RT Journal
A1 Faino, Luigi
A1 Seidl, Michael F.
A1 Shi-Kunne, Xiaoqian
A1 Pauper, Marc
A1 van den Berg, Grardy C.M.
A1 Wittenberg, Alexander H.J.
A1 Thomma, Bart P.H.J.
T1 Transposons passively and actively contribute to evolution of the two-speed genome of a fungal pathogen
JF Genome Research 
JO Genome Research 
YR 2016 
FD August 01 
VO 26 
IS 8 
SP 1091 
OP 1100 
DO 10.1101/gr.204974.116 
UL http://genome.cshlp.org/content/26/8/1091.abstract 
AB Genomic plasticity enables adaptation to changing environments, which is especially relevant for pathogens that engage in “arms races” with their hosts. In many pathogens, genes mediating virulence cluster in highly variable, transposon-rich, physically distinct genomic compartments. However, understanding of the evolution of these compartments, and the role of transposons therein, remains limited. Here, we show that transposons are the major driving force for adaptive genome evolution in the fungal plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae. We show that highly variable lineage-specific (LS) regions evolved by genomic rearrangements that are mediated by erroneous double-strand repair, often utilizing transposons. We furthermore show that recent genetic duplications are enhanced in LS regions, against an older episode of duplication events. Finally, LS regions are enriched in active transposons, which contribute to local genome plasticity. Thus, we provide evidence for genome shaping by transposons, both in an active and passive manner, which impacts the evolution of pathogen virulence.