Activation of Retrotransposon in Red Alga by Underwater Pulsed Discharge

Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that accomplish transposition via an RNA intermediate. These elements can be transcriptionally activated by stress factors, such as UV light, ozone, pathogens, wounding and drought. A red alga, Porphyra yezoensis has recently been recognized as a model plant for fundamental and applied study in marine biological science. In this paper, pulsed streamer-like discharge in liquid was used as a new stress condition, and the transcriptional levels of retrotransposon and functional genes of a red alga, Porphyra yezoensis was investigated. From the results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiments, it is clear that the transcriptions of retrotransposon and functional genes were activated by applying pulsed streamer-like discharge.