SINE-like properties of a highly repetitive element in the genome of the obligate parasitic fungus Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei

Abstract

The genomic organization of repetitive DNA in the obligate parasitic fungus Erysiphe graminis DC ex Mérat f.sp. hordei Em. Marchal was investigated using a cosmid library of the fungal genome. Three repetitive sequences were shown to be dispersed throughout the genome, and in a few cases they were found closely associated with long poly(dA) tracts. The most prevalent sequence is 903 bp long and accounts for at least 5% of the genome. Sequence analysis revealed features resembling mammalian Short INterspersed Elements (SINEs), namely the presence of a poly(dA) tail (33 bp), flanking direct repeats (13 bp), putative "A" and "B" blocks for RNA polymerase III binding; the corresponding transcript would be capable of forming a complex secondary structure.