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[The mitochondrial genome of protists].

The data on the structure and functions of the mitochondrial genomes of protists (Protozoa and unicellular red and green algae) are reviewed. It is emphasized that mitochondrial gene structure and composition, as well as organization of mitochondrial genomes in protists are more diverse than in multicellular eukaryotes. The gene content of mitochondrial genomes of protists are closer to those of plants than animals or fungi. In the protist mitochondrial DNA, both the universal (as in higher plants) and modified (as in animals and fungi) genetic codes are used. In the overwhelming majority of cases, protist mitochondrial genomes code for the major and minor rRNA components, some tRNAs, and about 30 proteins of the respiratory chain and ribosomes. Based on comparison of the mitochondrial genomes of various protists, the origin and evolution of mitochondria are briefly discussed.

Animals↗

Rearrangements of chromosome 18 illustrate the utility of array-based comparative genomic hybridization.

Comprehensive and reliable testing is an important component of counseling and management in clinical genetics. Identification of imbalances of chromosomal segments has uncovered new genes and has established phenotype/genotype correlations for many syndromes with previously unidentified causes. Conventional cytogenetics has proven to be useful for the detection of large aberrations, but its resolution limits the identification of submicroscopic alterations. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on a microarray-based platform has the potential to detect and characterize both microscopic and submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities. Nine cases of aberrations involving chromosome 18 are used to illustrate the use and clinical potential of array CGH.

Child↗

Deciphering the genetic architecture of a multivariate phenotype.

A heritable multivariate quantitative phenotype comprises several correlated component phenotypes that are usually pleiotropically controlled by a set of major loci and environmental factors. One approach to decipher the genetic architecture of a multivariate phenotype, in particular to map the underlying loci, is to reduce the dimensionality of the data by means of a data reduction technique, such as principal component analysis. The extracted principal components are then analyzed in conjunction with marker data to map the underlying loci. We have examined the efficiency of this approach with and without taking into account the correlation structure of the multivariate phenotype when extracting principal components. We have assumed that genome-wide scan data on sibpairs are available for low-density (widely spaced) and high-density markers. Using extensive simulations, based on three models of the multivariate phenotype, we have shown that although ignoring the correlation structure of the multivariate phenotype does not have any serious impact on the efficiency of mapping the underlying trait loci in wide marker intervals, there is a significant adverse effect of this practice for fine-mapping. We, therefore, recommend that the correlation structure of the multivariate phenotype be carefully examined to decide on the strategy of extracting principal components for deciphering the genetic architecture of the multivariate phenotype.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Evidence for linkage of red blood cell size and count: genome-wide scans in the Framingham Heart Study.

Red blood cell (RBC) count and size are major criteria for evaluating anemia and related hematology disease diagnoses. While environmental factors influence RBC count (RBCC) and size, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), studies have indicated that each of these measures has a substantial genetic component. So far, no linkage analysis or genome scan has been reported. We carried out 10 cM genome-wide scans on RBCC, MCV, and MCH in a community-based Caucasian cohort, the Framingham Heart Study, using 325 pedigrees with 1,144 individuals genotyped and phenotyped. Using variance-component linkage methods, heritabilities were estimated as 56, 52, and 52% after covariate adjusted for RBCC, MCV, and MCH, respectively. For RBCC, we found a maximum LOD score of 3.2 on chromosome 19, 24 cM (7.0 Mbp). Near this region, there lie a few important candidate genes, including erythropoietin receptor and erythroid Krüppel-like factor. For linkage analyses for MCV and MCH, there were coinciding maximized LOD scores on chromosome 11, 9 cM (5.2 Mbp) with values of 3.8 and 3.6, respectively. Under the peak resides the hemoglobin beta cluster - several beta-like genes, which are important candidates for RBC size. In subsequent analyses, we excluded individuals with low MCV to assess the possible influence of beta-thalassemia carriers, and there continued to be evidence for linkage in the same region on chromosome 11p15 (LOD scores of 2.6 and 2.7 for MCV and MCH, respectively). For MCV, we also identified a new region on chromosome 6q24 with a LOD score of 2.9. These findings suggest that further studies are warranted to identify potential causal genetic variants for RBC size and count and related erythrocyte indices.

Adolescent↗

Isolation, mapping, and genomic structure of an X-linked gene for a subunit of human mitochondrial complex I.

We report here the isolation, mapping, and genomic organization of the human NDUFA1 gene, which is a component of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). The NDUFA1 cDNA clone and associated genomic cosmid clones were isolated by reciprocal probing of an arrayed human heart cDNA library with a X-chromosome cosmid library and were mapped to Xq24. The NDUFA1 gene, which is highly expressed in human cardiac and skeletal muscle, has an open reading frame of 70 amino acids and shows 80% homology to the bovine MWFE subunit of complex I. By primer extension, the major and minor transcription initiation sites were identified, 99 and 141 nucleotides upstream of the translation initiator ATG, respectively. The NDUFA1 gene is composed of 3 exons and spans about 5.0 kb of genomic DNA. The 5' region of the NDUFA1 gene (approximately 450-bp fragment) lacks conventional TATA and CAAT boxes, but it contains several potential binding sites for transcription factors including SP-1, AP-2, NF1, NRF2-like, APRRE, CRE, MyoD1, CArG, MEF-2, and BRE.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Prediction of genomic functional elements.

As the number of sequenced genomes increases, the ability to deduce genome function becomes increasingly salient. For many genome sequences, the only annotation that will be available for the foreseeable future will be based on computational predictions and comparisons with functional elements in related species. Here we discuss computational approaches for automated genome-wide annotation of functional elements in mammalian genomes. These include methods for ab initio and comparative gene-structure predictions. Gene features such as intron splice sites, 3' untranslated regions, promoters, and cis-regulatory elements are discussed, as is a novel method for predicting DNaseI hypersensitive sites. Recent methodologies for predicting noncoding RNA genes, including microRNA genes and their targets, are also reviewed.

Animals↗

Comparison of the linkage results of two phenotypic constructs from longitudinal data in the Framingham Heart Study: analyses on data measured at three time points and on the average of three measurements.

BACKGROUND: Family studies are often conducted in a cross-sectional manner without long-term follow-up data. The relative contribution of a gene to a specific trait could change over the lifetime. The Framingham Heart Study offers a unique opportunity to investigate potential gene x time interaction. We performed linkage analysis on the body mass index (BMI) measured in 1970, 1978, and 1986 for this project. RESULTS: We analyzed the data in two different ways: three genome-wide linkage analyses on each exam, and one genome-wide linkage analysis on the mean of the three measurements. Variance-component linkage analyses were performed by the SOLAR program. Genome-wide scans show consistent evidence of linkage of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosomes 3, 6, 9, and 16 in three measurements with a maximum multipoint LOD score > 2.2. However, only chromosome 9 has a LOD score = 2.14 when the mean values were analyzed. More interestingly, we found potential gene x environment interactions: increasing LOD scores with age on chromosomes 3, 9, and 16 and decreasing LOD scores on chromosome 6 in the three exams. CONCLUSION: The results indicate two points: 1) it is possible that a gene (or genes) influencing BMI is (are) up- or down-regulated as people aged due to aging process or changes in lifestyle, environments, or genetic epistasis; 2) using mean values from longitudinal data may reduce the power to detect linkage and may have no power to detect gene x time, and/or gene x gene interactions.

Adult Children↗

Molecular alterations in primary prostate cancer after androgen ablation therapy.

PURPOSE: After an initial response to androgen ablation, most prostate tumors recur, ultimately progressing to highly aggressive androgen-independent cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlying progression are not well known in part due to the rarity of androgen-independent samples from primary and metastatic sites. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We compared the gene expression profiles of 10 androgen-independent primary prostate tumor biopsies with 10 primary, untreated androgen-dependent tumors. Samples were laser capture microdissected, the RNA was amplified, and gene expression was assessed using Affymetrix Human Genome U133A GeneChip. Differential expression was examined with principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering, and Student's t testing. Analysis of gene ontology was done with Expression Analysis Systematic Explorer and gene expression data were integrated with genomic alterations with Differential Gene Locus Mapping. RESULTS: Unsupervised principal component analysis showed that the androgen-dependent and androgen-independent tumors segregated from one another. After filtering the data, 239 differentially expressed genes were identified. Two main gene ontologies were found discordant between androgen-independent and androgen-dependent tumors: macromolecule biosynthesis was down-regulated and cell adhesion was up-regulated in androgen-independent tumors. Other differentially expressed genes were related to interleukin-6 signaling as well as angiogenesis, cell adhesion, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and hormone response. The Differential Gene Locus Mapping analysis identified nine regions of potential chromosomal deletion in the androgen-independent tumors, including 1p36, 3p21, 6p21, 8p21, 11p15, 11q12, 12q23, 16q12, and 16q21. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data identify several unique characteristics of androgen-independent prostate cancer that may hold potential for the development of targeted therapeutic intervention.

Aged↗

Functional genomic analysis of RNA interference in C. elegans.

RNA interference (RNAi) of target genes is triggered by double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) processed by conserved nucleases and accessory factors. To identify the genetic components required for RNAi, we performed a genome-wide screen using an engineered RNAi sensor strain of Caenorhabditis elegans. The RNAi screen identified 90 genes. These included Piwi/PAZ proteins, DEAH helicases, RNA binding/processing factors, chromatin-associated factors, DNA recombination proteins, nuclear import/export factors, and 11 known components of the RNAi machinery. We demonstrate that some of these genes are also required for germline and somatic transgene silencing. Moreover, the physical interactions among these potential RNAi factors suggest links to other RNA-dependent gene regulatory pathways.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Exposure to host resistance mechanisms drives evolution of bacterial virulence in plants.

Bacterial pathogenicity to plants and animals has evolved through an arms race of attack and defense. Key players are bacterial effector proteins, which are delivered through the type III secretion system and suppress basal defenses . In plants, varietal resistance to disease is based on recognition of effectors by the products of resistance (R) genes . When recognized, the effector or in this scenario, avirulence (Avr) protein triggers the hypersensitive resistance reaction (HR), which generates antimicrobial conditions . Unfortunately, such gene-for-gene-based resistance commonly fails because of the emergence of virulent strains of the pathogen that no longer trigger the HR . We have followed the emergence of a new virulent pathotype of the halo-blight pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola within leaves of a resistant variety of bean. Exposure to the HR led to the selection of strains lacking the avirulence (effector) gene avrPphB (or hopAR1), which triggers defense in varieties with the matching R3 resistance gene. Loss of avrPphB was through deletion of a 106 kb genomic island (PPHGI-1) that shares features with integrative and conjugative elements (ICElands) and also pathogenicity islands (PAIs) in diverse bacteria . We provide a molecular explanation of how exposure to resistance mechanisms in plants drives the evolution of new virulent forms of pathogens.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Memory in retroviral quasispecies: experimental evidence and theoretical model for human immunodeficiency virus.

Viral quasispecies may possess a molecular memory of their past evolutionary history, imprinted on minority components of the mutant spectrum. Here we report experimental evidence and a theoretical model for memory in retroviral quasispecies in vivo. Apart from replicative memory associated with quasispecies dynamics, retroviruses may harbour a "cellular" or "anatomical" memory derived from their integrative cycle and the presence of viral reservoirs in body compartments. Three independent sets of data exemplify the two kinds of memory in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The data provide evidence of re-emergence of sequences that were hidden in cellular or anatomical compartments for extended periods of infection, and recovery of a quasispecies from pre-existing genomes. We develop a three-component model that incorporates the essential features of the quasispecies dynamics of retroviruses exposed to selective pressures. Significantly, a numerical study based on this model is in agreement with the experimental data, further supporting the existence of both replicative and reservoir memory in retroviral quasispecies.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

A dendrogram of plant viruses.

To facilitate the recognition of plant viruses with similar characteristics a dendrogram of characterized viruses was constructed. The sequence of criteria included: type of nucleic acid; single or double stranded; presence or absence of lipid envelope; helical or nonhelical symmetry; and divided or single genome. Nonhelical RNA viruses with divided genomes were further divided into viruses with one or more than one capsid size. Those with one capsid size were subdivided into viruses with one or more than one sedimenting component. Nonhelical RNA viruses with a single genome were divided according to their RNA size, and their sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

Capsid↗

Spliceosomal small nuclear RNA genes in 11 insect genomes.

The removal of introns from the primary transcripts of protein-coding genes is accomplished by the spliceosome, a large macromolecular complex of which small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) are crucial components. Following the recent sequencing of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) genome, we used various computational methods, ranging from sequence similarity search to RNA secondary structure prediction, to search for putative snRNA genes (including their promoters) and to examine their pattern of conservation among 11 available insect genomes (A. mellifera, Tribolium castaneum, Bombyx mori, Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, and six Drosophila species). We identified candidates for all nine spliceosomal snRNA genes in all the analyzed genomes. All the species contain a similar number of snRNA genes, with the exception of A. aegypti, whose genome contains more U1, U2, and U5 genes, and A. mellifera, whose genome contains fewer U2 and U5 genes. We found that snRNA genes are generally more closely related to homologs within the same genus than to those in other genera. Promoter regions for all spliceosomal snRNA genes within each insect species share similar sequence motifs that are likely to correspond to the PSEA (proximal sequence element A), the binding site for snRNA activating protein complex, but these promoter elements vary in sequence among the five insect families surveyed here. In contrast to the other insect species investigated, Dipteran genomes are characterized by a rapid evolution (or loss) of components of the U12 spliceosome and a striking loss of U12-type introns.

Animals↗

Cryptic satellites rich in inverted repeats comprise 30% of the genome of a hermit crab.

One major very highly repeated (VHR) DNA (approximately 7 X 10(6) copies/genome; repeat unit = 156 base pairs (bp)), a family of three minor VHR DNAs (approximately 2.8 X 10(6) copies/genome; repeat units = 71-74 bp), and a number of trace components account for almost 30% of the genome of a hermit crab. The repeat units of the three minor variants are defined by identical 14-bp G + C-rich inverted repeats that might form cruciforms. Two copies of the repeat unit (CCTA) of one of two patent satellites of this crab (Skinner, D. M., and Beattie, W. G. (1974) Biochemistry 13, 3922-3929; Skinner, D. M., Beattie, W. G., Blattner, F. R., Stark, B. P., and Dahlberg, J. E. (1974) Biochemistry 13, 3930-3937) occur at the center of one in seven of the G + C-rich inverted repeats; copies of the other patent satellite (Chambers, C. A., Schell, M. P., and Skinner, D. M. (1978) Cell 13, 97-110) are found in main component DNA. The sequences of both the major and minor VHR DNAs are characterized by short tracts of An and/or Tn (n = 4-7) residues whose presence would permit the formation of perfectly matched stems separated by loops of 8-16 bp. The An and/or Tn tracts are interspersed with segments of G + C-rich DNA and are arranged differently in the major and minor VHR DNAs. Although the repeat units of the major and the three minor VHR DNAs are arranged in tandem, the composition and sequence of their bases are such that they do not form distinct bands in CsCl gradients; they are cryptic satellites.

Animals↗

Inter-species horizontal transfer resulting in core-genome and niche-adaptive variation within Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Horizontal gene transfer is central to evolution in most bacterial species. The detection of exchanged regions is often based upon analysis of compositional characteristics and their comparison to the organism as a whole. In this study we describe a new methodology combining aspects of established signature analysis with textual analysis approaches. This approach has been used to analyze the two available genome sequences of H. pylori. RESULTS: This gene-by-gene analysis reveals a wide range of genes related to both virulence behaviour and the strain differences that have been relatively recently acquired from other sequence backgrounds. These frequently involve single genes or small numbers of genes that are not associated with transposases or bacteriophage genes, nor with inverted repeats typically used as markers for horizontal transfer. In addition, clear examples of horizontal exchange in genes associated with 'core' metabolic functions were identified, supported by differences between the sequenced strains, including: ftsK, xerD and polA. In some cases it was possible to determine which strain represented the 'parent' and 'altered' states for insertion-deletion events. Different signature component lengths showed different sensitivities for the detection of some horizontally transferred genes, which may reflect different amelioration rates of sequence components. CONCLUSION: New implementations of signature analysis that can be applied on a gene-by-gene basis for the identification of horizontally acquired sequences are described. These findings highlight the central role of the availability of homologous substrates in evolution mediated by horizontal exchange, and suggest that some components of the supposedly stable 'core genome' may actually be favoured targets for integration of foreign sequences because of their degree of conservation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Phylogenetics and genomic variation of Hepatocystis isolated from shotgun sequencing of wild primate hosts.

Hepatocystis are apicomplexan parasites nested within the Plasmodium genus that infect primates and other vertebrates, yet few isolates have been genetically characterized. Using taxonomic classification and mapping characteristics, we searched for Hepatocystis infections within publicly available, blood-derived whole genome sequence (WGS) data from 326 wild non-human primates (NHPs) in 17 genera. We identified 37 Hepatocystis infections in Papio cynocephalus (yellow baboons) and four species of Chlorocebus monkeys (grivets, green monkeys, vervet monkeys, and malbroucks) sampled from locations in west, east, and south Africa. Hepatocystis cytb sequences from Papio and Chlorocebus hosts each clustered within host species among previously reported isolates from other NHP taxa. Utilizing the low-coverage sequence data (0.11-0.76X per sample) recovered across the nuclear Hepatocystis genome, we identified 349,893 polymorphic sites. Principle components analysis based on genotype likelihoods across all samples showed evidence for population structure by primate host species. Across the genome, windows of high SNP density revealed candidate hypervariable loci including Hepatocystis-specific gene families possibly involved in immune evasion and genes that may be involved in adaptation to their insect vector and hepatocyte invasion. Overall, this work demonstrates how WGS data from wild NHPs can be leveraged to study the evolution of apicomplexan parasites and potentially test for association between host genetic variation and parasite infection.

Animals↗

Comparative proteomics using 2-D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry as tools to dissect stimulons and regulons in bacteria with sequenced or partially sequenced genomes.

We propose two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry to define the protein components of regulons and stimulons in bacteria, including those organisms where genome sequencing is still in progress. The basic 2-DE protocol allows high resolution and reproducibility and enables the direct comparison of hundreds or even thousands of proteins simultaneously. To identify proteins that comprise stimulons and regulons, peptide mass fingerprint (PMF) with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis is the first option and, if results from this tool are insufficient, complementary data obtained with electrospray ionization tandem-MS (ESI-MS/MS) may permit successful protein identification. ESI-MS/MS and MALDI-TOF-MS provide complementary data sets, and so a more comprehensive coverage of a proteome can be obtained using both techniques with the same sample, especially when few sequenced proteins of a particular organism exist or genome sequencing is still in progress.

Journal Article↗

Coelomocytes express SpBf, a homologue of factor B, the second component in the sea urchin complement system.

A homologue of factor B, SpBf, has been cloned and sequenced from an LPS-activated coelomocyte cDNA library from the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. The deduced amino acid sequence and domain structure show significant similarity to the vertebrate Bf/C2 family proteins. SpBf is a mosaic protein, composed of five short consensus repeats, a von Willebrand Factor domain, and a serine protease domain. It has a deduced molecular mass of 91 kDa, with a conserved cleavage site for a putative factor D protease. It has ten consensus recognition sites for N-linked glycosylation. Amino acids involved in both Mg2+ binding and in serine protease activity in the vertebrate C2/Bf proteins are conserved in SpBf. Phylogenetic analysis of SpBf indicates that it is the most ancient member of the vertebrate Bf/C2 family. Additional phylogenetic analysis of the SCRs indicates that five SCRs in SpBf may be ancestral to three SCRs, which is the typical pattern in the vertebrate Bf/C2 proteins. RNA gel blots show that SpBf transcripts are 5.5 kb and are specifically expressed in coelomocytes. Genome blots suggest that the SpBf gene (Sp152) is single copy gene per haploid genome. This is the second complement component to be identified from the sea urchin, and, with the sea urchin C3 homologue, these two components may be part of a simple complement system that is homologous to the alternative pathway in higher vertebrates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗