Originally published as Genetics Published Articles Ahead of Print on October 18, 2007.

Genetics, Vol. 177, 2553-2558, December 2007, Copyright © 2007
doi:10.1534/genetics.107.081109

Evolution and Horizontal Transfer of a DD37E DNA Transposon in Mosquitoes

Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

1 Corresponding author: Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 315 Fralin, W. Campus Dr., Blacksburg, VA 24061.
E-mail: jbiedler{at}vt.edu

ITmD37E, a unique class II transposable element (TE) with an ancient origin, appears to have been involved in multiple horizontal transfers in mosquitoes as ITmD37E sequences from 10 mosquito species of five genera share high nucleotide (nt) identities. For example, ITmD37E sequences from Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae, which have an estimated common ancestor of 145–200 million years ago, display 92% nt identity. The comparison of ITmD37E and host mosquito phylogenies shows a lack of congruence. The wide distribution of conserved ITmD37Es in mosquitoes and the presence of intact copies suggest that this element may have been recently active.