present the first comprehensive genetic linkage map of the heterothallic oomycetous plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans. The map is based on polymorphic DNA markers generated by the DNA fingerprinting technique AFLP (Vos et al., 1995, Nucleic Acids Res. 23: 4407-4414). AFLP fingerprints were made from single zoospore progeny and 73 F1 progeny from two field isolates of P. infestans. The parental isolates appeared to be homokaryotic and diploid, their AFLP patterns were mitotically stable, and segregation ratios in the F1 progeny were largely Mendelian. In addition to 183 AFLP markers, 7 RFLP markers and the mating type locus were mapped. The linkage map comprises 10 major and 7 minor linkage groups covering a total of 827 cM. The major linkage groups are composed of markers derived from both parents, whereas the minor linkage groups contain markers from either the A1 or the A2 mating type parent. Non-Mendelian segregation ratios were found for the mating type locus and for 13 AFLP markers, all of which are located on the same linkage group as the mating type locus. Copyright 1997 Academic Press