Genome-Wide Screening of Transposable Elements in the Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Revealed Insertions with Potential Insecticide Resistance Implications

Abstract

Transposable elements (TEs) are genetically mobile units that move from one site to another within a genome. These units can mediate regulatory changes that can result in massive changes in genes expression. In fact, a precise identification of TEs can allow the detection of the mechanisms involving these elements in gene regulation and genome evolution. In the present study, a genome-wide analysis of the Hemipteran pest Bemisia tabaci was conducted using bioinformatics tools to identify, annotate and estimate the age of TEs, in addition to their insertion sites, within or near of the defensome genes involved in insecticide resistance. Overall, 1,292,393 TE copies were identified in the B. tabaci genome grouped into 4872 lineages. A total of 699 lineages were found to belong to Class I of TEs, 1348 belong to Class II, and 2825 were uncategorized and form the largest part of TEs (28.81%). The TE age estimation revealed that the oldest TEs invasion happened 14 million years ago (MYA) and the most recent occurred 0.2 MYA with the insertion of Class II TE elements. The analysis of TE insertion sites in defensome genes revealed 94 insertions. Six of these TE insertions were found within or near previously identified differentially expressed insecticide resistance genes. These insertions may have a potential role in the observed insecticide resistance in these pests.

Acquisition of a single stranded DNA plant virus differentially alters methylation patterns in two cryptic species of a hemipteran vector

“…Exploring DNA methylation patterns in response to virus infection in B and Q cryptic species can shed light on potential evolutionary variations in gene regulation between the cryptic species of B. tabaci. Additionally, investigation of the methylation patterns within white y TEs could contribute to further describing the genetic landscape of B. tabaci and offer insights into its epigenetic mechanisms 43,44 . For this investigation, a common monopartite begomovirus viz., tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) was chosen.…”

Comparative Analysis of Transposable Elements Reveals the Diversity of Transposable Elements in Decapoda and Their Effects on Genomic Evolution

“…Class II TEs, also referred to as DNA transposons, transpose to new DNA sites through the mechanism of "cutting and insertion" (Zidi et al 2022;Flynn et al 2020). Another classi cation standard is based on the autonomous movement of TEs: TEs that can encode the enzyme needed for their own transposition are called autonomous TEs, whereas those that lack the ability to encode the above enzymes are termed nonautonomous TEs (Wells and Feschotte 2020).…”