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Repetitive DNA

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 1247

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: repetitive DNA sequences; satellite DNA; transposable elements; heterochromatin; NGS; satellitome; repeatome; genome biology; genome evolution, bivalves, insects
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: repetitive DNA sequences; satellite DNAs; mobile elements; heterochromatin; centromere; telomere; satellitome; evolution of repetitive sequences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: satellite DNA; repetitive DNA sequences; genome evolution; centromeres; telomeres; plastomes; mitogenomes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Repetitive DNA sequences, a major component of eukaryotic genomes, play important roles in genome structure, function, and evolution. These sequences, including satellite DNAs, transposable elements, and multigene families, contribute to genome complexity in many ways. Repetitive DNA sequences influence chromosomal architecture, participate in genome rearrangements, modulate gene expression, and serve as constitutive components of centromeres, telomeres, heterochromatin, as well as euchromatin. The dynamic nature of repetitive DNA sequences makes them vital to understanding evolutionary processes. Advances in genome sequencing and bioinformatics approaches, in combination with chromatin immunoprecipitation, RNA-seq, cytogenetic and phylogenetic studies, further our ability to analyze repetitive regions, revealing their evolutionary history, organization, functions, and structural roles. By integrating diverse approaches and different omics studies, researchers continue to uncover the diverse contributions and significance of repetitive DNA sequences. This Special Issue invites submissions of articles on different topics that advance our knowledge on repetitive DNA sequences and their influence on genome biology and evolution.

Dr. Eva Šatović-Vukšić
Prof. Dr. Miroslav Plohl
Prof. Dr. Manuel A. Garrido-Ramos
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • repetitive DNA sequences
  • satellite DNA
  • transposable elements
  • heterochromatin
  • centromere
  • satellitome
  • repeatome
  • cytogenetics
  • phylogenetics
  • transcription
  • ChIP
  • bioinformatics
  • genome biology
  • genome evolution

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 9238 KiB  
Article
DNA Methylation and Alternative Splicing Safeguard Genome and Transcriptome After a Retrotransposition Burst in Arabidopsis thaliana
by Pavel Merkulov, Anastasiia Latypova, Kirill Tiurin, Melania Serganova and Ilya Kirov
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(10), 4816; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104816 - 17 May 2025
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Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are major drivers of plant genome plasticity, but the immediate molecular consequences of new TE insertions remain poorly understood. In this study, we generated a wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana population with novel insertions of ONSEN retrotransposon to investigate early epigenomic and [...] Read more.
Transposable elements (TEs) are major drivers of plant genome plasticity, but the immediate molecular consequences of new TE insertions remain poorly understood. In this study, we generated a wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana population with novel insertions of ONSEN retrotransposon to investigate early epigenomic and transcriptomic changes using whole-genome and cDNA nanopore sequencing. We found that novel ONSEN insertions were distributed non-randomly, with a strong preference for genic regions, particularly in chromatin enriched for H2A.Z, H3K27me3, and H3K4me2. Most full-length ONSEN insertions within genes were rapidly recognized and spliced out as new introns (intronization), thereby mitigating potential deleterious effects on transcript isoforms. In some cases, ONSEN insertions provided alternative transcription start or termination sites, generating novel transcript isoforms. Genome-wide methylation analysis revealed that new ONSEN copies were efficiently and precisely targeted by DNA methylation. Independently on the location of the original ONSEN element, the euchromatic and heterochromatic insertions display distinct methylation signatures, reflecting the action of different epigenetic pathways. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that DNA methylation and alternative splicing are effective control mechanisms safeguarding the plant genome and transcriptome integrity after retrotransposition burst. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Repetitive DNA)
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19 pages, 3283 KiB  
Article
Evolution of ZW Sex Chromosomes in Ptyas Snakes (Reptilia, Colubridae): New Insights from a Molecular Cytogenetic Perspective
by Príncia Grejo Setti, Tariq Ezaz, Geize Aparecida Deon, Ricardo Utsunomia, Alongklod Tanomtong, Sukhonthip Ditcharoen, Nattasuda Donbundit, Montri Sumontha, Kriengkrai Seetapan, Phichaya Buasriyot, Krit Pinthong, Weera Thongnetr, Natália dos Santos, Fábio Porto-Foresti, Thomas Liehr and Marcelo de Bello Cioffi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(10), 4540; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104540 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 781
Abstract
Snakes are cytogenetically dynamic, characterized by largely conserved diploid chromosome numbers although displaying varied variable evolutionary stages of their sex chromosomes. This study examined four snakes, with a special focus on the genus Ptyas, to provide evolutionary insights into the evolution of [...] Read more.
Snakes are cytogenetically dynamic, characterized by largely conserved diploid chromosome numbers although displaying varied variable evolutionary stages of their sex chromosomes. This study examined four snakes, with a special focus on the genus Ptyas, to provide evolutionary insights into the evolution of ZW sex chromosomes. We performed an extensive karyotype characterization using conventional and molecular cytogenetic approaches, described for the first time the karyotype of Ptyas korros, and revisited the karyotype descriptions of P. mucosa, Chrysopelea ornata, and Fowlea flavipunctatus. We found that all species except F. flavipunctatus have highly heterochromatic W chromosomes enriched in satDNAs or microsatellite repeats. Repetitive sequences accumulate with the heterochromatinization of the W chromosome but are not necessarily associated with this process, demonstrating the dynamic makeup of snake sex chromosomes. Autosomal locus-specific and sex chromosome probes from Pogona vitticeps and Varanus acanthurus did not show hybridization signals in Ptyas snakes, suggesting divergent evolutionary pathways. This finding highlighted the dynamic nature of sex chromosome evolution in snakes, which occurred independently in lizards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Repetitive DNA)
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