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A model of evolutionary base substitutions and its application with special reference to rapid change of pseudogenes.

A model of evolutionary base substitutions that can incorporate different substitutional rates between the four bases and that takes into account unequal composition of bases in DNA sequences is proposed. Using this model, we derived formulae that enable us to estimate the evolutionary distances in terms of the number of nucleotide substitutions through comparative studies of nucleotide sequences. In order to check the validity of various formulae, Monte Carlo experiments were performed. These formulae were applied to analyze data on DNA sequences from diverse organisms. Particular attention was paid to problems concerning a globin pseudogene in the mouse and the time of its origin through duplication. We obtained a result suggesting that the evolutionary rates of substitution in the first and second codon positions of the pseudogene were roughly 10 times faster than those in the normal globin genes; whereas, the rate in the third position remained almost unchanged. Application of our formulae to histone genes H2B and H3 of the sea urchin showed that, in each of these genes, the rate in the third codon position is tremendously higher than that in the second position. All of these observations can easily and consistently be interpreted by the neutral theory of molecular evolution.

Animals

Histones associated with non-nucleosomal rat ribosomal genes are acetylated while those bound to nucleosome-organized gene copies are not.

Acetylation of histones bound to rat rRNA genes has been studied relative to their organization in chromatin, either as canonical nucleosomes, containing the inactive copies, or as anucleosomal nonrepeating structures, corresponding to the transcribed genes (Conconi, A., Widmer, R. M., Koller, T., and Sogo, J. M. (1989) Cell 57, 753-761). Nuclei from butyrate-treated rat tumor cells were irradiated with a UV laser to cross-link proteins to DNA, and the purified covalent complexes were immunofractionated by an antibody that specifically recognized the acetylated histones. Upon probing with sequences coding for mature rat 28 S RNA, DNA of the antibody-bound complexes was 5-20-fold enriched relative to the total rat DNA. Since the laser cross-links histones to DNA in both active and inactive genes, one cannot distinguish which one of them, or both, are bound to acetylated histones. Alternatively, purified mononucleosomes were immunofractionated, but DNA from the antibody-bound monosomes was not enriched in coding rDNA. Taken together, these results suggest that nucleosome-organized rRNA genes are bound to nonmodified histones and that the acetylated histones are associated with the active, anucleosomal gene copies.

Acetylation

Structure of a cluster of mouse histone genes.

The four mouse histone genes (2 H3 genes, an H2b gene and an H2a gene) present in a cloned 12.9 kilobase fragment of DNA have been completely sequenced including both 5' and 3' flanking regions. These genes are expressed in cultured mouse cells and the 3' and 5' ends of the mRNA have been determined by S1 nuclease mapping. These genes code for a minor fraction of the histone mRNAs expressed in cultured mouse cells. They comprise at most 5-8% of the total histone mRNA of each type. The two H3 genes code for H3.2 and H3.1 histone proteins, while the H2b gene codes for an H2b.1 protein with a single amino acid change (val-leu) at position 18. Only the 3' portion of the H2a gene is contained in the clone and there is an amino acid change (alanine-proline) at position 126. Comparison of the 5' and 3' flanking sequences reveals a conserved sequence at the 3' end of the mRNA which forms a hairpin loop structure. The codon usage in the genes is non-random and there has been no discrimination against CG doublets in the coding region of the genes.

Amino Acid Sequence

Silent nucleotide substitutions during evolution.

Silent nucleotide substitutions in evolution are found by comparing homologous sequences of DNA from different organisms. Silent changes are common in the third bases of codons, so that no changes takes place in the specified amino acid. Silent changes average about half of the total nucleotide substitutions during evolution of protein-coding regions of genes. Nucleotide substitutions also take place during evolution in non-coding regions of DNA, such as in intervening sequences and in sequences that precede and follow codon regions in genes. Deletions and additions from events of recombination, in addition to nucleotide substitutions, are common in these non-coding regions.

Animals

Genomic clones coding for some of the initial genes expressed during Drosophila development.

Preblastoderm Drosophila embryos were made permeable and labeled in vivo with [32P]phosphate-containing medium. Cytoplasmic polyadenylylated RNA was extracted from these embryos and used to screen a library of Drosophila genomic DNA sequences cloned in phage lambda. Ten cloned sequences were selected for further study. These sequences were not complementary to mitochondrial DNA, nor did they contain the repeated nuclear genes coding for rRNA or histones. The cloned sequences each encode one or more unique genes expressed in preblastoderm embryos. RNA blot analysis indicated that some of these genes are also expressed at other times during embryogenesis. These results show that, in spite of the rapid nuclear divisions taking place during the preblastoderm stage, Drosophila nuclear genes are transcribed and that a subset of these genes show variable, stage-specific levels of expression during early embryogenesis.

Animals

Silent nucleotide substitutions and the molecular evolutionary clock.

Half of the nucleotide substitutions during the evolutionary divergence of genes in animals, bacteria, and viruses are silent changes. These result from an inherent biochemical property of DNA and are fixed by genetic drift. Evolution may be viewed as a device for protecting DNA molecules from extinction.

Animals

Proteins present in bovine papillomavirus particles.

Analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and silver staining of heavy full, light full, and empty bovine papillomavirus particles has shown that the major capsid protein L1 is highly modified. Besides exhibiting at least 13 isoelectric point variants of approximately the same molecular mass (54 kilodaltons), it is suggested that an additional heavier protein chain (69 kilodaltons) is also derived from L1 by glycosylation. These modifications may stabilize the particle structure. Treatment with neuraminidase reduces the number of modification products detectable, with a concomitant increase in the more basic forms of L1. Although it was not possible to detect histones in any of the preparations, proteins of similar molecular mass were detected. Therefore, it is suggested that the basic tails of L1 bind to the DNA in a manner similar to that of histone. Calculation of the theoretical mobilities of the papillomavirus proteins shows good agreement with the actual position of L1 and its isoelectric point variants and suggests that two of the proteins with molecular masses similar to those of the histones may actually be coded by the bovine papillomavirus E7 and E5 open reading frames.

Animals

m6A RNA modification and its emerging roles in diseases: recent advances and therapeutic implications.

BACKGROUND: In the recent past, insights in post transcriptional regulation of gene expression have profoundly reshaped our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying health and disease. This paradigm shift largely stems from the emerging field of epitranscriptomics, which highlights the pivotal role of chemical RNA modifications. While more than 170 distinct chemical modifications on the RNA are known, the m6A modification is the most abundant internal mRNA modification in higher eukaryotic cells, present not only on protein coding transcripts but also on non-coding RNAs, regulated by “writers”, “erasers”, and “readers” that together modulate alternative splicing, nuclear export, translation efficiency, and mRNA stability. MAIN BODY: This review addresses an important gap by presenting a multilayered regulatory framework that catalogs the full repertoire of m6A machinery and uniquely reveals how non-coding RNAs, transcription factors, histone modifications, and chromatin remodelers governs the spatiotemporal specificity of m6A modification. We explore how dysregulation of m6A modification and its regulatory proteins contribute to the development and progression of various diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, cancer, and type 2 diabetes through context-dependent modulation of gene networks. Furthermore, we present an integrative overview of the therapeutic pipeline, tracing the development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting m6A regulators, thus bridging a crucial link between fundamental mechanisms and new therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this review integrates current findings and emerging insights to provide a comprehensive understanding of m6A biology. By linking upstream regulatory mechanisms with downstream pathological consequences and therapeutic interventions, we highlight the potential of targeting the epitranscriptome for clinical applications.

Humans