A functional atlas of transposon-encoded products and their integration into host networks

Abstract

Transposable elements (TEs) are pervasive genomic components that propagate via self-encoded factors, yet the nature, regulation, and function of these factors remain largely unresolved. Here, we integrated extensive long- and short-read transcriptome data, regulatory network analyses, deep proteomics, and structural predictions to construct a comprehensive atlas of TE products in Arabidopsis. We show that TE expression is embedded within host regulatory circuits, with DNA methylation and transcription factors jointly shaping TE transcriptional activity. Proteomic analyses confirm the production of over a hundred of high-confidence TE-encoded proteins, and structure-guided analyses of the transcript-informed TE proteome predict previously uncharacterized structural folds, multimerization capacity, and host protein interaction potential. Structural alignments further uncover cryptic homologies between TE-encoded proteins and host factors, including cases of domestications and co-options. Together, our study reveals the functional integration of TEs into cellular pathways and underscores the role of TEs as active drivers of genome function and innovation. Transposable elements (TEs) are pervasive in host genomes and propagate via self-encoded factors. Here, the authors show that control of TE expression and propagation is deeply embedded within host regulatory circuits.