title: Transposable element proliferation as a possible side effect of endosymbiont manipulations.
abstract: The mode of reproduction has been predicted to affect the proliferation of transposable elements (TEs). A population that switches from sexual to asexual reproduction could either accumulate TEs because purifying selection becomes less efficient, or a decrease in TE load because the opportunity for horizontal transmission is reduced. A third possibility is that the mechanism that induces asexual reproduction affects TE dynamics as a side effect. We propose two such mechanisms that might explain recently described patterns of TE abundance in sexual and asexual lineages of the parasitoid waspLeptopilina clavipes. Asexual reproduction in this species is induced by endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria. In order to achieve parthenogenesis in its host, Wolbachia might remove methylation or interfere with Argonaute proteins. Both methylation and Argonaute proteins are known to control TE activity in other species. By interfering with either, Wolbachia might therefore secondarily hamper the control of specific TEs.
authors.affiliation: Leiden Genome Technology Center; Leiden University Medical Center; Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kraaijeveld
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bast
keywords: Argonaute; asexual reproduction; methylation; sex; transposable elements
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