In the August issue of Genome Biology and Evolution, the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-UPF) researchers Lidia Mateo and Josefa González reported that pogo-like transposases have been domesticated into CENP-B (centromere associated protein B) related proteins at least three independent times in metazoa. Previously thought to be restricted to mammals and fission yeast, researchers showed that CENP-B related proteins are also found in Drosophila and other insects. Phylogenetic analyses of the newly discovered domesticated proteins revealed that at least three independent domestications of pogo-like transposases ocurred in metazoans. These results highlight the role of transposable elements as raw material for the recurrent evolution of important cellular functions and suggest that the numerous transposable element exaptations already described might just be the tip of the iceberg.

Reference Article:

Mateo, L., Gonzalez, J. 2014. Pogo-like Transposases Have Been Repeatedly Domesticated into CENP-B-Related Proteins. Genome Biology and Evolution. Vol6 2008-2016. Ahead of print: doi:10.1093/gbe/evu153