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Comparison of cloned genes provides evidence for intergenomic exchange of DNA in the evolution of a tobacco glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase gene family.

Two genes for prepro glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase (1,3-beta-glucanase; 1,3-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.39) of tobacco were cloned and their sequences were compared with cDNA clones. Southern analysis indicates that the genomic clones represent genes derived from ancestral parents of tobacco similar to the present day species Nicotiana sylvestris and Nicotiana tomentosiformis, whereas the genes represented by two of the cDNA clones appear to be unique to tobacco. The coding sequences of the genomic clones and cDNA clones differed at less than 2.2% of the positions, indicating that the tobacco 1,3-beta-glucanase gene family is highly conserved. Alternating blocks of sequence in the cDNA clones were identical to the coding sequence of the two genomic clones. These results and an analysis of evolutionary distances for nucleotide substitution are consistent with the hypothesis that the evolution of the tobacco 1,3-beta-glucanase gene family has involved exchange of DNA between members of the tomentosiformis and sylvestris subgenomes by recombination or gene conversion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Paleozoic record of morphologica diversity in blastozoan echinoderms.

There has been extensive debate about the magnitude and implications of morphological diversity in early Paleozoic animals, with some workers using apparently rapid initial diversification to infer unusual evolutionary processes. Analysis of discrete morphological characters shows that initial morphological diversification in the echinoderm subphylum Blastozoa was so pronounced that morphological diversity relative to taxonomic diversity was greatest in the Cambrian, whereas morphological diversity itself was greatest in the Middle and Upper Ordovician. Thus, a small number of Cambrian taxa sparsely occupied a large range in morphological space, whereas subsequent diversification involved expansion and filling of morphospace. A measure of clade-shape asymmetry and a method for statistical testing of clade shape are used to show that morphological diversity is significantly concentrated early in the history of the Blastozoa. The subphylum represents the highest biologic level at which temporal patterns of morphological diversity have been analyzed. Because this study is based on explicit morphological analysis, not taxonomic proxies for morphological diversity, the results are not artifacts of taxonomic practice.

Journal Article↗

Genome structure and evolution in Drosophila: applications of the framework P1 map.

Physical maps showing the relative locations of cloned DNA fragments in the genome are important resources for research in molecular genetics, genome analysis, and evolutionary biology. In addition to affording a common frame of reference for organizing diverse types of genetic data, physical maps also provide ready access to clones containing DNA sequences from any defined region of the genome. In this paper, we present a physical map of the genome of Drosophila melanogaster based on in situ hybridization with 2461 DNA fragments, averaging approximately 80 kilobase pairs each, cloned in bacteriophage P1. The map is a framework map in the sense that most putative overlaps between clones have not yet been demonstrated at the molecular level. Nevertheless, the framework map includes approximately 85% of all genes in the euchromatic genome. A continuous physical map composed of sets of overlapping P1 clones (contigs), which together span most of the euchromatic genome, is currently being assembled by screening a library of 9216 P1 clones with single-copy genetic markers as well as with the ends of the P1 clones already assigned positions in the framework map. Because most P1 clones from D. melanogaster hybridize in situ with chromosomes from related species, the framework map also makes it possible to determine the genome maps of D. pseudoobscura and other species in the subgenus Sophophora. Likewise, a P1 framework map of D. virilis affords potential access to genome organization and evolution in the subgenus Drosophila.

Animals↗

Lactone-ring-cleaving enzyme: genetic analysis, novel RNA editing, and evolutionary implications.

A lactonohydrolase from Fusarium oxysporum AKU 3702 is an enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of aldonate lactones to the corresponding aldonic acids. The amino acid sequences of the NH2 terminus and internal peptide fragments of the enzyme were determined to prepare synthetic oligonucleotides as primers for the PCR. An approximate 1, 000-base genomic DNA fragment thus amplified was used as the probe to clone both genomic DNA and cDNA for the enzyme. The lactonohydrolase genomic gene consists of six exons separated by five short introns. A novel type of RNA editing, in which lactonohydrolase mRNA included the insertion of guanosine and cytidine residues, was observed. The predicted amino acid sequence of the cloned lactonohydrolase cDNA showed significant similarity to those of the gluconolactonase from Zymomonas mobilis, and paraoxonases from human and rabbit, forming a unique superfamily consisting of C-O cleaving enzymes and P-O cleaving enzymes. Lactonohydrolase was expressed under the control of the lac promoter in Escherichia coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

beta-arrestin-dependent, G protein-independent ERK1/2 activation by the beta2 adrenergic receptor.

Physiological effects of beta adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) stimulation have been classically shown to result from G(s)-dependent adenylyl cyclase activation. Here we demonstrate a novel signaling mechanism wherein beta-arrestins mediate beta2AR signaling to extracellular-signal regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK 1/2) independent of G protein activation. Activation of ERK1/2 by the beta2AR expressed in HEK-293 cells was resolved into two components dependent, respectively, on G(s)-G(i)/protein kinase A (PKA) or beta-arrestins. G protein-dependent activity was rapid, peaking within 2-5 min, was quite transient, was blocked by pertussis toxin (G(i) inhibitor) and H-89 (PKA inhibitor), and was insensitive to depletion of endogenous beta-arrestins by siRNA. beta-Arrestin-dependent activation was slower in onset (peak 5-10 min), less robust, but more sustained and showed little decrement over 30 min. It was insensitive to pertussis toxin and H-89 and sensitive to depletion of either beta-arrestin1 or -2 by small interfering RNA. In G(s) knock-out mouse embryonic fibroblasts, wild-type beta2AR recruited beta-arrestin2-green fluorescent protein and activated pertussis toxin-insensitive ERK1/2. Furthermore, a novel beta2AR mutant (beta2AR(T68F,Y132G,Y219A) or beta2AR(TYY)), rationally designed based on Evolutionary Trace analysis, was incapable of G protein activation but could recruit beta-arrestins, undergo beta-arrestin-dependent internalization, and activate beta-arrestin-dependent ERK. Interestingly, overexpression of GRK5 or -6 increased mutant receptor phosphorylation and beta-arrestin recruitment, led to the formation of stable receptor-beta-arrestin complexes on endosomes, and increased agonist-stimulated phospho-ERK1/2. In contrast, GRK2, membrane translocation of which requires Gbetagamma release upon G protein activation, was ineffective unless it was constitutively targeted to the plasma membrane by a prenylation signal (CAAX). These findings demonstrate that the beta2AR can signal to ERK via a GRK5/6-beta-arrestin-dependent pathway, which is independent of G protein coupling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Coupling of agonist binding to effector domain activation in metabotropic glutamate-like receptors.

Many membrane receptors are made of a ligand binding domain and an effector domain mediating intracellular signaling. This is the case for the metabotropic glutamate-like G-protein-coupled receptors. How ligand binding leads to the active conformation of the effector domain in such receptors is largely unknown. Here, we used an evolutionary trace analysis and mutagenesis to identify critical residues involved in the allosteric coupling between the Venus flytrap ligand binding domain (VFT) and the heptahelical G-protein activating domain of the metabotropic glutamate-like receptors. We have shown that a conserved interdomain disulfide bridge is required for this allosteric interaction. Taking into account that these receptors are homodimers, this finding provides important new information explaining how the different conformations of the dimer of VFT lead to different signaling of such dimeric receptors.

Animals↗

Carpe diem: adaptation and devaluing the future.

Organisms typically "discount the future" in their decision making, but the extent to which they do so varies across species, sexes, age classes, and circumstances. This variability has been studied by biologists, economists, psychologists, and criminologists. We argue that the conceptual framework required for an interdisciplinary synthesis of knowledge in this area is the evolutionary adaptationist analysis of reproductive effort scheduling pioneered by George Williams.

Age Factors↗

Genetic variation and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.

Non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) are known to alter protein function, contributing to disease susceptibility. This report explores the nature of nsSNPs in the gene products of the highly conserved mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways already implicated in cancer development. MAPK signaling pathways regulate cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and survival mediated through interconnected signaling cascades. Using the dbSNP database, we have identified 25 nsSNPs in 17 out of 98 MAPK genes studied. Computational algorithms were used to predict whether the amino acid substitutions were evolutionarily tolerated, or affected putative functional units such as phosphorylation sites, protein motifs and domains. This study predicts that 36% of nsSNPs are likely to have functional consequences, based on evolutionary conservation analysis, and 36% based on phosphorylation prediction analysis. All such nsSNPs represent potentially functional and disease-causing/modifying alleles. More interestingly, the epistatic relationships discussed in this report represent potential synergistic/ antagonistic/additive effects of nsSNP combinations found within the same protein, or within members of the same protein complex and cascades. This strategy can effectively determine which nsSNPs potentially alter protein function, and can be utilized to study the genetic architecture and disease association of other biological protein complexes and networks.

Algorithms↗

Avl9p, a member of a novel protein superfamily, functions in the late secretory pathway.

The branching of exocytic transport routes in both yeast and mammalian cells has complicated studies of the late secretory pathway, and the mechanisms involved in exocytic cargo sorting and exit from the Golgi and endosomes are not well understood. Because cargo can be sorted away from a blocked route and secreted by an alternate route, mutants defective in only one route do not exhibit a strong secretory phenotype and are therefore difficult to isolate. In a genetic screen designed to isolate such mutants, we identified a novel conserved protein, Avl9p, the absence of which conferred lethality in a vps1Delta apl2Delta strain background (lacking a dynamin and an adaptor-protein complex 1 subunit). Depletion of Avl9p in this strain resulted in secretory defects as well as accumulation of Golgi-like membranes. The triple mutant also had a depolarized actin cytoskeleton and defects in polarized secretion. Overexpression of Avl9p in wild-type cells resulted in vesicle accumulation and a post-Golgi defect in secretion. Phylogenetic analysis indicated evolutionary relationships between Avl9p and regulators of membrane traffic and actin function.

Actins↗

Variation in the human TAS1R taste receptor genes.

We have performed a comprehensive evaluation of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in the human TAS1R gene family, which encodes receptors for sweet and umami tastes. Complete DNA sequences of TAS1R1-, TAS1R2-, and TAS1R3-coding regions, obtained from 88 individuals of African, Asian, European, and Native American origin, revealed substantial coding and noncoding diversity: polymorphisms are common in these genes, and polymorphic sites and SNP frequencies vary widely in human populations. The genes TAS1R1 and TAS1R3, which encode proteins that act as a dimer to form the umami (glutamate) taste receptor, showed less variation than the TAS1R2 gene, which acts as a dimer with TAS1R3 to form the sweet taste receptor. The TAS1R3 gene, which encodes a subunit common to both the sweet and umami receptors, was the most conserved. Evolutionary genetic analysis indicates that these variants have come to their current frequencies under natural selection during population growth and support the view that the coding sequence variants affect receptor function. We propose that human populations likely vary little with respect to umami perception, which is controlled by one major form of the receptor that is optimized for detecting glutamate but may vary much more with respect to sweet perception.

DNA↗

Genetic variation and phylogeography of central Asian and other house mice, including a major new mitochondrial lineage in Yemen.

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and flanking tRNAs were sequenced from 76 mice collected at 60 localities extending from Egypt through Turkey, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nepal to eastern Asia. Segments of the Y chromosome and of a processed p53 pseudogene (Psip53) were amplified from many of these mice and from others collected elsewhere in Eurasia and North Africa. The 251 mtDNA types, including 54 new ones reported here, now identified from commensal house mice (Mus musculus group) by sequencing this segment can be organized into four major lineages-domesticus, musculus, castaneus, and a new lineage found in Yemen. Evolutionary tree analysis suggested the domesticus mtDNAs as the sister group to the other three commensal mtDNA lineages and the Yemeni mtDNAs as the next oldest lineage. Using this tree and the phylogeographic approach, we derived a new model for the origin and radiation of commensal house mice whose main features are an origin in west-central Asia (within the present-day range of M. domesticus) and the sequential spreading of mice first to the southern Arabian Peninsula, thence eastward and northward into south-central Asia, and later from south-central Asia to north-central Asia (and thence into most of northern Eurasia) and to southeastern Asia. Y chromosomes with and without an 18-bp deletion in the Zfy-2 gene were detected among mice from Iran and Afghanistan, while only undeleted Ys were found in Turkey, Yemen, Pakistan, and Nepal. Polymorphism for the presence of a Psip53 was observed in Georgia, Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Sequencing of a 128-bp Psip53 segment from 79 commensal mice revealed 12 variable sites and implicated >/=14 alleles. The allele that appeared to be phylogenetically ancestral was widespread, and the greatest diversity was observed in Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nepal. Two mice provided evidence for a second Psip53 locus in some commensal populations.

Animals↗

An Integrated Sequence-Structure Database incorporating matching mRNA sequence, amino acid sequence and protein three-dimensional structure data.

We have constructed a non-homologous database, termed the Integrated Sequence-Structure Database (ISSD) which comprises the coding sequences of genes, amino acid sequences of the corresponding proteins, their secondary structure and straight phi,psi angles assignments, and polypeptide backbone coordinates. Each protein entry in the database holds the alignment of nucleotide sequence, amino acid sequence and the PDB three-dimensional structure data. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences for each entry are selected on the basis of exact matches of the source organism and cell environment. The current version 1.0 of ISSD is available on the WWW at http://www.protein.bio.msu.su/issd/ and includes 107 non-homologous mammalian proteins, of which 80 are human proteins. The database has been used by us for the analysis of synonymous codon usage patterns in mRNA sequences showing their correlation with the three-dimensional structure features in the encoded proteins. Possible ISSD applications include optimisation of protein expression, improvement of the protein structure prediction accuracy, and analysis of evolutionary aspects of the nucleotide sequence-protein structure relationship.

Algorithms↗

Sequence evolution of the CCR5 chemokine receptor gene in primates.

The chemokine receptor CCR5 can serve as a coreceptor for M-tropic HIV-1 infection and both M-tropic and T-tropic SIV infection. We sequenced the entire CCR5 gene from 10 nonhuman primates: Pongo pygmaeus, Hylobates leucogenys, Trachypithecus francoisi, Trachypithecus phayrei, Pygathrix nemaeus, Rhinopithecus roxellanae, Rhinopithecus bieti, Rhinopithecus avunculus, Macaca assamensis, and Macaca arctoides. When compared with CCR5 sequences from humans and other primates, our results demonstrate that: (1) nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CCR5 among primates are highly homologous, with variations slightly concentrated on the amino and carboxyl termini; and (2) site Asp13, which is critical for CD4-independent binding of SIV gp120 to Macaca mulatta CCR5, was also present in all other nonhuman primates tested here, suggesting that those nonhuman primate CCR5s might also bind SIV gp120 without the presence of CD4. The topologies of CCR5 gene trees constructed here conflict with the putative opinion that the snub-nosed langurs compose a monophyletic group, suggesting that the CCR5 gene may not be a good genetic marker for low-level phylogenetic analysis. The evolutionary rate of CCR5 was calculated, and our results suggest a slowdown in primates after they diverged from rodents. The synonymous mutation rate of CCR5 in primates is constant, about 1.1 x 10(-9) synonymous mutations per site per year. Comparisons of Ka and Ks suggest that the CCR5 genes have undergone negative or purifying selection. Ka/Ks ratios from cercopithecines and colobines are significantly different, implying that selective pressures have played different roles in the two lineages.

Animals↗

Mitochondrial DNA in the sea urchin Arbacia lixula: evolutionary inferences from nucleotide sequence analysis.

From the stirodont Arbacia lixula we determined the sequence of 5,127 nucleotides of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encompassing 18 tRNAs, two complete coding genes, parts of three other coding genes, and part of the 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). The sequence confirms that the organization of mtDNA is conserved within echinoids. Furthermore, it underlines the following peculiar features of sea urchin mtDNA: the clustering of tRNAs, the short noncoding regulatory sequence, and the separation by the ND1 and ND2 genes of the two rRNA genes. Comparison with the orthologous sequences from the camarodont species Paracentrotus lividus and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus revealed that (1) echinoids have an extra piece on the amino terminus of the ND5 gene that is probably the remnant of an old leucine tRNA gene; (2) third-position codon nucleotide usage has diverged between A. lixula and the camarodont species to a significant extent, implying different directional mutational pressures; and (3) the stirodont-camarodont divergence occurred twice as long ago as did the P. lividus-S. purpuratus divergence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genomic divergence of an HIV-2 from a German AIDS patient probably infected in Mali.

The complete nucleotide sequence of an HIV-2 isolate derived from a German AIDS patient with predominantly neurological symptoms is reported. The HIV-2BEN sequence is highly divergent from those of previously described HIV-2 and SIV strains. Evolutionary tree analysis of eight HIV-2 sequences reveals the existence of three HIV-2 groups. HIV-2BEN belongs to a group with two isolates from Ghana and The Gambia. Based on a comparison of HIV-2BEN with six HIV-2 isolates, SIVsmm and SIVmac, the variability of the structural env and gag proteins is similar within the HIV-2/SIVsmm/mac and HIV-1 groups. In contrast, the regulatory HIV-1 proteins are more highly conserved than those from HIV-2 strains. Multiple sequence alignments reveal that some domains of the envelope and regulatory proteins are well conserved among HIV-1, HIV-2/SIVsmm/mac, SIVagm and SIVmnd. The identification of conserved domains within the external glycoprotein could help to develop broadly active vaccines.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

CCR5 promoter human haplogroups associated with HIV-1 disease progression in Thai injection drug users.

BACKGROUND: An evolutionary-based analysis of the CC chemokine receptor 5 gene (CCR5) promoter region has identified nine stable human haplogroups, within which certain haplogroups appear to influence HIV-1 disease progression differentially among Caucasians and African-Americans. OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of CCR5 haplogroups on HIV-1 disease progression in a Thai population. DESIGN: Haplogroup analysis of HIV-1-seropositive injection drug users (IDU) participating in a prospective cohort study in Bangkok. All were documented seroconverters with a median follow-up time of 3.5 years (range, 0.2-7.0). METHODS: From a cohort of 130 IDU, 106 (81.5%) were genotyped for the CCR2b-64I, CCR5-delta32 and seven CCR5 promoter alleles constituting the CCR5 haplogroups. Survival curves and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the effect of haplogroups on the time from HIV-1 infection until CD4 count < 200 x 10(6) cells/l. RESULTS: The most common CCR5 haplogroups were HHC (61.8%), followed by HHE (15.6%) and HHF*2 (14.6%). HHE was associated with an accelerated CD4 count decline to < 200 x 10(6) cells/l (adjusted relative hazard, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.36; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first evidence that the CCR5 haplogroup E speeds the decline of the CD4 cell count and may lead to accelerated disease progression among HIV-infected Thais. These new observations highlight the need for additional studies involving populations in Asia.

Adult↗

Historical climate change and speciation: neotropical seasonally dry forest plants show patterns of both tertiary and quaternary diversification.

Historical climate changes have had a major effect on the distribution and evolution of plant species in the neotropics. What is more controversial is whether relatively recent Pleistocene climatic changes have driven speciation, or whether neotropical species diversity is more ancient. This question is addressed using evolutionary rate analysis of sequence data of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers in diverse taxa occupying neotropical seasonally dry forests, including Ruprechtia (Polygonaceae), robinioid legumes (Fabaceae), Chaetocalyx and Nissolia (Fabaceae), and Loxopterygium (Anacardiaceae). Species diversifications in these taxa occurred both during and before the Pleistocene in Central America, but were primarily pre-Pleistocene in South America. This indicates plausibility both for models that predict tropical species diversity to be recent and that invoke a role for Pleistocene climatic change, and those that consider it ancient and implicate geological factors such as the Andean orogeny and the closure of the Panama Isthmus. Cladistic vicariance analysis was attempted to identify common factors underlying evolution in these groups. In spite of the similar Mid-Miocene to Pliocene ages of the study taxa, and their high degree of endemism in the different fragments of South American dry forests, the analysis yielded equivocal, non-robust patterns of area relationships.

Base Sequence↗

Genetic variation and dynamics of hepatitis C virus replicons in long-term cell culture.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomic sequences are known to vary widely among HCV strains, but to date there have been few reports on the genetic variations and dynamics of HCV in an experimental system of HCV replication. In this study, a genetic analysis of HCV replicons obtained in long-term culture of two HCV replicon cells (50-1 and 1B-2R1), which were established from two HCV strains, 1B-1 and 1B-2, respectively, was performed. One person cultured 50-1 cells for 18 months, and two people independently cultured 50-1 cells for 12 months. 1B-2R1 cells were also cultured for 12 months. The whole nucleotide sequences of the three independent replicon RNA clones obtained at several time points were determined. It was observed that genetic mutations in both replicons accumulated in a time-dependent manner, and that the mutation rates of both replicons were approximately 3.0 x 10(-3) base substitutions/site/year. The genetic diversity of both replicons was also enlarged in a time-dependent manner. The colony formation assay by transfection of total RNAs isolated from both replicon cells at different time points into naive HuH-7 cells revealed that the genetic mutations accumulating with time in both replicons apparently improved colony formation efficiency. Taken together, these results suggest that the HCV replicon system is useful for the analysis of evolutionary dynamics and variations of HCV. Using this replicon cell culture system, it was demonstrated further that neither ribavirin nor its derivative mizoribine accelerated the mutation rate or the increase in the genetic diversity of HCV replicon.

Cell Culture Techniques↗