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TheTy1-copia group retrotransposons inVicia species: copy number, sequence heterogeneity and chromosomal localisation

Molecular and General Genetics MGG volume 250, pages 305–315 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

We present an in-depth study of theTy1-copia group of retrotransposons within the plant genusVicia, which contains species with widely differing genome sizes. We have compared the numbers and sequence heterogeneities of these genetic elements in three diploidVicia species chosen to represent large (V. faba, 1C=13.3 pg), medium (V. melanops, 1C=11.5 pg) and small (V. sativa, 1C=2.3 pg) genomes within the genus. The copy numbers of the retrotransposons are all high but vary greatly, withV. faba containing approximately 106 copies,V. melanops about 1000 copies andV. sativa 5000 copies. The degree of sequence heterogeneity ofTy1-copia group elements correlates with their copy number within each genome, but neither heterogeneity nor copy number are related to the genome size of the host. In situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes shows that the retrotransposons inV. faba are distributed throughout all chromosomes but are much less abundant in certain heterochromatic regions. These results are discussed in the context of plant retrotransposon evolution.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN, Dundee, UK

    S. R. Pearce, D. Li & A. J. Flavell

  2. Karyobiology Group, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, NR4 7UH, Norwich, UK

    G. Harrison & J. S. Heslop-Harrison

  3. Cell and Molecular Genetics Department, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, DD2 5DA, Dundee, UK

    A. Kumar

Authors
  1. S. R. Pearce
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  2. D. Li
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  3. A. J. Flavell
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  4. G. Harrison
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  5. J. S. Heslop-Harrison
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  6. A. Kumar
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Pearce, S.R., Li, D., Flavell, A.J. et al. TheTy1-copia group retrotransposons inVicia species: copy number, sequence heterogeneity and chromosomal localisation. Molec. Gen. Genet. 250, 305–315 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02174388

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02174388

Key words

  • copia
  • Vicia
  • Retrotransposon
  • Heterochromatin
  • Plant