Five major subfamilies of mariner transposable elements in insects, including the Mediterranean fruit fly, and related arthropods

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to screen 404 insects and related arthropods for mariner elements using primers corresponding to amino acids conserved between the mariner elements of Drosophila mauritiana and a moth, Hyalophora cecropia. Potential mariner elements were detected in 63 species, representing 10 insect orders (e.g. Blattella germanica, Ctenocephalides felis, Anopheles gambiae, Phlebotomus papatasi, Chrysops vittatus, Haematobia irritans, Apis mellifera, Tapinoma sessile, Oncopeltus fasciatus, Forficula auricularia, Ephestia cautella [Cadra cautella], Sitotroga cerealella, Crematogaster cerasi) as well as a centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) and a mite (Cheiroseius sp.). Phylogenetic analysis of the PCR fragment sequences from 30 species identified 5 major subfamilies of mariners. Many species have representatives of multiple subfamilies in their genomes and the tephritid Ceratitis capitata is an extreme example with representatives of 4 subfamilies. Two instances of recent horizontal transfer of mariner elements include at least 3 species each. The widespread but sporadic distribution of mariner elements suggests they are excellent candidates for development as transformation vectors for non-drosophilids.