Evolution of insertions mitochondrial and plastid DNA in the nuclear genome across Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes

Authors: Solomon Scheiner, Christos Noutsos

SUNY Campus: SUNY Old Westbury

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: Old Union Hall

Presentation #: 36

Timeslot: Session C 1:45-2:45 PM

Abstract: We utilized bioinformatic techniques to identify insertions of mitochondrial and plastid DNA within the nuclear genome of 80 species of plants. The organellar insertions discovered had since adapted to the nuclear environment and are now known as norgDNA. NorgDNA has been identified in protein coding regions, pseudogenes, long non-coding RNA, microRNA. Additionally, past studies have identified that genes fully composed of norgDNA have a high likelihood of being pseudogenes; however, genes partially composed of norgDNA have a higher potential of being protein coding. In genes partially composed of norgDNA, it has been found that norgDNA is not limited to a specific feature, but rather has the potential to be inserted into introns, exons and UTRs. Given this, we took a closer look at Arabidopsis thaliana genes partially composed of norgDNA. We utilized a recently published A. thaliana pangenome containing 69 ecotypes from around the world and bioinformatic techniques to examine the evolution of norgDNA across these ecotypes. We have found norgDNA to be ecotype specific and their evolutionary trajectories post insertion to differ. This study further contributes to our understanding of genome evolution and endosymbiosis.