Distribution and polymorphism of Mariner-like elements in the Bambusoideae subfamily

Abstract

Mariner-like elements (MLEs) are class II transposable elements found in almost all eukaryotic genomes including those of plants, from which hundreds of complete and partial sequences have been elucidated. We have characterized 82 amplification fragments representing MLEs derived from diverse members of the Bambusoideae subfamily. Phylogenetic analysis of MLE transposase sequences shows that MLEs are widespread, diverse and abundant in the Bambusoideae. In addition, a molecular phylogeny of the Bambusoideae subfamily was established by using the internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) information. The phylogenetic tree constructed using MLE fragment sequences was incongruent with a second tree based on ITS information. These results suggest horizontal transfer between distantly related species or the existence of an ancestral MLE polymorphism followed by divergent evolution and stochastic loss. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.