Functional characterization of piggyBac-like elements from Nilaparvata lugens (St ål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

AbstractPiggyBac is a transposable DNA element originally discovered in the cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni). TheT. ni piggyBac transposon can introduce exogenous fragments into a genome, constructing a transgenic organism. Nevertheless, the comprehensive analysis of endogenouspiggyBac-like elements (PLEs) is important before usingpiggyBac, because they may influence the genetic stability of transgenic lines. Herein, we conducted a genome-wide analysis ofPLEs in the brown planthopper (BPH)Nilaparvata lugens (St ål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), and identified a total of 28PLE sequences. AllN. lugens piggyBac-like elements (NlPLEs) were present as multiple copies in the genome of BPH. Among the identifiedNlPLEs, NlPLE25 had the highest copy number and it was distributed on five chromosomes. The full length ofNlPLE25 consisted of terminal inverted repeats and sub-terminal inverted repeats at both terminals, as well as a single open reading frame transposase encoding 546 amino acids. Furthermore,NlPLE25 transposase caused precise excision and transposition in cultured insect cells and also restored the original TTAA target sequence after excision. A cross-recognition between theNlPLE25 transposon and thepiggyBac transposon was also revealed in this study. These findings provide useful information for the construction of transgenic insect lines.
Source: Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B. - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: research