Transferability of Nikita and Sukkula retrotransposons in domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus) genome

Abstract

This article aimed to detect the existence of barley-specific Nikita and Sukkula retrotransposons in domestic geese samples and to evaluate the evolutionary relationships between these and other transposons belonging to the family Anatidae. Inter-retrotransposon-amplified polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (IRAP-PCR) method was performed for these retrotransposons movements in three diverse domestic goose populations (Chinese × Embden crossbred, Turkish White, and Turkish Multicolor). Polymorphism ratios were between 0 and 33% in all samples for Nikita and 0–73% in all samples for Sukkula. In addition, intrapopulation genetic polymorphism rates were also 0–15% in Chinese × Embden crossbred, 0–25% in Turkish White, 0–25% in Turkish Multicolor for Nikita; while 0–27% in Chinese × Embden, and 0–50% in Turkish Multicolor for Sukkula. There was no polymorphism for Sukkula among Turkish White samples. Moreover, the neighbour-joining method was used for phylogenetic tree construction using 38 sequences of different ducks, geese, and swans. In silico analyses supported the transitions of retrotransposons in the family Anatidae. It is concluded that transposon mobility among the phylogenetically distant species may lead to understanding evolutionary relationships. This report is one of the first studies investigating retrotransposon movements in domestic geese, revealing a new perspective on the goose genome regarding mobile genetic elements.