PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Rashmi, Richa
AU  - Nandi, Chandan
AU  - Majumdar, Sharmistha
TI  - Evolutionary analysis of THAP9 transposase: conserved regions, novel motifs
AID  - 10.1101/2021.08.01.454642
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2021.08.01.454642
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/12/09/2021.08.01.454642.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/12/09/2021.08.01.454642.full
AB  - THAP9 is a transposable element-derived gene that encodes the THAP9 protein, which is homologous to the Drosophila P-element transposase (DmTNP) and can cut and paste DNA. However, the exact functional role of THAP9 is unknown. Here, we perform evolutionary analysis and extensive in silico characterization of THAP9, including predicting domains and putative post-translational modification sites. We predict previously unreported mammalian-specific post-translational modification sites that may play a role in the subcellular localization of THAP9. We also observe that although THAP9 has evolved under a strong pervasive purifying selection, yielding high conservation of THAP9, there are distinct class-specific conservation patterns of key functional residues in certain domains. Furthermore, investigation of THAP9 expression profiles in various cancer and matched normal datasets demonstrated underexpression and overexpression in testicular cancers and thymic epithelial tumors, respectively, thus suggesting a possible role of THAP9 in cancer.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.