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Retrosequence formation restructures the yeast genome

Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Wadsworth Center, and Department of Biomedical Sciences University at Albany School of Public Health, Albany, New York 12201; USA

Retrosequences generated by reverse transcription of mRNA transcripts have a substantial influence on gene expression patterns, generation of novel gene functions, and genome organization. The Ty1 retrotransposon is a major source of RT activity in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Ty1 retromobility is greatly elevated in strains lacking telomerase. We report that Ty1-dependent formation of retrosequences derived from single-copy gene transcripts is progressively elevated as yeast cells senesce in the absence of telomerase. Retrosequences are frequently fused to Ty1 sequences, and occasionally to sequences from other mRNA transcripts, forming chimeric pseudogenes. Efficient retrosequence formation requires the homologous recombination gene RAD52. Selection for retrosequence formation is correlated with a high frequency of chromosome rearrangements in telomerase-negative yeast. Ty1-associated retrosequences were present at the breakpoint junctions of four chromosomes analyzed in detail. Our results support a role for reverse transcripts in promoting chromosome rearrangements.

[Keywords: Retrosequence; pseudogene; Ty1; telomeres; Saccharomyces cerevisiae]]

Received August 14, 2007; revised version accepted October 17, 2007.

E-MAIL curcio{at}wadsworth.org; FAX (518) 474-3181.

Supplemental material is available at http://www.genesdev.org.

Article is online at http://www.genesdev.org/cgi/doi/10.1101/gad.1604707

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