title: Diversity, distribution, and significance of transposable elements in the genome of the only selfing hermaphroditic vertebrate Kryptolebias marmoratus.
abstract: The Kryptolebias marmoratus is unique because it is the only self-fertilizing hermaphroditic vertebrate, known to date. It primarily reproduces by internal self-fertilization in a mixed ovary/testis gonad. Here, we report on a high-quality genome assembly for the K. marmoratus South Korea (SK) strain highlighting the diversity and distribution of transposable elements (TEs). We find that K. marmoratus genome maintains number and composition of TEs. This can be an important genomic attribute promoting genome recombination in this selfing fish, while, in addition to a mixed mating strategy, it may also represent a mechanism contributing to the evolutionary adaptation to ecological pressure of the species. Future work should help clarify this point further once genomic information is gathered for other taxa of the family Rivulidae that do not self-fertilize. We provide a valuable genome resource that highlights the potential impact of TEs on the genome evolution of a fish species with an uncommon life cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Science, College of Natural Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Phyzen Genomics Institute, Seoul 08787, South Korea.
authors.forename: Beom-Soon
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, College of Animal Bioscience &Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaebum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Mi
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Polar Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, South Korea.
authors.forename: Il-Chan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furocho Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanamori
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture and Life Industry, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ik-Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Physiological Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Clinic Würzburg, Josef Schneider Straße 6, 98074 Würzburg, Germany, and Institute for Advanced Studies and Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schartl
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Seong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes / Q000235:genetics*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016678:Genome; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements