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Modeling complex genetic interactions in a simple eukaryotic genome: actin displays a rich spectrum of complex haploinsufficiencies.

Multigenic influences are major contributors to human genetic disorders. Since humans are highly polymorphic, there are a high number of possible detrimental, multiallelic gene pairs. The actin cytoskeleton of yeast was used to determine the potential for deleterious bigenic interactions; approximately 4800 complex hemizygote strains were constructed between an actin-null allele and the nonessential gene deletion collection. We found 208 genes that have deleterious complex haploinsufficient (CHI) interactions with actin. This set is enriched for genes with gene ontology terms shared with actin, including several actin-binding protein genes, and nearly half of the CHI genes have defects in actin organization when deleted. Interactions were frequently seen with genes for multiple components of a complex or with genes involved in the same function. For example, many of the genes for the large ribosomal subunit (RPLs) were CHI with act1Delta and had actin organization defects when deleted. This was generally true of only one RPL paralog of apparently duplicate genes, suggesting functional specialization between ribosomal genes. In many cases, CHI interactions could be attributed to localized defects on the actin protein. Spatial congruence in these data suggest that the loss of binding to specific actin-binding proteins causes subsets of CHI interactions.

Actins↗

Expression and phylogeny of claudins in vertebrate primordia.

Claudins, the major transmembrane proteins of tight junctions, are members of the tetraspanin superfamily of proteins that mediate cellular adhesion and migration. Their functional importance is demonstrated by mutations in claudin genes that eliminate tight junctions in myelin and the testis, abolish Mg(2+) resorption in the kidney, and cause autosomal recessive deafness. Here we report that two paralogs among 15 claudin genes in the zebrafish, Danio rerio, are expressed in the otic and lateral-line placodes at their earliest stages of development. Related claudins in amphibians and mammals are expressed in a similar manner in vertebrate primordia such as sensory placodes, branchial arches, and limb buds. We also show that the claudin gene family may have expanded along the chordate stem lineage from urochordates to gnathostomes, in parallel with the elaboration of vertebrate characters. We propose that tight junctions not only form barriers in mature epithelia, but also participate in vertebrate morphogenesis.

Animals↗

Conservation and divergence of candidate class B genes in Akebia trifoliata (Lardizabalaceae).

There is evidence that gene duplication and diversification within the MADS-box gene family had significant impact on floral architecture. In this study, we report the isolation of four class B homologous genes from Akebia trifoliata, termed AktAP3_1, AktAP3_2, AktAP3_3, and AktPI. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the three AktAP3 paralogs were produced by two gene duplication events and AktAP3_2 and AktAP3_3 are recent paralogs, which are yielded by the duplication before the origin of the genus Akebia. In situ hybridization demonstrates that these genes are mainly expressed in the stamens and carpels of A. trifoliata, but in differential patterns, similar to those in other basal eudicot and basal angiosperm species. AktAP3_3 and AktPI are expressed in the developing petaloid perianth, suggesting that the petaloidy of the perianth is caused by the expression of class B genes. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analyses indicate that these genes are expressed in both male and female flowers, but at different levels. We explore the interaction behavior of the class B proteins in the basal eudicots using yeast two-hybrid system for the first time. The AktAP3_1/2/3 proteins and the AktPI protein can form obligate heterodimers, but at different strength. From the mRNA expression and protein interaction patterns of the duplicated copies of the AktAP3 genes, we conclude that subfunctionalization very likely contributes to the maintenance of multiple AP3-like gene copies in A. trifoliata.

Dimerization↗

Human paralogs of KIAA0187 were created through independent pericentromeric-directed and chromosome-specific duplication mechanisms.

KIAA0187 is a gene of unknown function that maps to 10q11 and has been subject to recent duplication events. Here we analyze 18 human paralogs of this gene and show that paralogs of exons 14-23 were formed through satellite-associated pericentromeric-directed duplication, whereas paralogs of exons 1-9 were created via chromosome-specific satellite-independent duplications. In silico, Northern, and RT-PCR analyses indicate that nine paralogs are transcribed, including four in which KIAA0187 exons are spliced onto novel sequences. Despite this, no new genes appear to have been created by these events. The chromosome 10 paralogs map to 10q11, 10q22, 10q23.1, and 10q23.3, forming part of a complex family of chromosome-specific repeats that includes GLUD1, Cathepsin L, and KIAA1099 pseudogenes. Phylogenetic analyses and comparative FISH indicates that the 10q23.1 and 10q23.3 repeats were created in 10q11 and relocated by a paracentric inversion 13 to 27 Myr ago. Furthermore, the most recent duplications, involving the KIAA1099 pseudogenes, have largely been confined to 10q11. These results indicate a simple model for the evolution of this repeat family, involving multiple rounds of centromere-proximal duplication and dispersal through intrachromosomal rearrangement. However, more complex events must be invoked to account for high sequence identity between some paralogs.

Animals↗

Developmentally distinct MYB genes encode functionally equivalent proteins in Arabidopsis.

The duplication and divergence of developmental control genes is thought to have driven morphological diversification during the evolution of multicellular organisms. To examine the molecular basis of this process, we analyzed the functional relationship between two paralogous MYB transcription factor genes, WEREWOLF (WER) and GLABROUS1 (GL1), in Arabidopsis. The WER and GL1 genes specify distinct cell types and exhibit non-overlapping expression patterns during Arabidopsis development. Nevertheless, reciprocal complementation experiments with a series of gene fusions showed that WER and GL1 encode functionally equivalent proteins, and their unique roles in plant development are entirely due to differences in their cis-regulatory sequences. Similar experiments with a distantly related MYB gene (MYB2) showed that its product cannot functionally substitute for WER or GL1. Furthermore, an analysis of the WER and GL1 proteins shows that conserved sequences correspond to specific functional domains. These results provide new insights into the evolution of the MYB gene family in Arabidopsis, and, more generally, they demonstrate that novel developmental gene function may arise solely by the modification of cis-regulatory sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evolution of the Mhc class I region: the framework hypothesis.

A comparison of the major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) region between human and mouse highlights both stability and differences. The class II and class III regions are orthologous; they probably existed in the ancestor in a similar organization and were not subjected to major rearrangement. The class I genes, by contrast, are definitely paralogous, having been reorganized several times. As long as only class I genes were identified, the class I regions of human and mouse were difficult to compare directly. The identification of non-class I genes has allowed a comparative map to be drawn, which shows that the class I region is orthologous between human and mouse as well. The lack of orthology specifically applies to the class I sequences. However, the comparative map shows that the non-orthologous class I sequences occupy homologous locations with regard to the conserved genes. I propose a model to explain this paradox. The conserved genes may represent samples of a dense "framework" of genes whose alterations are deleterious. The homologous positions occupied by class I genes would thus represent the few permissive places allowing major perturbations. The evolution of the class I sequences, by duplication and deletion, independently in the two species, has taken place within the scope defined by the framework: insertion at the permissive places, and expansion by creation of class I-related DNA by duplication, thus pushing back the boundaries of the framework.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Hox gene survey in the chaetognath Spadella cephaloptera: evolutionary implications.

We present the isolation of six Hox genes in the chaetognath Spadella cephaloptera. We identified one member of the paralogy group 3, four median genes and a mosaic gene that shares features of both median and posterior classes ( SceMedPost). Several hypotheses may account for the presence of a mosaic Hox gene in this animal. Here we propose that SceMedPost may represent an ancestral gene, which has not diverged totally into a posterior or a median one. This hypothesis has interesting implications for the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of Hox genes and suggests that Chaetognatha lineage divergence could predate the deuterostome/protostome split. Such a phylogenetic position is considered in the light of their embryological and morphological characters.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The opcA and (psi)opcB regions in Neisseria: genes, pseudogenes, deletions, insertion elements and DNA islands.

Previous data have indicated that the opc gene encoding an immunogenic invasin is specific to Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) and is lacking in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng). The data presented here show that Nm and Ng both contain two paralogous opc-like genes, opcA, corresponding to the former opc gene, and (psi)opcB, a pseudogene. The predicted OpcA and OpcB proteins possess transmembrane regions with conserved non-polar faces but differ extensively in four of the five surface-exposed loops. Gonococcal OpcA was expressed weakly under in vitro conditions, and it is unknown whether these bacteria can express this protein at high levels. Analysis of the sequences flanking opcA and (psi)opcB revealed a framework of conserved housekeeping genes interspersed with DNA islands. These regions also contained several pseudogenes, deletions and IS elements, attesting to considerable genome plasticity. Both opcA and (psi)opcB are located on DNA islands that have probably been imported from unrelated bacteria. A third island encodes the dcmD/dcrD R/M genes in Ng versus a small open reading frame in most strains of Nm. Rare strains of Nm were identified in which the R/M island has been imported. DNA islands in Nm and Ng seem to have been acquired by recombination via conserved flanking housekeeping genes rather than by insertion of mobile genetic elements.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Mosaic organization of orthologous sequences in grass genomes.

Although comparative genetic mapping studies show extensive genome conservation among grasses, recent data provide many exceptions to gene collinearity at the DNA sequence level. Rice, sorghum, and maize are closely related grass species, once sharing a common ancestor. Because they diverged at different times during evolution, they provide an excellent model to investigate sequence divergence. We isolated, sequenced, and compared orthologous regions from two rice subspecies, sorghum, and maize to investigate the nature of their sequence differences. This study represents the most extensive sequence comparison among grasses, including the largest contiguous genomic sequences from sorghum (425 kb) and maize (435 kb) to date. Our results reveal a mosaic organization of the orthologous regions, with conserved sequences interspersed with nonconserved sequences. Gene amplification, gene movement, and retrotransposition account for the majority of the nonconserved sequences. Our analysis also shows that gene amplification is frequently linked with gene movement. Analyzing an additional 2.9 Mb of genomic sequence from rice not only corroborates our observations, but also suggests that a significant portion of grass genomes may consist of paralogous sequences derived from gene amplification. We propose that sequence divergence started from hotspots along chromosomes and expanded by accumulating small-scale genomic changes during evolution.

Chromosomes, Plant↗

The amplified mouse squamous cell carcinoma antigen gene locus contains a serpin (Serpinb3b) that inhibits both papain-like cysteine and trypsin-like serine proteinases.

The clade B serpins occupy a unique niche among a larger superfamily by predominantly regulating intracellular proteolysis. In humans, there are 13 family members that map to serpin gene clusters at either 6p25 or 18q21. While most of these serpins display a unique inhibitory profile and appear to be well conserved in mammals, the clade B loci of several species show evidence of relatively recent genomic amplification events. However, it is not clear whether these serpin gene amplification events yield paralogs with functional redundancy or, through selective pressure, inhibitors with more diverse biochemical activities. A recent comparative genomic analysis of the mouse clade B cluster at 1D found nearly complete conservation of gene number, order, and orientation relative to those of 18q21 in humans. The only exception was the squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) locus. The human SCCA locus contains two genes, SERPINB3 (SCCA1) and SERPINB4 (SCCA2), whereas the mouse locus contains four serpins and three pseudogenes. At least two of these genes encoded functional, dual cross-class proteinase inhibitors. Mouse Serpinb3a was shown previously to inhibit both chymotrypsin-like serine and papain-like cysteine proteinases. We now report that mouse Serpinb3b extends the inhibitory repertoire of the mouse SCCA locus to include a second cross-class inhibitor with activity against both papain-like cysteine and trypsin-like serine proteinases. These findings confirmed that the genomic expansion of the clade B serpins in the mouse was associated with a functional diversification of inhibitory activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The complete genome sequence of the Arabidopsis and tomato pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000.

We report the complete genome sequence of the model bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tomato DC3000 (DC3000), which is pathogenic on tomato and Arabidopsis thaliana. The DC3000 genome (6.5 megabases) contains a circular chromosome and two plasmids, which collectively encode 5,763 ORFs. We identified 298 established and putative virulence genes, including several clusters of genes encoding 31 confirmed and 19 predicted type III secretion system effector proteins. Many of the virulence genes were members of paralogous families and also were proximal to mobile elements, which collectively comprise 7% of the DC3000 genome. The bacterium possesses a large repertoire of transporters for the acquisition of nutrients, particularly sugars, as well as genes implicated in attachment to plant surfaces. Over 12% of the genes are dedicated to regulation, which may reflect the need for rapid adaptation to the diverse environments encountered during epiphytic growth and pathogenesis. Comparative analyses confirmed a high degree of similarity with two sequenced pseudomonads, Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, yet revealed 1,159 genes unique to DC3000, of which 811 lack a known function.

Arabidopsis↗

Cloning and chromosomal localization of a paralog and a mouse homolog of the human transaldolase gene.

A sequence homologous to the transaldolase gene (TALDO) was identified in a polymorphic cosmid DNA mapped on human chromosome 11p15 by exon trapping with pSPL3. Analysis of lambda clones contiguous to the cosmid clone showed that the related gene (TALDOR) consists of 8 exons spanning approximately 19kb from the translation start site to the polyadenylation signal. The exon sequence of TALDOR was almost identical with that of TALDO localized on 1p33-34. 1, but its exons corresponding to exons 4 and 5 of TALDO were found to be split by 4 introns in TALDOR. To examine the evolutionary conservation of two genes for transaldolase, we have isolated the cDNA for its mouse homolog and determined the nucleotide sequence covering the complete coding region. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using the cDNA as a probe showed that the mouse transaldolase gene (Taldo) is localized on chromosome 7 F3-F4 as a single copy gene. This chromosomal region is known to be syntenic to human chromosome 11p15 rather than to 1p33-p34.1, suggesting that TALDOR is the ancestral form. The existence of TALDOR implies a duplication of the mammalian transaldolase gene after divergence of rodent and primate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Paralogous stellate and Su(Ste) repeats: evolution and ability to silence a reporter gene.

The X-linked Stellate repeats, encoding a putative regulatory subunit of protein kinase CK2, are expressed in XO male testes. The Y-linked, testes-expressed paralogous Su(Ste) repeats are thought to be suppressors of Stellate transcription. The unique, testis-expressed euchromatic gene was suggested to be an ancestor of the both types of amplified paralogous repeats. A Su(Ste)-like orphon was localized on a Y chromosome, outside of the Su(Ste) cluster. Several diagnostic molecular markers peculiar for the both types of diverged Stellate and Su(Ste) units were detected in the orphon sequence. The orphon was suggested to be a close relative of the immediate ancestor of both types of paralogous repeats which initiated evolution on the Y chromosome. Selection pressure on the level of translation was shown as a driving force in the evolution of Su(Ste) repeats, which are considered as more ancient derivatives of the ancestor euchromatic gene than Stellate repeats. In a vicinity of 12E Stellate cluster the undamaged, recently originated euchromatic Stellate orphon was found at 12D, providing the poly(A) signal for the bendless gene. P-element mediated transformations reveal that the fragments of cloned Stellate and Su(Ste) clusters are able to induce variegation of a reporter mini-white gene. The observed variegation phenomenon has peculiar features: a significant increase of trans-activation of a reporter mini-white gene in homozygous state; absence of effects of several conventional modifiers of position effect variegation (PEV) and independence of a severity of variegation on a distance between insertion and centromere region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The complete genomic sequence of Nocardia farcinica IFM 10152.

We determined the genomic sequence of Nocardia farcinica IFM 10152, a clinical isolate, and revealed the molecular basis of its versatility. The genome consists of a single circular chromosome of 6,021,225 bp with an average G+C content of 70.8% and two plasmids of 184,027 (pNF1) and 87,093 (pNF2) bp with average G+C contents of 67.2% and 68.4%, respectively. The chromosome encoded 5,674 putative protein-coding sequences, including many candidate genes for virulence and multidrug resistance as well as secondary metabolism. Analyses of paralogous protein families suggest that gene duplications have resulted in a bacterium that can survive not only in soil environments but also in animal tissues, resulting in disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential expression of orthologous Dlx genes in zebrafish and mice: implications for the evolution of the Dlx homeobox gene family.

Dlx homeobox genes of vertebrates are often organised as physically linked pairs in which the two genes are transcribed convergently (tail-to-tail arrangement). Three such Dlx pairs have been found in mouse, human, and zebrafish and are thought to have originated from the duplication of an ancestral gene pair. These pairs include Dlx1/Dlx2, Dlx7/Dlx3, and Dlx6/Dlx5 (the zebrafish orthologue of Dlx5 is named dlx4). Expression patterns of physically linked Dlx genes overlap extensively. Furthermore, orthologous Dlx genes often show highly similar expression patterns. We analysed Dlx expression during the gastrula and early somitogenesis of the mouse and zebrafish. It was found that expression of the mouse Dlx6 gene takes place in the rostral ectoderm and presumptive olfactory and otic placodes with patterns similar to the previously reported expression of the physically linked Dlx5 gene. However, we observed only very weak expression of the mouse Dlx3 gene at the same stage. This contrasts with the expression of dlx genes in zebrafish where dlx3 and dlx7, but not dlx4 and dlx6 are expressed during gastrulation in the rostral ectoderm and presumptive placodes. Thus, Dlx expression patterns at early stages are better conserved between paralogous pairs of physically linked genes than between orthologous pairs. This suggests that early expression of Dlx genes existed prior to the duplications that led to the multiple pairs of physically linked genes but was differentially conserved in different paralogs in zebrafish and mice.

Animals↗

Genome mining for human cancer genes: wherefore art thou?

In an initial data-mining effort, the draft human genome was searched to find paralogs of known tumor suppressor genes, and for gene arrangements, which are typical of oncogenes, in cancer cells. The results were disappointing, indicating that although knowledge of the human genome will undoubtedly be of great help, other approaches to identify new oncogenes are needed.

Databases, Factual↗

The major clades of MADS-box genes and their role in the development and evolution of flowering plants.

MADS-box genes encode a family of transcription factors which control diverse developmental processes in flowering plants ranging from root to flower and fruit development. Sequencing of (almost) the complete Arabidopsis genome enabled the identification of (almost) all of the Arabidopsis MADS-box genes. MADS-box genes have been divided in two large groups, termed type I and type II genes. The type II genes comprise the MEF2-like genes of animals and fungi and the MIKC-type genes of plants. The majority of MIKC-type genes are of the MIKC(c)-type, which includes all plant MADS-box genes for which expression patterns or mutant phenotypes are known. By phylogeny reconstruction, almost all of the MIKC(c)-type genes can be subdivided into 12 major gene clades, each clade comprising 1-6 paralogs from Arabidopsis and putative orthologs from other seed plants. Here we first briefly describe the deep branching of the MADS-box gene tree to place the MIKC(c)-type genes into an evolutionary context. For every clade of MIKC(c)-type genes we then review what is known about its members from Arabidopsis and well-studied members from other phylogenetically informative plant species. By gene sampling and phylogeny reconstructions we provide minimal estimates for the ages of the different clades. It turns out that 7 of the 12 major gene clades, i.e., AG-, AGL6-, AGL12-, DEF+GLO- (B), GGM13- (B(s)), STMADS11- and TM3-like genes very likely existed already in the most recent common ancestor of angiosperms and gymnosperms about 300MYA. Three of the other clades, i.e., AGL2-, AGL17-, and SQUA-like genes, existed at least already in the most recent common ancestor of monocots and eudicots about 200 MYA. Only for two gene clades, AGL15-like genes (2 genes in Arabidopsis) and FLC-like genes (6 genes) members from plants other than Brassicaceae have not been reported yet. Similarly, only one ancient clade known from other flowering plant species, TM8-like genes, is not represented in Arabidopsis. These findings reveal that the diversity of MADS-box genes in Arabidopsis is rather ancient and representative for other flowering plants. Our studies may thus help to predict the set of MADS-box genes in all other flowering plants, except for relatively young paralogs. For the different gene clades we try to identify ancestral and derived gene functions and review the importance of these clades for seed plant development and evolution. We put special emphasis on gene clades for which insights into their importance has rapidly increased just recently.

Arabidopsis↗

Evolution of duplicated alpha-tubulin genes in ciliates.

Ciliates provide a powerful system to analyze the evolution of duplicated alpha-tubulin genes in the context of single-celled organisms. Genealogical analyses of ciliate alpha-tubulin sequences reveal five apparently recent gene duplications. Comparisons of paralogs in different ciliates implicate differing patterns of substitutions (e.g., ratios of replacement/synonymous nucleotides and radical/conservative amino acids) following duplication. Most substitutions between paralogs in Euplotes crassus, Halteria grandinella and Paramecium tetraurelia are synonymous. In contrast, alpha-tubulin paralogs within Stylonychia lemnae and Chilodonella uncinata are evolving at significantly different rates and have higher ratios of both replacement substitutions to synonymous substitutions and radical amino acid changes to conservative amino acid changes. Moreover, the amino acid substitutions in C. uncinata and S. lemnae paralogs are limited to short stretches that correspond to functionally important regions of the alpha-tubulin protein. The topology of ciliate alpha-tubulin genealogies are inconsistent with taxonomy based on morphology and other molecular markers, which may be due to taxonomic sampling, gene conversion, unequal rates of evolution, or asymmetric patterns of gene duplication and loss.

Amino Acid Sequence↗