Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Corresponding authors: E-mails: christoph. A large portion of animal and plant genomes consists of noncoding DNA.
This part includes tandemly repeated sequences and gained attention because it offers exciting insights into genome biology. We investigated satellite-DNA elements of the platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni , a parasite with remarkable biological features. Schistosoma mansoni lives in the vasculature of humans causing schistosomiasis, a disease of worldwide importance.
Schistosomes are the only trematodes that have evolved separate sexes, and the sexual maturation of the female depends on constant pairing with the male. The schistosome karyotype comprises eight chromosome pairs, males are homogametic ZZ and females are heterogametic ZW. Part of the repetitive DNA of S. Based on new genome and transcriptome data, we performed a reanalysis of the W-element families WEFs.
Structural analyses suggested roles as sources of noncoding RNA-like hammerhead ribozymes, for which we obtained functional evidence. Finally, the variable WEF occurrence in different schistosome species revealed remarkable divergence.
(mh=T3Z5ejAOueJGHrY6)4.jpg "Girls in Perpignan")
From these results, we propose that WEs potentially exert enduring influence on the biology of S. Their variable occurrence in different strains, isolates, and species suggests that schistosome WEs may represent genetic factors taking effect on variability and evolution of the family Schistosomatidae. Previous studies described W-elements WEs as repeated, noncoding satellite-DNA of the large heterochromatic part of the female-specific W-chromosome of S.
