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PubMed1996

Bacterial signalling involving eukaryotic-type protein kinases.

Protein Ser, Thr and Tyr kinases play essential roles in signal transduction in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals, where they regulate a variety of cellular activities. During the last few years, a number of genes that encode eukaryotic-type protein kinases have also been identified in four different bacterial species, suggesting that such enzymes are also widespread in prokaryotes. Although many of them have yet to be fully characterized, several studies indicate that eukaryotic-type protein kinases play important roles in regulating cellular activities of these bacteria, such as cell differentiation, pathogenicity and secondary metabolism. A model based on the possible coupling between two-component systems and eukaryotic-type protein kinases is proposed to explain the function of eukaryotic-type protein kinases in bacterial signalling in the light of studies in bacteria, as well as in plants and yeast. These two groups of eukaryotes possess signal-transduction pathways involving both two-component systems and eukaryotic protein kinases.

Anabaena↗
PubMed2004

Homopolymer tract length dependent enrichments in functional regions of 27 eukaryotes and their novel dependence on the organism DNA (G+C)% composition.

BACKGROUND: DNA homopolymer tracts, poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly(dG).poly(dC), are the simplest of simple sequence repeats. Homopolymer tracts have been systematically examined in the coding, intron and flanking regions of a limited number of eukaryotes. As the number of DNA sequences publicly available increases, the representation (over and under) of homopolymer tracts of different lengths in these regions of different genomes can be compared. RESULTS: We carried out a survey of the extent of homopolymer tract over-representation (enrichment) and over-proportional length distribution (above expected length) primarily in the single gene documents, but including some whole chromosomes of 27 eukaryotics across the (G+C)% composition range from 20 - 60%. A total of 5.2 x 10(7) bases from 15,560 cleaned (redundancy removed) sequence documents were analyzed. Calculated frequencies of non-overlapping long homopolymer tracts were found over-represented in non-coding sequences of eukaryotes. Long poly(dA).poly(dT) tracts demonstrated an exponential increase with tract length compared to predicted frequencies. A novel negative slope was observed for all eukaryotes between their (G+C)% composition and the threshold length N where poly(dA).poly(dT) tracts exhibited over-representation and a corresponding positive slope was observed for poly(dG).poly(dC) tracts. Tract size thresholds where over-representation of tracts in different eukaryotes began to occur was between 4 - 11 bp depending upon the organism (G+C)% composition. The higher the GC%, the lower the threshold N value was for poly(dA).poly(dT) tracts, meaning that the over-representation happens at relatively lower tract length in more GC-rich surrounding sequence. We also observed a novel relationship between the highest over-representations, as well as lengths of homopolymer tracts in excess of their random occurrence expected maximum lengths. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss how our novel tract over-representation observations can be accounted for by a few models. A likely model for poly(dA).poly(dT) tract over-representation involves the known insertion into genomes of DNA synthesized from retroviral mRNAs containing 3' polyA tails. A proposed model that can account for a number of our observed results, concerns the origin of the isochore nature of eukaryotic genomes via a non-equilibrium GC% dependent mutation rate mechanism. Our data also suggest that tract lengthening via slip strand replication is not governed by a simple thermodynamic loop energy model.

AT Rich Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Multiple, non-allelic, intein-coding sequences in eukaryotic RNA polymerase genes.

BACKGROUND: Inteins are self-splicing protein elements. They are translated as inserts within host proteins that excise themselves and ligate the flanking portions of the host protein (exteins) with a peptide bond. They are encoded as in-frame insertions within the genes for the host proteins. Inteins are found in all three domains of life and in viruses, but have a very sporadic distribution. Only a small number of intein coding sequences have been identified in eukaryotic nuclear genes, and all of these are from ascomycete or basidiomycete fungi. RESULTS: We identified seven intein coding sequences within nuclear genes coding for the second largest subunits of RNA polymerase. These sequences were found in diverse eukaryotes: one is in the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase I (RPA2) from the ascomycete fungus Phaeosphaeria nodorum, one is in the RNA polymerase III (RPC2) of the slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum and four intein coding sequences are in RNA polymerase II genes (RPB2), one each from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the zygomycete fungus Spiromyces aspiralis and the chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Coelomomyces stegomyiae. The remaining intein coding sequence is in a viral relic embedded within the genome of the oomycete Phytophthora ramorum. The Chlamydomonas and Dictyostelium inteins are the first nuclear-encoded inteins found outside of the fungi. These new inteins represent a unique dataset: they are found in homologous proteins that form a paralogous group. Although these paralogues diverged early in eukaryotic evolution, their sequences can be aligned over most of their length. The inteins are inserted at multiple distinct sites, each of which corresponds to a highly conserved region of RNA polymerase. This dataset supports earlier work suggesting that inteins preferentially occur in highly conserved regions of their host proteins. CONCLUSION: The identification of these new inteins increases the known host range of intein sequences in eukaryotes, and provides fresh insights into their origins and evolution. We conclude that inteins are ancient eukaryote elements once found widely among microbial eukaryotes. They persist as rarities in the genomes of a sporadic array of microorganisms, occupying highly conserved sites in diverse proteins.

Alleles↗
PubMed1991

Mutability of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) during eukaryotic chromosomal evolution and their cytological meaning.

A quantitative analysis of the alterations of constitutive heterochromatin in eukaryotic chromosomal evolution was attempted using the accumulated C-banding data available for mammals, amphibians, fish, ants, grasshoppers, and plants. It was found that these eukaryotes could be classified into two types by their C-banding patterns: 1) Type I included mammals, fish, and ants, and 2) Type II included amphibians, grasshoppers, and plants. C-bands were rather scarce in Type I eukaryote chromosomes and were found around the pericentromeric region when present at all, whereas the predominance of interstitial or terminal C-bands was found in Type II eukaryote chromosomes. The Type I and II C-banding patterns can best be interpreted by assuming that in the former group of eukaryotes the saltatory increase in constitutive heterochromatin occurs preferentially at the pericentromeric regions of telocentric chromosomes induced by centric fission, with C-bands being eliminated almost completely by centric fusion and/or pericentric inversion. On the other hand, C-bands appear in the Type II eukaryotes both interstitially and in the telomeric regions of chromosomes, and there may be no effective mechanism to eliminate these bands once they are integrated.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Enterococcal cytolysin: a novel two component peptide system that serves as a bacterial defense against eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

The cytolysin is a novel, two-peptide lytic toxin produced by some strains of Enterococcus faecalis. It is toxic in animal models of enterococcal infection, and associated with acutely terminal outcome in human infection. The cytolysin exerts activity against a broad spectrum of cell types including a wide range of gram positive bacteria, eukaryotic cells such as human, bovine and horse erythrocytes, retinal cells, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and human intestinal epithelial cells. The cytolysin likely originated as a bacteriocin involved with niche control in the complex microbial ecologies associated with eukaryotic hosts. However, additional anti-eukaryotic activities may have been selected for as enterococci adapted to eukaryotic cell predation in water or soil ecologies. Cytolytic activity requires two unique peptides that possess modifications characteristic of the lantibiotic bacteriocins, and these peptides are broadly similar in size to most cationic eukaryotic defensins. Expression of the cytolysin is tightly controlled by a novel mode of gene regulation in which the smaller peptide signals high-level expression of the cytolysin gene cluster. This complex regulation of cytolysin expression may have evolved to balance defense against eukaryotic predators with stealth.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Mapping the binding interface between human eukaryotic initiation factors 1A and 5B: a new interaction between old partners.

The translation initiation factors (IFs) IF1/eIF1A and IF2e/IF5B have been conserved throughout all kingdoms. Although the central roles of the bacterial factors IF1 and IF2 were established long ago, the importance of their eukaryotic homologs, eukaryotic IFs (eIFs) eIF1A and eIF5B, has only recently become evident. The translation machinery in eukaryotes is more complex and accordingly, eIF1A and eIF5B seem to have acquired a number of new functions while also retaining many of the roles of bacterial IF1 and IF2. IF1 and IF2 have been shown to interact on the ribosome but no binding has been detected for the free factors. In contrast, yeast eIF1A and eIF5B have been reported to interact in the absence of ribosomes. Here, we have identified the binding interface between human eIF1A and the C-terminal domain of eIF5B by using solution NMR. That interaction interface involves the C termini of the two proteins, which are not present in bacterial IF1 and IF2. The interaction is, therefore, unique to eukaryotes. A structural model for the interaction of eIF1A and eIF5B in the context of the ribosome is presented. We propose that eIF1A and eIF5B simultaneously interact at two sites that are >50 A apart: through their C termini as reported here, and through an interface previously identified in bacterial IF1 and IF2. The binding between the C termini of eIF1A and eIF5B has implications for eukaryote-specific mechanisms of recruitment and release of translation IFs from the ribosome.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2000

Initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication: conservative or liberal?

The mechanism for initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication is highly conserved: the proteins required to initiate replication, the sequence of events leading to initiation, and the regulation of initiation are remarkably similar throughout the eukaryotic kingdom. Nevertheless, there is a liberal attitude when it comes to selecting initiation sites. Differences appear to exist in the composition of replication origins and in the way proteins recognize these origins. In fact, some multicellular eukaryotes (the metazoans) can change the number and locations of initiation sites during animal development, revealing that selection of initiation sites depends on epigenetic as well as genetic parameters. Here we have attempted to summarize our understanding of this process, to identify the similarities and differences between single cell and multicellular eukaryotes, and to examine the extent to which origin recognition proteins and replication origins have been conserved among eukaryotes. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Bacterial ion channels and their eukaryotic homologues.

Due to the relative ease of obtaining their crystal structures, bacterial ion channels provide a unique opportunity to analyse structure and function of their eukaryotic homologues. This review describes prokaryotic channels whose structures have been determined. These channels are KcsA, a bacterial homologue of eukaryotic potassium channels, MscL, a bacterial mechanosensitive ion channel and ClC0, a prokaryotic homologue of the eukaryotic ClC family of anion-selective channels. General features of their structure and function are described with a special emphasis on the advantages that these channels offer for understanding the properties of their eukaryotic homologues. We present amino-acid sequences of eukaryotic proteins related in their primary sequences to bacterial mechanosensitive channels. The usefulness of bacterial mechanosensitive channels for the studies on general principles of mechanosensation is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Small GTPases and the evolution of the eukaryotic cell.

The origin of eukaryotes is one of the major challenges of evolutionary cell biology. Other than the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts, the steps leading to eukaryotic endomembranes and endoskeleton are poorly understood. Ras-family small GTPases are key regulators of cytoskeleton dynamics, vesicular trafficking and nuclear function. They are specific for eukaryotes and their expansion probably traces the evolution of core eukaryote features. The phylogeny of small GTPases suggests that the first endomembranes to evolve during eukaryote evolution had secretory, and not phagocytic, function. Based on the reconstruction of putative roles for ancestral small GTPases, a hypothetical scenario on the origins of the first endomembranes, the nucleus, and phagocytosis is presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Identification of a eukaryotic-like protein kinase gene in Archaebacteria.

Primary sequence patterns based on known conserved sites in eukaryotic protein kinases were used to search for eukaryotic-like protein kinase sequences in a six-frame translation of the bacterial subsection of GenBank. This search identified a previously unrecognized eukaryotic-like protein kinase gene in three related methanogenic archaebacteria, Methanococcus vannielii, M. voltae, and M. thermolithotrophicus. The proposed coding sequences are located in orthologous open reading frames (ORFs): ORF547, ORF294, and ORF114, respectively. The C-terminus of the ORFs contains 9 of the 11 subdomains characteristically conserved within the eukaryotic protein kinase catalytic domain. The N-terminus of the ORFs is similar to a putative glycoprotease in Pasteurella haemolytica and its homologue in Escherichia coli, the orfX gene. This is the first report of a eukaryotic-like protein kinase sequence observed in Archaebacteria.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Eukaryotic signalling domain homologues in archaea and bacteria. Ancient ancestry and horizontal gene transfer.

Phyletic distributions of eukaryotic signalling domains were studied using recently developed sensitive methods for protein sequence analysis, with an emphasis on the detection and accurate enumeration of homologues in bacteria and archaea. A major difference was found between the distributions of enzyme families that are typically found in all three divisions of cellular life and non-enzymatic domain families that are usually eukaryote-specific. Previously undetected bacterial homologues were identified for# plant pathogenesis-related proteins, Pad1, von Willebrand factor type A, src homology 3 and YWTD repeat-containing domains. Comparisons of the domain distributions in eukaryotes and prokaryotes enabled distinctions to be made between the domains originating prior to the last common ancestor of all known life forms and those apparently originating as consequences of horizontal gene transfer events. A number of transfers of signalling domains from eukaryotes to bacteria were confidently identified, in contrast to only a single case of apparent transfer from eukaryotes to archaea.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Estimation of the highest chromosome number of eukaryotes based on the minimum interaction theory.

According to the minimum interaction theory, the chromosome evolution of eukaryotes proceeds as a whole toward increasing the chromosome number. This raises the following two questions: what was the starting chromosome number of eukaryotes and does the chromosome number increase infinitely? We attempted to provide a theoretical framework to resolve these questions. We propose that the species with n=2 observed in Protozoa, Platyhelminthes, Annelid, Algae, Fungi and higher plants would be chromosomal relicts conserving the karyotypes of ancestral eukaryotes. We also propose that the ideal highest number of eukaryotes (n(max)) can be given by an inverse of the minimum terminal interference distance (It(min)) in crossing-over (n(max)=100/It(min)). AsIt(min) =0.6 in mammals, n(max) approximately 166. On the other hand, the value estimated by computer simulations is somewhat lower with n(max)=133-138. Our arguments can be applied to other eukaryotes, if they have a localized centromere and the ratio of total synaptonemal complex/nuclear volume is comparable to that of mammals. We revealed that the index of gene shuffling per karyotypes (G) by means of the total number of gamete types with different gene combinations can be formulated asG =2(n+Fxi), where Fxi means interstitial chiasma frequency per cell corresponding to crossing-over mediated by the recombination nodule. The Fxi value increases in proportion to the n value in areas where n<40, but decreases gradually when n>40 and becomes zero when n>83. Therefore, in the ultimate karyotype with n(max)=166, FXi=0 andG =2(n)=2(166), where gene shuffling is guaranteed by the random orientation of chromosomes at the equatorial plate of meiotic metaphase I.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of PCR-amplified cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) family sequences from representatives of the earliest available lineages of eukaryotes.

Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and cell division control (CDC2) sequences are strongly conserved among eukaryotes and may complement the use of other sequence families in eukaryotic phylogenetic inference. We synthesized degenerate PCR primers to amplify the catalytic region of CDK homologs in representatives of the earliest available lineages of eukaryotes. CDK family sequence-based, maximum-likelihood distance measurements with neighbor-joining, and Fitch-Margoliash least-squares analyses produced unrooted dendrograms that included protists, yeasts, and higher eukaryotes. Bootstrap confidence estimates supported CDK-based phylogenetic groupings among the protists, fungi, and vertebrates although resolution within these groups was often insignificant. However, Trichomonas vaginalis and Giardia lamblia exhibited two of the most divergent CDK-like sequences consistent with rRNA-phylogenetic inference of early divergence of these eukaryotic lineages. In the evolution from unicellular to multicellular organisms, a constellation of amino acid residues aligning with the human, CDK N-terminal beta sheet may have undergone abrupt replacement.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Parallel origins of the nucleosome core and eukaryotic transcription from Archaea.

Computational sequence analysis of 10 available archaean histone-like proteins has shown that this family is not only divergently related to the eukaryotic core histones H2A/B, H3, and H4, but also to the central domain of subunits A and C of the CCAAT-binding factor (CBF), a transcription factor associated with eukaryotic promoters. Despite the low sequence identity, it is unambiguously shown that the core histone fold shares a common evolutionary history. Archaean histones and the two CBF families show a remarkable variability in contrast to eukaryotic core histones. Conserved residues shared between families are identified, possibly being responsible for the functional versatility of the core histone fold. The H4 subfamily is most similar to archaean proteins and may be the progenitor of the other core histones in eukaryotes. While it is not clear whether archaean histones are more actively involved in transcription regulation, the present observations link two processes, nucleosomal packing and transcription in a unique way. Both these processes, evidently hybrid in Archaea, have originated before the ermergence of the eukaryotic cell.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

A new aspect to the origin and evolution of eukaryotes.

One of the most important omissions in recent evolutionary theory concerns how eukaryotes could emerge and evolve. According to the currently accepted views, the first eukaryotic cell possessed a nucleus, an endomembrane system, and a cytoskeleton but had an inefficient prokaryotic-like metabolism. In contrast, one of the most ancient eukaryotes, the metamonada Giardia lamblia, was found to have formerly possessed mitochondria. In sharp contrast with the traditional views, this paper suggests, based on the energetic aspect of genome organization, that the emergence of eukaryotes was promoted by the establishment of an efficient energy-converting organelle, such as the mitochondrion. Mitochondria were acquired by the endosymbiosis of ancient alpha-purple photosynthetic Gram-negative eubacteria that reorganized the prokaryotic metabolism of the archaebacterial-like ancestral host cells. The presence of an ATP pool in the cytoplasm provided by this cell organelle allowed a major increase in genome size. This evolutionary change, the remarkable increase both in genome size and complexity, explains the origin of the eukaryotic cell itself. The loss of cell wall and the appearance of multicellularity can also be explained by the acquisition of mitochondria. All bacteria use chemiosmotic mechanisms to harness energy; therefore the periplasm bounded by the cell wall is an essential part of prokaryotic cells. Following the establishment of mitochondria, the original plasma membrane-bound metabolism of prokaryotes, as well as the funcion of the periplasm providing a compartment for the formation of different ion gradients, has been transferred into the inner mitochondrial membrane and intermembrane space. After the loss of the essential function of periplasm, the bacterial cell wall could also be lost, which enabled the naked cells to establish direct connections among themselves. The relatively late emergence of mitochondria may be the reason why multicellularity evolved so slowly.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed1998

The prokaryote-to-eukaryote transition reflected in the evolution of the V/F/A-ATPase catalytic and proteolipid subunits.

Changes in the primary and quarternary structure of vacuolar and archaeal type ATPases that accompany the prokaryote-to-eukaryote transition are analyzed. The gene encoding the vacuolar-type proteolipid of the V-ATPase from Giardia lamblia is reported. Giardia has a typical vacuolar ATPase as observed from the common motifs shared between its proteolipid subunit and other eukaryotic vacuolar ATPases, suggesting that the former enzyme works as a hydrolase in this primitive eukaryote. The phylogenetic analyses of the V-ATPase catalytic subunit and the front and back halves of the proteolipid subunit placed Giardia as the deepest branch within the eukaryotes. Our phylogenetic analysis indicated that at least two independent duplication and fusion events gave rise to the larger proteolipid type found in eukaryotes and in Methanococcus. The spatial distribution of the conserved residues among the vacuolar-type proteolipids suggest a zipper-type interaction among the transmembrane helices and surrounding subunits of the V-ATPase complex. Important residues involved in the function of the F-ATP synthase proteolipid have been replaced during evolution in the V-proteolipid, but in some cases retained in the archaeal A-ATPase. Their possible implication in the evolution of V/F/A-ATPases is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

What does the microsporidian E. cuniculi tell us about the origin of the eukaryotic cell?

The relationship among the three cellular domains Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya has become a central problem in unraveling the tree of life. This relationship can now be studied as the completely sequenced genomes of representatives of these cellular domains become available. We performed a bioinformatic investigation of the Encephalitozoon cuniculi proteome. E. cuniculi has the smallest sequenced eukaryotic genome, 2.9 megabases coding for 1997 proteins. The proteins of E. cuniculi were compared with a previously characterized set of eukaryotic signature proteins (ESPs). ESPs are found in a eukaryotic cell, whether from an animal, a plant, a fungus, or a protozoan, but are not found in the Archaea and the Bacteria. We demonstrated that 85% of the ESPs have significant sequence similarity to proteins in E. cuniculi. Hence, E. cuniculi, a minimal eukaryotic cell that has removed all inessential proteins, still preserves most of the ESPs that make it a member of the Eukarya. The locations and functions of these ESPs point to the earliest history of eukaryotes.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Phylogenetic analysis of eukaryotes using heat-shock protein Hsp90.

Most eukaryote molecular phylogenies have been based on small-subunit ribosomal RNA as its database includes the most species, but serious problems have been encountered that can make these trees misleading. More recent studies using concatenated protein sequences have increased the data per organism, reducing misleading signals from a single sequence, but taxon sampling is limited. To increase the database of protein-coding genes we sequenced the cytosolic form of heat-shock protein Hsp90 from a broad variety of previously unsampled eukaryote groups: protozoan flagellates (phyla Choanozoa, Apusozoa, Cercozoa) and all three groups of chromists (Cryptophyta, Heterokonta, Haptophyta). Gamma-corrected distance trees robustly show three groups: bacterial sequences are sister to all eukaryote sequences, which are cleanly subdivided into the cytosolic sequences and a clade comprising the chloroplast and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Hsp90 sequences. The eukaryote cytosolic sequences comprise a robust opisthokont clade (animals/Choanozoa/fungi), a bikont clade, and an amoebozoan branch. However their topology is not robust. When the cytosolic sequences are rooted using only the ER/ chloroplast clade as outgroup the amoebozoan Dictyostelium is sister to the opisthokonts forming a unikont clade in the distance tree. Congruence of this tree with that for concatenated mitochondrial proteins suggests that the root of the eukaryote tree is between unikonts and bikonts. Gamma-corrected maximum likelihood analyses of cytosolic sequences alone (519 unambiguously aligned amino acid positions) show bikonts as a clade, as do least-squares distance trees, but with other distance methods and parsimony the sole amoebozoan species branches weakly within bikonts. Choanozoa are clearly sisters to animals. Some major bikont groups (e.g. green plants, alveolates, Euglenozoa) are consistently recovered, but others (e.g. discicristates, chromalveolates) appear only in some trees; the backbone of the bikont subtree is not resolved, the position of groups represented only by single sequences being particularly unclear. Although single-gene trees will probably never resolve these uncertainties, the congruence of Hsp90 trees with other data is greater than for most other molecules and further taxon sampling of this molecule is recommended.

Animals↗