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PubMed1992

Construction of small-insert genomic DNA libraries highly enriched for microsatellite repeat sequences.

We describe an efficient method for the construction of small-insert genomic libraries enriched for highly polymorphic, simple sequence repeats. With this approach, libraries in which 40-50% of the members contain (CA)n repeats are produced, representing an approximately 50-fold enrichment over conventional small-insert genomic DNA libraries. Briefly, a genomic library with an average insert size of less than 500 base pairs was constructed in a phagemid vector. Amplification of this library in a dut ung strain of Escherichia coli allowed the recovery of the library as closed circular single-stranded DNA with uracil frequently incorporated in place of thymine. This DNA was used as a template for second-strand DNA synthesis, primed with (CA)n or (TG)n oligonucleotides, at elevated temperatures by a thermostable DNA polymerase. Transformation of this mixture into wild-type E. coli strains resulted in the recovery of primer-extended products as a consequence of the strong genetic selection against single-stranded uracil-containing DNA molecules. In this manner, a library highly enriched for the targeted microsatellite-containing clones was recovered. This approach is widely applicable and can be used to generate marker-selected libraries bearing any simple sequence repeat from cDNAs, whole genomes, single chromosomes, or more restricted chromosomal regions of interest.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Mitogenome assembly and phylogenetic relationships of Phalaris arundinacea.

INTRODUCTION: As a perennial herb of Poaceae, Phalaris arundinacea plays key roles in grazing, production, and soil and water conservation because of its well-developed rhizomes and seed dispersal. We assembled and annotated the first mitogenome of P. arundinacea to support evolutionary and taxonomic research. METHODS: We assembled and annotated the first complete mitochondrial genome of P. arundinacea by integrating Illumina short reads with Nanopore long reads via a hybrid assembly strategy. The genome architecture was comprehensively characterized, encompassing codon usage bias, repetitive sequence organization, and inter-organellar genetic exchange with the chloroplast genome. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Assembly of the P. arundinacea mitogenome revealed two circular structures with a combined length of 526,717 bp. The genome comprised a set of 37 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 27 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs, with the rRNA genes exhibiting full assembly (100% coverage). The mitochondrial genome contained 154 forward and 164 palindromic repeats, along with 25 tandem repeats and 124 simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Notably, 102 SSRs were distributed on contig1, predominantly in tetrameric form. Furthermore, 376 RNA editing sites were predicted. A total of 104 fragments were integrated into the mitochondrial genome from the chloroplast, amounting to 55,866 bp of transferred sequence. Finally, phylogenetic analysis of 28 plant mitogenomes placed P. arundinacea closest to species within the genus Poa (P. chaixii and P. pratensis). Comparative analysis of non-synonymous-to-synonymous substitution rate (Ka/Ks) ratios across divergent species revealed that the mitochondrial genome of P. arundinacea underwent stabilizing evolutionary dynamics, characterized by predominant purifying selection with several lineage-specific variations in selective pressure. Our findings support the close phylogenetic relationship between P. arundinacea and species of the genus Poa and provide a reference mitochondrial genome resource for future comparative studies within Phalaris that incorporate broader taxon sampling. These results support deeper phylogenetic investigations of P. arundinacea and facilitate future work on its germplasm characterization and applied use.

Phalaris arundinacea↗

PubMed2026

The large mitochondrial genome of Syndiclis anlungensis (Lauraceae): Genome structure, comparative analysis, and phylogenetic relationships among Syndiclis species.

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Syndiclis anlungensis, a critically endangered tropical tree, was determined in this study. The mitogenome spans 2,368,454 bp across four contigs and harbors 41 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. Potential mutation regions, including 1317 repeat sequences and 698 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), were accurately located in the S. anlungensis mitogenome. Sixty-five transferred fragments of the repeats were found between its mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. When compared to three other Laurales mitogenomes, extensive gene order shuffling is evident, leaving only five conserved gene clusters intact. Codon usage analysis reveals a pronounced A/T bias in both mitochondrial and chloroplast genes, and three mitochondrial genes (atp9, rps19, and sdh3) stand out for their high divergence across eleven Syndiclis taxa. Selection analyses indicate strong purifying pressure on rpl2, rpl16, and sdh3 (Ka/Ks < 1), with no positive selection detected. Using 41 mitochondrial protein-coding gene sequences from sixteen and three individuals of Syndiclis and Beilschmiedia species, respectively, our phylogenetic tree recovers Syndiclis as monophyletic, with two well-supported clades: one includes S. anlungensis, S. chinensis, S. lotungensis, S. marlipoensis, and a putative new Syndiclis species from Yunnan; the other contains S. furfuracea, S. hongkongensis, S. kwangsiensis, and three putative new Syndiclis species from Guangdong and Vietnam.

Genome, Mitochondrial↗

PubMed1990

(TG)n uncovers a sex-specific hybridization pattern in cattle.

Screening of a bovine genomic library with the human minisatellite 33.6 probe uncovered a family of clones that, when used to probe Southern blots of bovine genomic DNA digested with the restriction enzyme HaeIII or MboI, revealed sexually dimorphic, but otherwise virtually monomorphic, patterns among the larger DNA fragments to which they hybridized. Characterization of one of these clones revealed that it contains different minisatellite sequences. The sexual dimorphism hybridization pattern observed with this clone was found to be due to multiple copies of two tandemly interspersed repeats: the simple sequence (TG)n and a previously undescribed 29-bp sequence. Both repeats appear to share many genomic loci including autosomal loci. In contrast, Southern analysis of AluI- or HinfI-digested bovine DNA with the (TG)n repeat used as a probe yielded substantial polymorphism. These results show that (i) different minisatellites can be found in a cluster, (ii) both simple and more complex repeated sequences other than the simple quaternary (GATA)n repeat can be sexually dimorphic, and (iii) simple repeats can reveal substantial polymorphism.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Human von Willebrand factor gene and pseudogene: structural analysis and differentiation by polymerase chain reaction.

Structural analysis of the von Willebrand factor gene located on chromosome 12 is complicated by the presence of a partial unprocessed pseudogene on chromosome 22q11-13. The structures of the von Willebrand factor pseudogene and corresponding segment of the gene were determined, and methods were developed for the rapid differentiation of von Willebrand factor gene and pseudogene sequences. The pseudogene is 21-29 kilobases in length and corresponds to 12 exons (exons 23-34) of the von Willebrand factor gene. Approximately 21 kilobases of the gene and pseudogene were sequenced, including the 5' boundary of the pseudogene. The 3' boundary of the pseudogene lies within an 8-kb region corresponding to intron 34 of the gene. The presence of splice site and nonsense mutations suggests that the pseudogene cannot yield functional transcripts. The pseudogene has diverged approximately 3.1% in nucleotide sequence from the gene. This suggests a recent evolutionary origin approximately 19-29 million years ago, near the time of divergence of humans and apes from monkeys. Several repetitive sequences were identified, including 4 Alu, one Line-1, and several short simple sequence repeats. Several of these simple repeats differ in length between the gene and pseudogene and provide useful markers for distinguishing these loci. Sequence differences between the gene and pseudogene were exploited to design oligonucleotide primers for use in the polymerase chain reaction to selectivity amplify sequences corresponding to exons 23-34 from either the von Willebrand factor gene or the pseudogene. This method is useful for the analysis of gene defects in patients with von Willebrand disease, without interference from homologous sequences in the pseudogene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2026

Assembly and comparative analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Pleione yunnanensis: genome structure and evolutionary insights.

BACKGROUND: Pleione yunnanensis a terrestrial or semi-epiphytic herbaceous plant belonging to the Orchidaceae family, is valued for both its medicinal uses and ornamental appeal. Although its chloroplast genomes have been sequenced, its complete mt genome had not previously been resolved, limiting genetic and evolutionary studies of the species. RESULTS: In this work, we assembled and characterized the first complete mt genome of P. yunnanensis, revealing a structurally complex, multibranched system composed of 14 circular-mapping molecules totaling 468,176 bp with a GC content of 44.32%. The genome encodes 44 annotated genes, including 28 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 15 tRNAs, and one rRNA. The multibranched architecture provides new evidence supporting the dynamic and recombinational nature of plant mt genomes. Repeat analysis uncovered 29 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), 19 tandem repeats, and 118 dispersed repeats, indicating a comparatively lower repeat abundance than that found in closely related orchids with similar mt genome sizes. Codon-usage profiling of PCGs showed a marked bias toward A/T-ending codons. Prediction of RNA editing sites identified 4,708 putative edits across mitochondrial PCGs. Most mitochondrial genes displayed Ka/Ks ratios close to 1.0, suggesting relaxed selective constraints or lineage-specific evolutionary patterns rather than strong positive selection. Moreover, we detected 69 chloroplast-derived homologous fragments, including 15 intact genes, suggesting ongoing plastid-mitochondrial DNA transfer. Phylogenetic reconstruction and collinearity comparisons demonstrated that P. yunnanensis clustered closely with Dendrobium species, including D. amplum and D. hancockii, within the Orchidaceae clade. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first complete mt genome of P. yunnanensis, providing a foundational genomic resource for the genus Pleione. The results not only improve our understanding of mt genome structure and evolution in Orchidaceae, but also offer valuable molecular evidence for phylogenetic inference, germplasm identification, and conservation of this endangered medicinal species.

Orchidaceae↗

PubMed2026

Comprehensive plastome variation and RNA editing in Mentha: insights into phylogenetic relationships and candidate DNA barcodes.

INTRODUCTION: Mentha is an economically and medicinally important genus in Lamiaceae, but its taxonomy and species delimitation remain challenging because of frequent hybridization, polyploidy, and marked morphological plasticity. METHODS: In this study, we comparatively analyzed 12 plastomes representing major Mentha species, hybrid taxa, and unresolved accessions, including four newly assembled genomes, to characterize plastome structure, repeat composition, sequence divergence, phylogenetic relationships, and plastid RNA editing. The M. arvensis plastome and RNA-seq datasets originated from independent Swiss and Indian accessions, respectively. RESULTS: The plastomes were highly conserved in overall organization, ranging from 151,824 to 152,154 bp and displaying the typical quadripartite structure. Gene content and order were largely stable across taxa, with only minor variation likely associated with annotation differences at IR/SC boundary regions. Codon usage analysis revealed a clear bias toward A/U-ending synonymous codons, and most shared protein-coding genes showed low Ka/Ks ratios, indicating predominant purifying selection. Repeat analyses showed that simple sequence repeats were mainly composed of A/T-rich mononucleotide motifs, whereas long repeats were concentrated in the 30-40 bp size class. Comparative analyses identified six hypervariable regions, namely ccsA-ndhD, ycf1, ndhD, rpl32-trnL-UAG, rbcL-accD, and petA-psbJ, which represent promising candidate plastid markers for species discrimination. Phylogenetic analysis based on complete plastomes provided strong support for relationships among the sampled taxa and recovered a close affinity among M. aquatica, M. arvensis, and M. canadensis. In addition, RNA-seq analysis of M. arvensis identified 17 candidate plastid RNA editing sites, most of which were C-to-U conversions and nonsynonymous events. DISCUSSION: Together, these results expand plastid genomic resources for Mentha and provide a useful framework for phylogenetic inference, species identification, and future germplasm utilization.

RNA editing↗

PubMed1989

New tandem repeat region in the non-transcribed spacer of human ribosomal RNA gene.

A new repetitive DNA region was identified in the non-transcribed spacer of human rDNA, namely a long (4.6 kb) sequence motif (Xbal element) was present in two copies. The repeating unit composed of two parts. One of them consisted of unique nucleotide sequences, interrupted by some simple sequences. The other, about 3.1 kb long one assembled only from highly repeated simple sequences. The unique sequence region contained two, inverted copies of the human AluI type repetitive DNA family. The authors suggest that the XbaI elements may flank the tandem arrays of human rRNA genes as terminal repeats and they might function both as the origin of rDNA replication and/or site of homologous recombination.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Organization of immunoglobulin heavy chain constant and joining region genes in the channel catfish.

A channel catfish genomic lambda library was screened with CH and JH probes which were derived from our earlier sequence analyses on different full-length heavy chain cDNA clones. One clone, designated C7, contained a genomic insert of about 18 kb and hybridized with specific probes for each of the four domains of the known C region gene as well as with different oligonucleotides specific for JH gene segments. Southern blot hybridization analysis identified a cluster of JH gene segments which are closely linked to the CH gene. Sequence analysis of the CH-proximal JH element, located about 1.9 kb upstream from the CH1 domain, showed that this element contains 5'-recombination signals typical of JH elements defined in higher vertebrates, i.e. a nonamer, a 24 bp spacer, and a heptamer. The coding region of this JH element was identical to that contained in the variable region sequence of a cDNA clone previously reported. Sequence analysis of the catfish JH-CH intron suggests that several sequences are present which appear similar to important transcriptional regulatory elements found within JH-CH introns of higher vertebrates. These features include sequences similar to higher vertebrate enhancer elements and regulatory octamers. An additional feature reminiscent of some higher vertebrate heavy chain switch regions is a repetitive sequence area composed of tandemly repeated simple sequences. Lastly, several restriction length polymorphisms were identified and mapped within a 1 kb region located immediately upstream from the JH cluster. This finding suggests that polymorphisms within the IgH locus should be useful in the analyses of channel catfish populations. These combined studies provide further evidence that the genomic organization of heavy chain genes in bony fish shares common organizational features with those known from higher vertebrates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1987

The immunoglobulin heavy chain switch: structural features of gamma 1 recombinant switch regions.

The immunoglobulin heavy chain isotype switch is mediated by a DNA rearrangement involving specific genomic segments referred to as switch regions. Switch regions are composed of tandemly repeated simple sequences. The role of the tandemly repeated structure of switch regions in the switch recombination process is not understood. We mapped eight recombination sites--six in the gamma 1 and two in the gamma 3 tandem arrays. In addition, we obtained molecular clones representing three of the six gamma 1 rearrangements, and determined the nucleotide sequences of the recombination sites in each. In general, the rearrangements are confined to the tandem repeat units, and are not clustered in a particular portion of either the gamma 3 or gamma 1 switch region. Nucleotide sequence analysis of one of the recombinant clones, gamma M35, reveals evidence for a successive switch event wherein a recombination between S mu and S gamma 3 was followed by recombination 57 bp downstream with S gamma 1. gamma 1 sequence data from the molecular clones we obtained, together with similar data from other investigators regarding the gamma 1, gamma 2b, and gamma 2a switch regions, reveals that recombinations tend to occur at homologous positions of the respective gamma-unit repeats, adjacent to the elements AGCT and GGGG found in each. This finding suggests that the cutting and religation step of the recombination process is mediated by a recombinase common to the four gamma-isotypes.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

A transcriptome-wide approach for rapid pathotype discrimination of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in north-western India.

Stripe rust of wheat caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) remains a major constraint to wheat production in India due to the rapid evolution and frequent emergence of virulent pathotypes. Rapid and reliable discrimination of Pst pathotypes is essential for effective resistance deployment and surveillance. In the present study, transcriptome-wide simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were exploited to develop and validate molecular markers for pathotype-specific detection of Pst pathotypes prevalent in North India (110S119, 238S119, 46S119, 110S84 and 78S84). Microsatellite mining from 6103 core orthologous clusters comprising 51,127 transcripts mined 14,634 SSR loci, from which 93 primer pairs were synthesized. However, only three SSR markers exhibited polymorphism indicating limited discrimination potential of expressed sequence-derived (EST) SSRs for pathotype differentiation. In contrast, SNP discovery through stringent variant calling and filtration yielded 186 pathotype-specific homokaryotic SNPs, of which 56 high-confidence loci were selected for Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) assay development. A total of 48 KASP markers were synthesized and 14 demonstrated clear pathotype- or cluster-specific polymorphism representing substantially higher resolution than SSR markers. The high SNP-to-KASP conversion efficiency (~ 95%) and reproducible fluorescence-based clustering emphasize the robustness of KASP assay. Comparative evaluation revealed that SNP-based KASP markers provide superior discriminatory capacity for closely related Pst pathotypes and represent a promising complementary molecular approach for rapid identification of predominant Indian Pst pathotypes. The validated marker panel developed in this study can complement conventional virulence phenotyping and field pathogenomics approaches for surveillance of currently known pathotypes, while continued refinement may accommodate future changes in pathogen populations.

India↗

PubMed2026

SSR marker development for analysis of the genetic diversity and identification of species and infraspecific ranks in the genus Phyllostachys.

Bamboo plants possess important ecological, economic, and cultural values. However, it is difficult to accurately identify them on the basis of their morphological traits alone. Here, based on the whole-genome data of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) and its 20 forms, we conducted preliminary identification and comparative analyses of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) to develop molecular markers. In total, 3,835,632 SSR loci were identified from 31,537.81 Mb of genomic sequences, among which dinucleotide SSRs were the most abundant. Most SSRs were located in intergenic regions, whereas relatively fewer were in genic regions. In addition, we found that SSR-containing genes involved in plant hormone signal transduction may be associated with the morphogenesis of moso bamboo, which was speculated to be related to differential gene expression patterns among different forms. Furthermore, 206 SSR primer pairs with polymorphisms were obtained to analyse the genetic diversity of moso bamboo and its forms, which exhibited moderate polymorphism. The proportion of genetic variation among species within the genus Phyllostachys was 58%, while that within species was 42%. Moso bamboo and its 20 forms had relatively close genetic relationships and low genetic differentiation, while 20 species of the genus Phyllostachys were clustered into three groups with distinct levels of genetic diversity. Finally, DNA fingerprints and molecular identity cards were constructed for 20 moso bamboo forms and 20 species of the genus Phyllostachys using core SSR markers. These results provide novel SSR markers for bamboo identification, germplasm conservation, and molecular marker-assisted breeding.

Microsatellite Repeats↗

PubMed2026

Development and validation of whole-genome SSR markers in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.).

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an important sugar and cash crop worldwide. To systematically characterize SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) loci across sugar beet chromosomes and enable the precise identification of germplasm resources, this study conducted a genome-wide scan for SSR loci, analyzed their distribution patterns, and determined their genotypes using resequencing data from 123 sugar beet varieties. The results revealed an abundance of SSR loci in the sugar beet genome, with a total of 135, 379 identified, from which 135, 344 pairs of SSR primers were designed (135, 344 primer pairs successfully designed; 35 loci failed to meet design criteria). Specifically, 31, 748 primer pairs were designed based on SSRs located in unassigned scaffolds, and 103, 596 primer pairs from SSRs assigned to the nine chromosomes. Through bioinformatic analysis, we identified 28, 768 SSR primers located in multi-copy genes with PIC (Polymorphism Information Content) ≥ 0.5, and 2, 326 SSR markers located in single-copy genes residing in various genic regions (among which 543 had PIC ≥ 0.5, with the highest reaching 0.776). PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) validation confirmed 20 robust and polymorphic markers producing clear and reproducible bands. Among them, 10 SSR primers located in multi-copy genes exhibited three or more polymorphic types, and 10 markers located in single-copy genes displayed 2-3 polymorphic types. The most polymorphic marker, YCD-4-2, detected 11 polymorphic types across 48 varieties. Furthermore, to explore markers with potential functional significance, we annotated the genes harboring SSR markers located in single-copy genes. The results showed that 1, 264 SSRs located in single-copy genes were localized to 967 genes, which are significantly enriched in pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism, stress responses, and plant-pathogen interactions. The 20 validated markers and the 2, 326 SSRs located in single-copy genes provided in this study can be directly applied to fingerprinting of sugar beet varieties, seed purity testing, and marker-assisted selection, thus representing a practical resource for molecular breeding.

genome-wide↗

PubMed2026

Plastid genome evolution and phylogenomics with broad taxon sampling: insights into intrafamilial classification of Hamamelidaceae.

Hamamelidaceae, within the order Saxifragales, comprises 27 genera and approximately 120 species. The family has a pantropical and temperate distribution across the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Previous molecular investigations, constrained by limited taxon sampling and inadequate genetic markers, supported a five-subfamily classification system. However, these studies predominantly focused on Asian taxa, resulting in poor resolution of the evolutionary relationships among American, African, and Australian genera. To address these sampling gaps, we employed near-complete generic sampling (26 of 27 genera) to investigate plastome architecture, structural variation, and phylogenetic relationships. We newly sequenced and assembled 15 plastid genomes representing geographically and taxonomically underrepresented genera and analyzed them alongside 59 publicly available plastomes retrieved from GenBank. Plastid genomes exhibited conserved quadripartite architecture with sizes ranging from 158, 076 bp to 160, 814 bp, minimal structural variation, consistent GC content (37.7-38.2%), and identical gene order. Inverted repeat (IR) regions had limited size variation (26, 211-26, 429 bp). Simple sequence repeat (SSR) distribution (2, 219 loci) showed no clear correlation with the genus-level phylogenetic relationships. We identified ten hypervariable regions, including coding sequences (accD, ycf1, clpP, ndhF, and rpl22) and intergenic spacers (rpl33-rps18, the trnG-UCC intron, trnH-GUG-psbA, accD-psaI, and petA-psbJ), as promising candidate regions for future applications in species delimitation and phylogenetic studies. Phylogenetic analyses revealed largely congruent topologies across datasets and methods, providing improved resolution and strong support for most subfamilial and tribal relationships compared with previous studies. This study highlights the utility of plastid genome data for resolving deep-level phylogenetic relationships within Hamamelidaceae. The genome architecture reflects the high conservation of plastid genomes, while the identified mutation hotspots represent potential resources for future taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. Our results support the existing subfamily classification while improving geographical coverage and generic representation, providing a robust framework for future taxonomic and evolutionary studies of this globally distributed and taxonomically complex family.

Hamamelidaceae↗

PubMed2026

Plastome evolution and phylogenomic relationships in Ajuga (Lamiaceae, Ajugoideae).

BACKGROUND: Ajuga is currently known to include approximately 69 species, with a combined distribution extending throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. Its popularity and significance are largely based on an extensive history of medicinal and horticultural use. It is divided into two sections based on morphological characters, and this sectional classification is also reflected in pronounced geographic patterns. Although previous studies have largely focused on Ajuga sect. Ajuga in East Asia, A. sect. Chamaepithys, which ranges from the Mediterranean to Central Asia, remains insufficiently sampled, thereby limiting a comprehensive understanding of infrageneric sectional relationships within the genus. Here, we generated complete plastid genomes for 12 species representing both sections of the genus and used these data to characterize plastome structure and infer evolutionary relationships. RESULTS: In this study, 21 Ajuga plastomes were analyzed, including 12 newly sequenced plastomes and 9 previously published plastomes representing 19 species. Comparative analyses showed that all plastomes exhibited a highly conserved quadripartite structure, with genome sizes ranging from 149,963 to 150,740 bp and GC contents varying from 38.2% to 38.3%. Each plastome contained 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. The boundaries between the inverted repeat (IR) and single-copy (SC) regions were also highly conserved across species. In addition, 796 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), 874 long repeat sequences (LRSs), and 12 highly variable regions (ccsA-ndhD, ndhF-rpl32, petA-psbJ, rpl32-trnL-UAG, rps2-rpoC2, trnH-GUG-psbA, trnK-UUU-rps16, trnP-UGG-psaJ, trnT-UGU-trnL-UAA, ycf15-trnL-CAA, ndhF, and ycf1) were identified among the 21 plastomes. Phylogenetic analyses based on four datasets and conducted using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference recovered two major clades corresponding to the traditionally recognized sectional classification, with one distributed from the Mediterranean to Central Asia and the other in East Asia. CONCLUSION: This study represents the most comprehensive plastome-based sampling of Ajuga to date, including representative species from the Mediterranean, Central Asia, and East Asia. Our results have significantly enhanced our understanding of its infrageneric relationships. The plastome resources generated in this study provide a valuable foundation for future research on species delimitation, phylogeny, and the evolutionary history of Ajuga.

Phylogeny↗

PubMed1992

Dinucleotide repeat polymorphism at the apolipoprotein AII locus--phenotyping from peripheral blood and hair.

The genomes of eukaryotes including humans contain very short simple sequence repeats such as (dA-dC)n and (dG-dT)n. Recently, these repeats have been reported to exhibit marked length polymorphism due to wide variation in their reiteration numbers. We report here dinucleotide repeat polymorphism at the apolipoprotein AII locus in Japanese subjects. The informativeness in Japanese was as high as in Caucasians (PIC value and heterozygosity of 0.67 and 0.72, respectively), but their allele frequencies were different with statistical significance. We also discuss the advantages of using dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms in forensic science, demonstrating determination of phenotype from not only a single hair root but also a short hair shaft.

Apolipoprotein A-II↗

PubMed1986

The simple repeat poly(dT-dG).poly(dC-dA) common to eukaryotes is absent from eubacteria and archaebacteria and rare in protozoans.

Genomic DNA from a wide variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms has been assayed for the simple repeat sequence poly(dT-dG).poly(dC-dA) by Southern blotting and DNA slot blot hybridizations. Consistent with findings of others, we have found the simple alternating sequence to be present in multiple copies in all organisms in the animal kingdom (e.g., mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crustaceans, insects, jellyfish, nematodes). The TG element was also found in lower eukaryotes (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Neurospora crassa, and Dictyostelium discoideum) and at a much lower frequency in protozoans (Oxytricha fallux and Tetrahymena thermophila). The sequence was also repeated in high copy number in a higher plant (Zea mays) as well as at very high levels in a unicellular green alga (Chlamydomonas reinhardi). Although the copy number of the repeat per haploid genome was generally proportional to genome size, there was a greater-than-1,000-fold variation in the number of (TG)25/100-kb genomic DNA. By contrast, no eu-or archaebacterium--including Myxococcus xanthus, whose life cycle is very similar to that of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum, and Halobacter volcanii, whose genome contains other repeated sequences--was found whose genomic DNA contained this sequence in detectable amounts. A computer search also failed to find the TG element in human mitochondrial DNA.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Evolutionary dynamics of the chloroplast genome in Abutilon (Malvoideae, Malvaceae).

The genus Abutilon Mill. (Malvaceae) comprises approximately 178 species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions, many of which hold significant ornamental, economic, and medicinal value; yet its taxonomic classification remains challenging. In this study, six species were sequenced from herbarium specimens, and the chloroplast (cp.) genomes of ten additional species were assembled de novo from publicly available raw data. Three previously reported cp. genomes were also incorporated to characterise cp. genome structure, identify polymorphic loci, and perform phylogenetic analyses. The cp. genomes ranged from 159,458 to 160,454 bp and exhibited the typical quadripartite structure, with each genome containing 112 unique genes (78 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and 4 rRNA) that showed conserved content and organisation. These genomes exhibited high similarity in GC content, inverted repeat boundaries, relative synonymous codon usage, amino acid frequencies, and substitution patterns. However, notable variation was observed in the total number of simple sequence repeats, ranging from 70 to 97 per genome. Selection analyses indicated predominant purifying selection, with evidence of episodic positive selection detected in rpoC2, rbcL, and ycf1. Two codons in rbcL were clade-specific and provided phylogenetic signal distinguishing Australian and Old World pantropical species. Nucleotide diversity analysis identified six highly polymorphic intergenic spacers (trnH-psbA, rps19-rpl2, psbT-pbf1, psaC-ndhD, trnR-atpA, and ndhJ-ndhK) that may be suitable for taxonomic studies. The phylogeny from maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) resolved two major clades: one comprising an exclusively Australian lineage occurring predominantly in arid and semi-arid environments, and the other a pantropical lineage spanning multiple continents. Abutilon grandifolium was recovered as sister to the remaining sampled Abutilon taxa in both ML and BI analyses, although no biogeographic origin inference can be drawn from this placement pending broader taxon sampling and integration of nuclear genomic data. These findings provide insights into the evolutionary dynamics of the cp. genome in Abutilon and offer a foundational genomic framework for refining Abutilon taxonomy.

Genome, Chloroplast↗