Retrotransposon Mys was active during evolution of the Peromyscus leucopus-maniculatus complex

Mys is a retrovirus-like transposable element found throughout the genus Peromyscus. Several mys subfamilies identified on the basis of restriction site variation occur in more than one species. The distribution of these subfamilies is consistent with the accepted species phylogeny, suggesting that mys was present in the ancestor of Peromyscus and has been active through much of the evolution of this genus. Quantitative Southern blot analysis was used to examine the variability of subfamilies in P. leucopus and maniculatus. We found that subfamilies with phylogenetically narrow distributions were more variable in copy number both within and between species than subfamilies with a broader distribution. Taken together, our data suggest that mys has undergone multiple rounds of transposition since the peromyscine radiation, and that five subfamilies have been amplified during the evolution of the leucopus-maniculatus species complex. Correspondence to: H.A. Wichman