In this newly funded project, the Austrian-French team will investigate the genetic and
epigenetic regulators of active transposons segments of DNA that can move within the
genome in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. Despite being relatively numerous,
most transposons (transposable elements (TE)) are ancient and inactive fossils in the
eukaryotic genome. Only a small subset of transposons, collectively known as the
mobilome, remain capable of moving around the genome. These active elements can alter
genome structure, disrupt or modify gene expression, and even create new genetic variation
that may influence evolutionary adaptation. The factors controlling how these mobile TEs
move, multiply, and influence genome evolution are still not well understood.
Combining expertise in population genetics, transposon biology, and epigenetics, Magnus
Nordborg and his colleagues aim to identify the factors involved in natural variation of TE
silencing and transposition using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in Arabidopsis
populations. Once identified, the team will test these factors and examine how TE insertions
affect gene expression, genome stability, and broader patterns of variation. Their findings will
be integrated into a broader model of how mobile TEs shape plant genome evolution and
adaptation to environmental change.