title: Phylogenomic analysis reveals genome-wide purifying selection on TBE transposons in the ciliate Oxytricha.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transposable elements are a major player contributing to genetic variation and shaping genome evolution. Multiple independent transposon domestication events have occurred in ciliates, recruiting transposases to key roles in cellular processes. In the ciliate Oxytricha trifallax, the telomere-bearing elements (TBE), a Tc1/mariner transposon, occupy a significant portion of the germline genome and are involved in programmed genome rearrangements that produce a transcriptionally active somatic nucleus from a copy of the germline nucleus during development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we provide a thorough characterization of the distribution and sequences of TBE transposons in the Oxytricha germline genome. We annotate more than 10,000 complete and 24,000 partial TBE sequences. TBEs cluster into four major families and display a preference for either insertion into DNA segments that are retained in the somatic genome or their maintenance at such sites. The three TBE-encoded genes in all four families display dN/dS ratios much lower than 1, suggesting genome-wide purifying selection. We also identify TBE homologs in other ciliate species for phylogenomic analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper provides genome-wide characterization of a major class of ciliate transposons. Phylogenomic analysis reveals selective constraints on transposon-encoded genes, shedding light on the evolution and domesticated functions of these transposons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA.
authors.forename: Laura F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Landweber
keywords: Ciliates; Genome rearrangement; Purifying selection; Transposable element; Transposon domestication
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