Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) have a significant impact on genome structure and function being also a source of new genes. As a result of “molecular domestication,” genes encoded by MGEs become functional parts of the host genome. The IS630/Tc1/mariner (ITm) DNA transposon superfamily is one of the most widespread and diverse. To date, several genes are known to have resulted from the ITm transposon co-option. The aim of the present work was to search for the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi genes with integrated fragments of ITm-transposons and subsequent analysis of their of expression levels. In the present work, the local alignment method (BLASTn) was used to search for the hypothetical chimeric genes. The analysis of differential gene activity was performed with the combined use of the Kallisto and Sleuth software. No cDNAs were found that would match the full coding sequence of any M. leidyi ITm transposase. However, 21 unique transcripts of hypothetical chimeric genes containing regions homologous to ITm transposons have been found. Transcriptional analysis showed that during early embryonic development, as well as in the crest and epithelium tissues of adult animals, most hypothetical chimeric genes are not expressed or are expressed at a low level. However, several loci showed differential activity levels during regeneration. The differential activity of some hypothetical chimeric genes during regeneration may indicate their possible “domestication” and involvement in molecular genetic processes in ctenophores.

移动遗传元件 (MGEs) 对基因组结构和功能具有重大影响，也是新基因的来源。作为“分子驯化”的结果，由 MGEs 编码的基因成为宿主基因组的功能部分。IS630 /Tc1/mariner ( ITm ) DNA 转座子超家族是分布最广、种类最多的超家族之一。迄今为止，已知有几个基因是由ITm转座子共同选择产生的。本工作的目的是寻找栉水母Mnemiopsis leidyi具有整合的 ITm 转座子片段的基因及其表达水平的后续分析。在目前的工作中，局部比对方法 (BLASTn) 用于搜索假设的嵌合基因。结合使用Kallisto和Sleuth软件进行差异基因活性分析。没有发现与任何M. leidyi ITm转座酶的完整编码序列相匹配的 cDNA。然而，21 个假设嵌合基因的独特转录本包含与ITm同源的区域发现了转座子。转录分析表明，在早期胚胎发育过程中，以及在成年动物的嵴和上皮组织中，大多数假设的嵌合基因不表达或表达水平较低。然而，几个位点在再生过程中表现出不同的活性水平。一些假设的嵌合基因在再生过程中的不同活性可能表明它们可能被“驯化”并参与了栉水母的分子遗传过程。