title: Tmt1: the first LTR-retrotransposon from a Tuber spp.
abstract: Retrotransposons are suitable targets for developing molecular markers for population genetics studies. Transposable elements have not yet been isolated from ectomycorrhizal fungi of the genus Tuber. In this paper, we report on the isolation and characterization of Tmt1, an LTR-retrotransposon from Tuber melanosporum. The Tmt1 sequence shows relatedness to Ty3/gypsy retrotransposons from which it differentiates for the presence of a dUTPase extra-domain between protease and reverse transcriptase. Phylogenetic analyses suggest a horizontal transfer of the dUTPase gene (dut) from a fungal host genome. The presence of non-identical LTRs and degenerate ORFs substantiate an ancient integration of Tmt1 in T. melanosporum genome. Furthermore, transcripts analyses proved an inactive status of Tmt1, whereas Southern analysis showed that Tmt1 is a repetitive T. melanosporum species-specific element. Tmt1-based markers will help us to gain more insights into population biology in this fungal species.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Plant Genetics Institute-Perugia, Perugia Division, Via Madonna Alta 130, 06128 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riccioni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belfiori
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Passeri
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paolocci
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arcioni
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000235:genetics*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D016681:Genome, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000235:genetics; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D018626:Retroelements / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D020079:Terminal Repeat Sequences
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018626:Retroelements; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D011755:Pyrophosphatases; C020020:dUTP pyrophosphatase