The Tolypocladium inflatum CPA element encodes a RecQ helicase‐like gene

Previously, a repetitive CPA element was discovered in the genome of the filamentous fungus Tolypocladium inflatum ; however, no further characterization was technically possible at that time. In this study, PCR amplification was used to detect a 4 kb conserved portion of the CPA element that appeared to be present in most, if not all, genomic CPA elements. The amplicons included a large open reading frame that was most similar to a RecQ helicase‐like gene from Metarhizium anisopliae . The repetitive nature of the CPA element suggests that it is related to the eukaryotic Helitron class of transposable elements. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)