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. 2011 Jan 31;3:156–167. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evr005

Transposable Element Proliferation and Genome Expansion Are Rare in Contemporary Sunflower Hybrid Populations Despite Widespread Transcriptional Activity of LTR Retrotransposons

Takeshi Kawakami 1, Preeti Dhakal 1, Angela N Katterhenry 1, Chelsea A Heatherington 2, Mark C Ungerer 1,*
PMCID: PMC3048363  PMID: 21282712

Abstract

Hybridization is a natural phenomenon that has been linked in several organismal groups to transposable element derepression and copy number amplification. A noteworthy example involves three diploid annual sunflower species from North America that have arisen via ancient hybridization between the same two parental taxa, Helianthus annuus and H. petiolaris. The genomes of the hybrid species have undergone large-scale increases in genome size attributable to long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon proliferation. The parental species that gave rise to the hybrid taxa are widely distributed, often sympatric, and contemporary hybridization between them is common. Natural H. annuus × H. petiolaris hybrid populations likely served as source populations from which the hybrid species arose and, as such, represent excellent natural experiments for examining the potential role of hybridization in transposable element derepression and proliferation in this group. In the current report, we examine multiple H. annuus × H. petiolaris hybrid populations for evidence of genome expansion, LTR retrotransposon copy number increases, and LTR retrotransposon transcriptional activity. We demonstrate that genome expansion and LTR retrotransposon proliferation are rare in contemporary hybrid populations, despite independent proliferation events that took place in the genomes of the ancient hybrid species. Interestingly, LTR retrotransposon lineages that proliferated in the hybrid species genomes remain transcriptionally active in hybrid and nonhybrid genotypes across the entire sampling area. The finding of transcriptional activity but not copy number increases in hybrid genotypes suggests that proliferation and genome expansion in contemporary hybrid populations may be mitigated by posttranscriptional mechanisms of repression.

Keywords: hybridization, transposable elements, derepression, genome evolution, repetitive DNA

Introduction

Transposable elements are DNA sequences that can mobilize and replicate within the genome of their host. Two major classes of elements are recognized based on the nature of the transposition intermediate and mechanism of mobilization (Wicker et al. 2007). Class I elements transpose via an RNA intermediate transcribed from an existing element; intermediates are reverse transcribed prior to insertion at a new location. The class II elements transpose via a DNA intermediate that is either excised from its existing location via double-stranded cleavage followed by subsequent insertion elsewhere or by a phenomenon involving transposition in which only a single strand is cleaved (e.g., rolling circle replication, [Kapitonov and Jurka 2001]). The vast amounts of genome sequence data now available for a large and growing number of organisms coupled with rapid advances in analytical approaches for detecting repetitive elements have greatly facilitated studies of transposable element biology (Saha et al. 2008; Feschotte et al. 2009; Pritham 2009; Lerat 2010). Consequently, our understanding of these sequences and their potential roles in shaping genome evolution has grown significantly in recent years (Pritham 2009; Tenaillon et al. 2010).

Class I elements are particularly relevant in evolutionary analyses of genome size and structure because of their proliferative mode of replication. Autonomous long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are the most abundant Class I elements in plants and are subdivided into two superfamilies known as Ty3/Gypsy-like and Ty1/Copia-like (Kumar and Bennetzen 1999). These superfamilies display similar structural features (e.g., flanking LTRs in direct orientation, presence of GAG and POL genes) but represent separate ancient lineages diverged at the sequence level and that differ with regard to domain order within POL. Despite their proliferative capacity, transcriptional and/or transpositional activity of most Class I elements is repressed by the host genome through a combination of epigenetic mechanisms involving both transcriptional and posttranscriptional controls (Zilberman and Henikoff 2004; Slotkin and Martienssen 2007; Lisch 2009). Because of the highly mutagenic consequences of unchecked transposition, historical selection likely has been strong for the maintenance of these host repression mechanisms. Under certain genomic and environmental conditions, however, host repression may fail, resulting in large-scale and episodic activation and proliferation (Wessler 1996; Grandbastien 1998; Lisch 2009).

Hybridization is a naturally occurring phenomenon shown in some species to be associated with derepression of LTR retrotransposons (Waugh O'Neill et al. 1998; Labrador et al. 1999; Metcalfe et al. 2007; Lisch 2009; Michalak 2009). The molecular basis of hybridization-induced element derepression is not fully understood but likely involves disruption of one or more host repression systems as a consequence of merging differentiated genomes. A potential example of such derepression involves three annual sunflower species from North America. These species (Helianthus anomalus, H. deserticola, and H. paradoxus) arose via ancient hybridization events between the same two extant sunflower parental species, H. annuus and H. petiolaris. The hybrid species independently have undergone massive proliferation events of Ty3/gypsy-like elements and, to a lesser extent, Ty1/copia-like elements (Ungerer et al. 2006, 2009; Staton et al. 2009; Kawakami et al. 2010). These proliferation events occurred in recent evolutionary time, as evidenced both by the young ages of the hybrid species (Schwarzbach and Rieseberg 2002; Welch and Rieseberg 2002; Gross et al. 2003) and by estimates of proliferation events themselves (Ungerer et al. 2009).

Because of their broad geographic and often sympatric distributions, natural hybridization between H. annuus and H. petiolaris remains an ongoing and common phenomenon in wild populations. Contemporary H. annuus × H. petiolaris hybrid populations typically consist of a mixture of genotypes ranging from early generation hybrid to advanced backcross individuals and display a broad array of hybrid index scores (Rieseberg et al. 1998, 1999). Natural zones of hybridization likely served as sources for the establishment and evolution of the hybrid species and, as such, represent excellent natural laboratories to examine genome dynamics of hybridization, including the potential role of hybridization in transposable element derepression and proliferation.

In the current report, we examine whether natural hybridization between H. annuus × H. petiolaris may be a catalyst for transposable element derepression and genome expansion. We demonstrate that, despite massive proliferation events in the genomes of all three sunflower hybrid species, natural hybridization between the two parental species is not, in-and-of-itself, a major trigger of transposable element proliferation, and that genome size increases in hybrid genotypes are rare. Interestingly, however, we detect widespread transcriptional activity of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia sequences in both hybrid and nonhybrid genotypes. These results suggest posttranscriptional mechanisms of repression may be preventing further copy number amplification of these sequences in wild sunflower populations.

Materials and Methods

Plant Materials

During the summer of 2008, seeds were collected from naturally occurring H. annuus × H. petiolaris hybrid populations and nearby (within ∼1 km) stands of “pure” H. annuus and H. petiolaris from several locations in the central, western, and southwestern United States (table 1). At two locations (Keith Co., Nebraska and Quay Co., New Mexico), two or three nearby but distinct hybrid populations were identified and sampled. The two hybrid populations from Keith Co. were the focus of previous studies by Rieseberg et al. (1998, 1999). The remaining hybrid populations were newly identified for the current study.

Table 1.

Location of Populations Used in This Experiment and the Number of Individuals Sampled in Various Assays

County, State Population NFC NQ-PCR NRT-PCR Latitude (N), Longitude (W)
El Paso Co., Colorado ElP-A Helianthus annuus 30 8 2 38.8679, 104.6832
ElP-HP1 Hybrid population 27 10 4 38.9116, 104.6276
ElP-P H. petioralis 24 8 2 38.9115, 104.6031
Keith Co., Nebraska Kei-A H. annuus 20 9 2 41.3268, 101.7258
Kei-HP1 Hybrid population 30 8 4 41.2507, 101.6828
Kei-HP2 Hybrid population 29 6 — 41.1638, 101.6890
Kei-P H. petioralis 24 10 2 41.2578, 101.6942
Sandoval Co., New Mexico San-A H. annuus 29 10 2 36.1474, 107.2641
San-HP1 Hybrid population 26 9 4 36.1098, 107.1767
San-P H. petioralis 25 8 2 36.1861, 107.3717
Quay Co., New Mexico Qu-A H. annuus 25 7 2 35.1104, 103.2942
Qu-HP1 Hybrid population 27 8 4 35.1266, 103.2440
Qu-HP2 Hybrid population 27 9 — 35.1140, 103.2611
Qu-HP3 Hybrid population 26 9 — 35.1140, 103.2479
Qu-P H. petioralis 30 8 2 35.1551, 103.2434
Barton Co., Kansas Bar-A H. annuus 25 11 2 38.4155, 98.6568
Bar-HP1 Hybrid population 30 20 3 38.3552, 98.6636
Bar-P H. petioralis 27 11 2 38.3414, 98.6641
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NOTE.—NFC, Number of individuals for which estimates of genome size were determined by flow cytometry; NQ-PCR, number of individuals for which estimates of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia abundance were determined by Q-PCR. These individuals also were genotyped at 22 SSR loci to determine hybrid index scores; NRT-PCR, number of individuals sampled in transcriptional assays of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia sequences.

At each hybrid and parental population, seeds were collected from mature capitula on 20∼30 plants in the field. Seeds were transported to Kansas State University and germinated in the dark on moist filter paper in Petri dishes. Seedlings were transferred to 4-inch pots and allowed to grow in the Kansas State University greenhouses until suitable size for the harvesting and processing of leaf tissue for 1) genome size determination via flow cytometry and 2) DNA extraction for estimation of transposable element numerical abundance via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microsatellite analyses of hybridity. DNA was extracted using a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen) following the manufacturer’s instructions. Sample sizes for the different experimental assays of hybrid and nonhybrid genotypes are indicated in table 1.

Microsatellite Assay

Natural H. annuus × H. petiolaris hybrid populations can be identified phenotypically as they consist of individuals displaying a range of phenotypes spanning the variability across the two species, with many individuals showing intermediate characteristics. However, to 1) confirm these hybrid populations as such and 2) examine aspect of genome size and LTR retrotransposon copy number variation in relation to hybrid index scores, we genotyped subsets of individuals from hybrid populations and nearby stands of parental species at 22 previously developed microsatellite loci (supplementary table S1, Supplementary Material online). For the microsatellite assays, we utilized an M13-tailed primer protocol (Schuelke 2000) with four possible fluorophores (NED, FAM, VIC, and PET). PCR reactions were performed in 15 μl volumes consisting of 1× PCR buffer (Promega), 2.5 mM MgCl2, 200 μM of each dNTP, 50 nM of a forward M13-tailed primer, 50 nM of a M13 dye-labeled primer (5'-ACGACGTTGTAAAACGAC), 100 nM reverse primer, 1 unit of Taq polymerase, and 2–12 ng of template DNA.

PCR was conducted on an MJ Research PTC-100 thermal cycler using the following touchdown procedure: initial denaturing at 95 °C for 5 min; followed by 5 cycles of 95 °C for 45 s, 68 °C for 5 min (−2 °C/cycle), 72 °C for 1 min; followed by 5 cycles of 95 °C for 45 s, 58 °C for 2 min (−2 °C/cycle), 72 °C for 1 min; followed by 25 cycles of 95 °C for 45 s, 50 °C for 2 min, 72 °C for 1 min; and a final extension of 72 °C for 5 min. PCR was conducted separately for each locus but with amplification products of 3–4 loci (each utilizing a different dye) subsequently pooled for coloading on an ABI 3730 DNA Analyzer. Raw data were scored using GeneMarker software Version 1.85 (SoftGenetics). Hybrid index scores were determined for each hybrid population using the program HINDEX V 1.42 (Buerkle 2005) with parental allele frequencies estimated from nearby stands of H. annuus and H. petiolaris populations.

Genome Size Determination

Nuclear DNA content (2C genome size) was estimated using a FACSCalibur flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson). A minimum of 10,000 nuclei was analyzed per sample. To prepare samples for assay, fresh leaves (50 mg) were chopped with razor blades in a buffer containing 15 mM N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid, 1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 80 mM KCl, 20 mM NaCl, 300 mM sucrose, 0.2% Triton-X, 0.5 mM spermine, 0.1% b-mercaptoethanol (modified after Bino et al. 1993), filtered through 30-mm nylon mesh, and then centrifuged to collect nuclei. The samples were stained for 2 h with 700 ml of intercalating propidium iodide solution (BioSure) and 2 ml of an internal standard solution containing chicken erythrocyte nuclei (CEN; BioSure). Duplicate analyses were conducted for a subset of individuals from hybrid populations (5∼6 individuals per population) to determine the repeatability and precision of the estimates.

Because considerable variation can exist in reported 2C values of CEN among studies (reviewed in Bennett and Leitch 1995 and references therein), we estimated 2C value of CEN by using H. deserticola (one of the sunflower hybrid species) as an external standard. Leaves from H. deserticola (n = 4 plants, Ames 26094; United States Department of Agriculture [USDA], National Plant Germplasm System [NPGS]) were analyzed with the method described above. The analysis was duplicated on two different days. Mean peak positions of CEN relative to H. deserticola nuclei (2C = 10.79 pg, [Baack et al. 2005]) gave an estimated 2C value of CEN = 2.689 pg (standard deviation [SD] = 0.152). To validate that this 2C value of CEN yields appropriate genome size estimates of samples, 2C genome size of H. anomalus (Ames 26095; USDA, NPGS) also was estimated. Our estimate of 2C genome size of H. anomalus (2C = 11.03∼11.83, n = 2) was consistent with a previous report for this species (2C = 11.46 pg, [Baack et al. 2005]). The appropriateness of the 2C value of CEN in our experiment was thus confirmed. The same CEN batch was utilized for genome size estimates of all samples reported in this study.

LTR Retrotransposon Copy Number Estimation

Copy number estimates of specific lineages of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia LTR retrotransposons in the genomes of hybrid and pure parental individuals were estimated via quantitative PCR using a standard curve method described in Ungerer et al. (2006) and Kawakami et al. (2010). Briefly, a 168 bp Ty3/gypsy integrase (Int) fragment and a 230 bp Ty1/copia RNase H fragment were generated by standard PCR using genomic DNA of H. annuus with the following primers: forward, 5′-TTATGCATTGCTTGCCAAAG-3′, and reverse, 5′-TCGACTCACCAAGTCTGCAC-3′ for Ty3/gypsy Int domain, and forward, 5'-TCTCAGAACCTCGGCAATCT-3', and reverse, 5'-GGCGAGCAAAAGAGAAAATG-3', for Ty1/copia RNase H domain. These fragments were cloned using a StrataClone PCR Cloning Kit (Agilent Technologies). The concentration of isolated plasmids (and insert) was determined by a NanoDrop spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific), and plasmid number per unit volume was estimated. A 5-fold dilution series of the cloned fragments was utilized (50, 10, 2, 0.4, and 0.08 pg/μl) to generate standard curves that were used to estimate absolute abundances of elements in our samples.

Quantitative PCR assays were performed using 1 μl of cloned DNA for standard curves or sample DNA (standardized to 80 pg/μl) with an iCycler iQ™ quantitative PCR system (Bio-Rad). Each reaction was performed in duplicate using the iQ™ SYBR Green Supermix kit (Bio-Rad) following the manufacturers protocols, with the exception that reactions were conducted in 25 μl volumes. PCR efficiency for the standard curve exceeded 96%. Copy number estimates were converted to copy number per genome using mean C-values for H. annuus and H. petiolaris estimated from several populations (Baack et al. 2005). The average C-value for H. annuus and H. petiolaris (6.96 pg) was used for hybrid individuals. Assays of LTR retrotransposon copy number were conducted on the same set of individuals that were genotyped with microsatellite markers, with the exception of individuals from the Barton Co. Kansas sampling location.

Statistical Analysis

Estimated nuclear DNA content and copy number estimates of Ty3/gypsy-like and Ty1/copia-like sequences were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Particular hybrid individuals exhibiting elevated nuclear DNA content or high copy number estimates of Ty3/gypsy or Ty1/copia elements were subjected to the Dixon outlier detection test (Verma and Quiroz-Ruiz 2006). Correlation between nuclear DNA content and copy numbers of Ty3/gypsy-like or Ty1/copia-like sequences was examined by Pearson product-moment correlations. All statistical analyses were performed in the software JMP 7.0.1 (SAS institute).

Transcriptional Assays

Transcriptional assays of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia elements were conducted using the AccessQuick reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR System (Promega). The same primer pairs used to estimate genomic copy numbers of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia elements (see above) were utilized in assays of transcriptional activity of these retrotransposons. Primers targeting the 18s rRNA subunit (forward, 5'-CTTCGGGATCGGAGTAATGA-3', and reverse, 5'-CTAAGAAGCTGGCCATGGAG-3') were used for positive control reactions. To test for genomic DNA contamination of RNA, negative control reactions were performed by withholding the AMV RT. RT-PCR amplification was carried out by incubating at 45 °C for 45 min for the reverse transcription step, followed by one cycle of 95 °C for 2 min, 22 cycles (94 °C for 30 s; 56 °C for 30 s; and 72 °C for 60 s), and a final incubation cycle at 72 °C for 5 min. The amplified products were size-separated via electrophoresis in 2% agarose gels and visualized with ethidium bromide. Total RNA was extracted using TRIzol (Invitrogen) and purified with a RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen) following the manufacturer’s instructions. RNA was treated with RNase-Free DNase (Qiagen) to eliminate genomic DNA contamination.

RT-PCR amplified cDNA fragments of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia were cloned from one H. annuus, H. petiolaris, and hybrid individual from the Barton County, KS location using a StrataClone PCR Cloning Kit. From 7 to 10 clones, per element per individual were sequenced on an ABI 3730XL DNA Analyzer (Applied Biosystems). DNA polymorphisms and sequence diversity indices were estimated using DnaSP ver. 5 (Librado and Rozas 2009).

Results

Genome Size Estimates in Hybrid and Nonhybrid Genotypes

At each of the five regional sampling locations (table 1), individuals from H. annuus populations consistently exhibit higher mean 2C values than those from H. petiolaris populations (7.31 ± 0.424 – 7.69 ± 0.247 for H. annuus vs. 6.66 ± 0.192 – 7.29 ± 0.234 for H. petiolaris) (fig. 1; table 2). At those same locations, individuals from hybrid populations display 2C values largely intermediate between those observed for H. annuus and H. petiolaris (fig. 1, table 2), indicating that large-scale genome expansion in individuals from hybrid populations is rare. Significant differences in 2C values among H. annuus, H. petiolaris, and the hybrid populations were found at all sampling locations (table 2). Variance in 2C values typically was greater in hybrid populations than in populations of parental species, suggesting that a diversity of hybrid genotypes likely exists within the hybrid populations sampled. Several individuals from the Quay County, NM, hybrid population and a single individual from the El Paso County, CO, hybrid population exhibit 2C values that exceed values observed for either parental species. These values, however, were only slightly higher than the maximum values observed for H. annuus individuals. The Dixon outlier detection test (Verma and Quiroz-Ruiz 2006) failed to identify these values as significant outliers (P > 0.05).

FIG. 1.

FIG. 1.

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Estimates of nuclear DNA content (2C genome size) for individuals in natural Helianthus annuus × H. petiolaris hybrid populations (HP-x) and nearby stands of pure H. annuus and H. petiolaris. Data are shown for five different sampling locations (subpanels A–E). Lower case letters indicate results of Turkey–Kramer HSD post hoc tests. Number of individuals sampled: n = 129 for H. annuus, n = 130 for H. petiolaris, and n = 222 for individuals from hybrid populations.

Table 2.

Estimates of Nuclear DNA Content and Copy Numbers of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia Sequences in Individuals from Helianthus annuus, H. petiolaris, and Natural Hybrid Populations

County Nuclear DNA Content (pg/2C Genome) Ty3/gypsy Copy Number Ty1/copia Copy Number
Population Mean SD F P Mean SD F P Mean SD F P
El Paso Co., Colorado ElP-A H. annuus 7.32 0.274 30.141 <0.0001 53,369 3,609 34.541 <0.0001 57,134 3,915 26.517 <0.0001
ElP-HP1 Hybrids 7.04 0.426 26,019 3,228 30,292 3,502
ElP-P H. petioralis 6.66 0.192 9,804 3,609 25,131 3,915
Keith Co., Nebraska Kei-A H. annuus 7.31 0.424 7.326 0.0002 62,376 3,403 31.213 <0.0001 53,261 3,691 11.029 <0.0001
Kei-HP1 Hybrids 6.95 0.376 13,457 3,609 23,957 3,915
Kei-HP2 Hybrids 7.03 0.275 35,495 4,168 23,422 4,521
Kei-P H. petioralis 6.85 0.276 12,187 3,228 29,565 3,502
Sandoval Co., New Mexico San-A H. annuus 7.38 0.253 27.182 <0.0001 37,664 3,228 27.163 <0.0001 21,590 3,691 22.646 <0.0001
San-HP1 Hybrids 7.09 0.345 24,454 3,403 21,889 3,691
San-P H. petioralis 6.79 0.277 12,249 3,609 14,626 3,915
Quay Co., New Mexico Qu-A H. annuus 7.69 0.247 7.365 <0.0001 34,288 3,858 6.382 0.0005 36,446 3,502 3.354 0.0197
Qu-HP1 Hybrids 7.67 0.345 22,658 3,609 23,914 3,691
Qu-HP2 Hybrids 7.50 0.387 24,177 3,403 14,135 3,915
Qu-HP3 Hybrids 7.39 0.435 16,784 3,403 35,302 4,186
Qu-P H. petioralis 7.29 0.234 7,243 3,609 21,356 3,915
Barton Co., Kansas Bar-A H. annuus 7.50 0.425 35.55 <0.0001 39,492 3,078 39.923 <0.0001 56,944 3,339 11.677 0.0001
Bar-HP1 Hybrids 7.33 0.398 32,176 2,283 46,991 2,476
Bar-P H. petioralis 6.72 0.202 8,259 3,078 30,929 3,339
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Within parental species, mean 2C values were significantly different among the five regional sampling locations (H. annuus: ANOVA, F4,124 = 5.98, P = 0.0002; H. petiolaris: ANOVA, F4,125 = 31.39, P < 0.0001). Mean 2C values also were significantly different among hybrid populations across the sampling area (ANOVA, F7,214 = 13.44, P < 0.0001). Populations of H. annuus and H. petiolaris from Quay County, NM, displayed the highest species-specific mean 2C values. Correspondingly, hybrid populations from this location also displayed higher 2C values than hybrid populations from other locations.

LTR Retrotransposon Copy Number Estimates in Hybrid and Nonhybrid Genotypes

Because flow cytometry may lack sensitivity to detect genome size changes associated with smaller-scale increases in LTR retrotransposon copy numbers, we performed quantitative PCR assays of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia copy number abundance in a subset of hybrid individuals and nonhybrid individuals across the five regional collection locations. In previous reports (Ungerer et al. 2006; Kawakami et al. 2010), we identified specific sublineages of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia that have undergone proliferation events in the hybrid sunflower species. Copy number estimates of these same lineages were determined for 6–20 individuals from each hybrid population and nearby stands of pure H. annuus and H. petiolaris. In accordance with observations of overall genome size (fig. 1), H. annuus individuals displayed a higher average abundance of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia sequences compared with H. petiolaris (fig. 2, table 2), with estimates for hybrid populations again generally intermediate. A single hybrid individual from the Barton County, KS, population was identified with a copy number estimate of Ty3/gypsy that exceeded those observed for either parental species; however, this individual was not identified as an outlier (Dixon outlier test, P > 0.05). None of the hybrid individuals with slightly or moderately elevated 2C values (see fig. 1A and D) had correspondingly elevated copy number estimates of Ty3/gypsy and/or Ty1/copia sequences. Population-level differences in copy numbers of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia sequences were found for H. annuus (Ty3/gypsy: ANOVA, F4,40 = 8.02, P < 0.0001; Ty1/copia: ANOVA, F4,40 = 4.72, P = 0.0032), H. petiolaris (Ty3/gypsy: ANOVA, F4,40 = 6.29, P = 0.0005; Ty1/copia: ANOVA, F4,40 = 10.60, P < 0.0001), and for the hybrid populations (Ty3/gypsy: ANOVA, F7,71 = 3.74, P = 0.0017; Ty1/copia: ANOVA, F7,71 = 11.77, P < 0.0001).

FIG. 2.

FIG. 2.

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Estimates of genome copy number abundance of Ty3/gypsy-like and Ty1/copia-like sequences for individuals in natural Helianthus annuus × H. petiolaris hybrid populations (HP-x) and nearby stands of pure H. annuus and H. petiolaris. Data are shown for five different sampling locations (subpanels A–E). Lower case letters indicate results of Turkey–Kramer HSD post hoc tests. Number of individuals sampled: n = 45 for H. annuus, n = 45 for H. petiolaris, and n = 79 for individuals from hybrid populations.

LTR Retrotransposon Copy Number Estimates and Hybrid Index Scores

Given differences in copy number abundance of retrotransposons between H. annuus and H. petiolaris (fig. 2) and given the lack of evidence of copy number amplification in individuals from hybrid populations (figs. 1 and 2), copy number estimates of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia sequences in individuals from hybrid populations are expected to be correlated with hybrid index scores, which estimate the relative proportion of H. petiolaris versus H. annuus DNA in the genome. Figure 3 depicts the relationship between copy number abundance and hybrid index score for Ty3/gypsy (fig. 3A) and Ty1/copia (fig. 3B) elements where hybrid index values of 0 and 1 represent H. petiolaris-like and H. annuus-like genotypes, respectively. Consistent with expectations, higher copy number estimates are associated with hybrid index scores closer to 1 (more H. annuus-like) for both superfamilies, although this relationship is stronger for Ty3/gypsy (fig. 3).

FIG. 3.

FIG. 3.

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Genomic copy number estimates of Ty3/gypsy (A) and Ty1/copia (B) elements as a function of hybrid index score for 59 hybrid individuals from four different regional sampling locations. Hybrid index scores range from 0 (H. petiolaris-like) to 1 (Helianthus annuus-like). Individuals from the Barton Co. Kansas site were not included in this analysis (see Materials and Methods).

LTR Retrotransposon Expression Assays

Transcriptional activity of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia elements was assayed via RT-PCR for a total of 10 H. annuus individuals, 10 H. petiolaris individuals, and 19 individuals from hybrid populations across the five sampling locations. These assays were performed using the same primer pairs utilized to determine element copy number abundance via quantitative PCR (see Materials and Methods). Transcripts were detected for both types of element in all hybrid individuals as well as in all assayed individuals of H. annuus and H. petiolaris (fig. 4). DNA contamination was ruled out by negative control reactions in which the RT enzyme was withheld (fig. 4). Amplicons were confirmed as Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia transcripts by cloning and sequencing PCR products for one H. annuus, one H. petiolaris, and one hybrid individual from the Barton Co, KS location. Between 7 and 10 clones were sequenced per amplicon per individual. Sequenced transcripts exhibited polymorphism within and between individuals (table 3), with higher levels of polymorphism observed for Ty3/gypsy. These patterns are consistent with a previous report documenting transcriptional activity of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia elements in an inbred line of H. annuus (Vukich et al. 2009). All sequences have been deposited in GenBank under accession numbers HQ665469–HQ665504.

FIG. 4.

FIG. 4.

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Transcriptional assays of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia elements in Helianthus annuus, H. petiolaris, and hybrid individuals collected from five different regional sampling locations (subpanels A–E). Plus (+) and minus (–) signs indicate whether RT enzyme was provided or withheld from the RT-PCR reaction, respectively. Ann, H. annuus; Pet, H. petiolaris; Hyb, hybrid individual

Table 3.

Nucleotide Variation of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia Transcript Sequences Isolated from a Single Individual of Helianthus annuus, H. petiolaris, and a Natural Hybrid Genotype from the Barton County, KS Sampling Location

Ty3/gypsy Ty1/copia
Na Sb hc πd Na Sb hc πd
H. annuus 7 29 4 0.115 8 19 8 0.029
H. petiolaris 8 41 8 0.120 10 15 7 0.027
Hybrids 7 30 7 0.114 8 2 4 0.005
All individuals 22 53 19 0.136 26 29 17 0.024
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NOTE.—Sequences of Ty3/gypsy Integrase and Ty1/copia RNase H fragments have been deposited in GenBank (accession numbers HQ665469–HQ665504).

a

The number of sequences obtained.

b

The number of segregating sites.

c

The number of unique sequences.

d

Sequence diversity.

Discussion

Hybridization has been linked to activation of transposable elements in several organismal groups, with most examples documenting such activity in early generation hybrid genotypes (Waugh O'Neill et al. 1998; Labrador et al. 1999; Shan et al. 2005; Petit et al. 2010). In previous reports, we described the occurrence and dynamics of historical proliferation events of LTR retrotransposons in the genomes of three sunflower species that independently arose via hybridization between the same two parental taxa (Ungerer et al. 2006, 2009; Staton et al. 2009; Kawakami et al. 2010). Temporal estimates of the origins of the hybrid species are variable (Schwarzbach and Rieseberg 2002; Welch and Rieseberg 2002; Gross et al. 2003; Ungerer et al. 2009), but all estimates suggest their formation within the last 1 My. Although bouts of transposable element proliferation in these species genomes are clearly associated with hybridization followed by genome reorganization (i.e., hybrid speciation), the extent to which natural hybridization in-and-of-itself was, and may continue to be, a catalyst for large-scale changes in genome size is unclear. The parental species, H. annuus and H. petiolaris, which gave rise to the hybrid taxa, have broad and overlapping geographic distributions, and interspecific hybridization between them is common (Rieseberg et al. 1999). Natural H. annuus × H. petiolaris hybrid populations likely served as original source populations from which the three hybrid species lineages became established and, as such, represent excellent natural laboratories for investigating the direct role of hybridization on transposable element dynamics in this group.

In the current report, genome size was estimated for a total of 222 individuals from hybrid populations and 259 individuals from nearby populations of pure parental species (n = 129 for H. annuus; n = 130 for H. petiolaris) over multiple locations where these species occur in sympatry. Consistent with previous reports (Baack et al. 2005), genome size estimates for H. annuus were consistently higher than those for H. petiolaris. These interspecific differences in genome size were mirrored by differences in copy number abundance of both Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia sequences, suggesting that differences in genome size between these species are attributable, at least in part, to differential abundance of LTR retrotransposons. Genome size estimates of individuals from hybrid populations were generally intermediate between those observed for H. annuus and H. petiolaris, suggesting that hybridization is not a major trigger of transposable element derepression in natural populations.

A small number of individuals from hybrid populations displayed genome size values that exceeded those measured for either parental species (fig. 1). These increases were small, however, especially compared with those that took place historically in the sunflower hybrid species, H. anomalus, H. deserticola, and H. paradoxus, where 2C values are at least 50% greater than those estimated for either parental species (Baack et al. 2005). Hybrid individuals exhibiting slightly elevated genome size values typically displayed hybrid index scores closer to 1 (more annuus-like) and did not demonstrate elevated copy number estimates of LTR retrotransposons in direct assays of numerical abundance via quantitative PCR. Hybrid index score thus proved the best predictor of LTR retrotransposon abundance (especially for Ty3/gypsy elements) and genome size in hybrid genotypes. Taken together, these observations suggest that proliferation of transposable element sequences in natural sunflower hybrid populations is indeed rare. These findings are consistent with several recent studies demonstrating an absence of transposable element mobilization in both laboratory generated (Beaulieu et al. 2009) and naturally occurring (Kentner et al. 2003; Hazzouri et al. 2008; Parisod et al. 2009) interspecific plant hybrids.

The lack of evidence for genome size expansion and LTR retrotransposon copy number increases across these five regional locations of H. annuus × H. petiolaris hybridization is notable and contrasts sharply with the scale and repeatability of proliferation events that took place in the genomes of the ancient hybrid species. It should be noted, however, that assays of LTR retrotransposon abundance via quantitative PCR, whereas appropriate for detecting large-scale proliferation, are likely to miss smaller-scale mobilization events that could be documented by other methods, such as transposon display (Waugh et al. 1997; Van den Broeck et al. 1998; Melayah et al. 2001). The quantitative PCR assay provides reasonable resolution, however, as determined by variation between the two technical replicates performed for each individual in the current study. For example, across the 169 samples assayed by this method (table 1), pairs of technical replicates differed on average by 8.4% (SD = 7.1%) and 10.3% (SD = 8.4%) for assays of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia elements, respectively.

Although the goal of the current study was to evaluate natural hybridization as a possible catalyst for transposable element proliferation, several lines of evidence suggest that biotic and abiotic stressors also may facilitate activation of transposable element sequences (Wessler 1996; Grandbastien 1998; Lisch 2009). Interestingly, the three hybrid species whose genomes underwent proliferation are locally adapted to relatively harsh environmental conditions. Helianthus anomalus and H. deserticola occupy desert regions, whereas H. paradoxus inhabits saline marshes (Rieseberg et al. 2003; Gross et al. 2004; Donovan et al. 2010). It thus seems feasible that some combination of hybridization and abiotic stress may have been required for the proliferation events that took place in the hybrid taxa. Experiments testing these ideas have been initiated in the greenhouse where environmental stress can be more precisely controlled.

Although proliferation of LTR retrotransposons leading to genome size increases was not detected in this study, transcriptional assays indicate that lineages of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia elements that proliferated in the hybrid species remain active transcriptionally in hybrid populations as well as in natural populations of H. annuus and H. petiolaris across the entire sampling area. Sequencing of a small number of transcripts from H. annuus, H. petiolaris, and hybrid individuals from one of the sampling locations indicates that multiple Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia variants are transcribed. Transcriptional activity of Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia lineages was recently documented in an inbred line of H. annuus (Vukich et al. 2009) as well as in greenhouse-generated H. annuus × H. petiolaris hybrids and the parental lines used to construct them (B. Hartman-Bakken, Kawakami, Ungerer, unpublished data). The Ty3/gypsy and Ty1/copia transcripts isolated from H. annuus, H. petiolaris, and hybrid individuals bear strong resemblance to elements previously characterized in sunflower via sequence surveys (Ungerer et al. 2009; Kawakami et al. 2010) or shown previously to be transcriptionally active in H. annuus (Vukich et al. 2009). In addition, Blast searches against a Helianthus expressed sequence tag database with these transcripts as queries identified highly similar sequences isolated from multiple Helianthus species, suggesting widespread transcriptional activity of these sublineages in sunflowers.

If, as our data indicate, transcriptional activity of these elements is commonplace and widespread, the lack of insertional activity and genome expansion in contemporary hybrids is intriguing and suggests mechanisms of transposable element repression acting posttranscriptionally, such as RNAi (Slotkin and Martienssen 2007; Lisch 2009). In plants with large genomes, LTR retrotransposons often exhibit nested insertional patterns with variation in element orientation (SanMiguel et al. 1996). Such conditions are likely to be conducive to the production of double-stranded RNAs that could trigger the RNAi pathway (Madlung and Comai 2004; Lisch 2009). Future work will be geared toward understanding how and at what point host repression mechanisms are functional in these sunflower populations.

Supplementary Material

Supplementary table S1 is available at Genome Biology and Evolution online (http://www.gbe.oxfordjournals.org/).

Acknowledgments

We thank T. Koopman and M. Ty for technical support and we thank Nolan Kane for providing us with microsatellite primer sequences. This work was supported by Kansas State University and National Science Foundation grant (DEB-0742993 to M.C.U.).

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