Testing the Genomic Shock Hypothesis Using Transposable Element Expression in Yeast Hybrids

Transposable element (TE) insertions are a source of structural variation and can cause genetic instability gene expression changes. A host limit the spread TEs with various repression mechanisms. Many examples plant animal interspecific hybrids show disrupted TE leading to propagation. Recent studies in yeast did not find any increase transposition rate hybrids. However, this does rule out possibility that transcriptional or translational activity increases following hybridization because disruption control Thus, whether total family is higher than their parental species remains be examined. We leveraged publically available RNA-seq ribosomal profiling data on artificial Saccharomyces genus performed differential analysis LTR retrotransposons (Ty elements). Our analyses mRNA levels Ty elements generally differentially expressed hybrids, even when exposed low temperature stress condition. Overall, only 2/26 families significantly S. cerevisiae × uvarum while there 3/26 showing lower x paradoxus ribosome shows similar translation efficiency both parents except for Ty1_cer efficiency. our results do support hypothesis could act as systematic trigger suggest impact strain specific.