msechBari, a new MITE-like element inDrosophila sechelliarelated to theBaritransposon

Abstract

SummaryA few occurrences ofminiatureinverted-repeattransposableelements (MITEs) have been reported in species of the genusDrosophila. Here, we describemsechBari, a MITE-like element inDrosophila sechellia. The element is short, approximately 90 bp in length, AT-rich and occurs in association with, or close to, genes, characteristics that are typical for MITEs. The identification was performedin silicousing the sequenced genome ofD. sechelliaand confirmed in a laboratory strain. This short element is related to theBari_DMtransposon ofDrosophila melanogaster, havingterminalinvertedrepeats (TIRs) of a similar length and a high identity with the full-lengthBari_DMelement. The estimated recent origin of the element and the homogeneity observed between copies found in the genome suggests thatmsechBaricould be active inD. sechellia.