后生动物线粒体基因组:起源、大小和基因排列进化

由于受到强烈的进化约束,后生动物线粒体基因组在大小和基因含量上一直保持稳定,相比之下核基因组则发生了巨大的改变。后生动物线粒体基因组结构的可塑性在一定程度上归功于可能由tRNA基因介导的基因重排事件,虽然亲缘关系密切的物种间也可能出现基因重排,但同门内的线粒体基因组仍趋向于具有类似的结构特征。我们对后生动物线粒体基因组的起源、大小和基因排列进化方面的特点进行了介绍。     

桔小实蝇线粒体基因组全序列及其分析

桔小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis线粒体基因组全序列对研究实蝇分子系统进化具有重要意义。本研究通过DNA测序和克隆技术,对桔小实蝇mtDNA全序列进行了测定和分析。结果表明：桔小实蝇线粒体基因组全长15 915 bp（GenBank序列号: DQ845759）。基因组碱基组成为39.3%A,16.2%C,10.2%G,34.3%T,由13个蛋白编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因以及一个非编码的控制区域（A+T-rich区）组成。7个蛋白编码基因和13个tRNA基因从J链编码,其余6个蛋白编码基因和9个tRNA基因从N链编码。位于J链上的蛋白编码基因具有近似的A、T含量,而位于N链上的蛋白编码基因的A的含量明显高于T的含量。以mtDNA COⅠ基因为例,比较了桔小实蝇与其他14种实蝇的亲缘关系,结果显示其与同亚属（果实蝇亚属Bactrocera）内的其他近缘种相互间的同源性很高。     

黄毛纺蚋线粒体基因组全序列测定与分析

利用PCR步移法对黄毛纺蚋的线粒体基因组全序列进行了测定和分析。黄毛纺蚋线粒体基因组全长15904 bp(Gen Bank序列号KP793690),包括13个蛋白编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因以及长度为939 bp的非编码区。A、T、C、G碱基含量分别为39.1%、35.8%、10.4%、14.7%。9个蛋白编码基因和14个tRNA基因在J链编码,其余4个蛋白编码基因和8个tRNA基因在N链编码,基因排列顺序与其它已知双翅目昆虫相同。13个蛋白编码基因中除COI以TTG作为起始密码外,其余蛋白质基因均以ATN作为起始密码子,终止密码子多数为典型的TAA、TAG,只有COI和ND4L以单独的T作为终止密码子。在所测得的22个tRNA基因中,除tRNASer(AGN)缺少DHU臂外,其余tRNA均能形成典型的三叶草结构。     

大紫蛱蝶线粒体基因组全序列分析

通过PCR步移法对大紫蛱蝶Sasakia charonda coreana线粒体基因组全序列进行了测定和分析。分析结果表明:大紫蛱蝶线粒体基因组全长15233bp,包括13个蛋白编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因以及长度为381bp的非编码区。A、T、C、G碱基含量分别为39.7%、40.2%、12.2%、7.9%。9个蛋白编码基因和14个tRNA基因在J链编码,其余4个蛋白编码基因和8个tRNA基因在N链编码,基因排列顺序与其它已知鳞翅目昆虫相同。13个蛋白编码基因中除COⅠ以CGA作为起始密码外,其余蛋白质基因均以ATN作为起始密码子,终止密码子多数为典型的TAA、TAG,只有COⅡ和ND4以单独的T作为终止密码子。在所测得的22个tRNA基因中,除tRNA Ser(AGN)缺少DHU臂外,其余tRNA均能形成典型的三叶草结构。与其它多数鳞翅目昆虫一样,大紫蛱蝶的非编码区序列中散在着一些长短不一的串联重复单元,在与其近缘物种非编码区的比较当中并未发现共同的保守序列区。     

ANALYSIS OF COMPLETE MITOCHONDRIAL GENOME OF SASAKIA CHARONDA COREANA (LEPIDOPTERA, NYMPHALIDA)

通过PCR步移法对大紫蛱蝶Sasakia charonda coreana线粒体基因组全序列进行了测定和分析.分析结果表明:大紫蛱蝶线粒体基因组全长15 233 bp,包括13个蛋白编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因以及长度为381bp的非编码区.A、T、C、G碱基含量分别为39.7％、40.2％、12.2％、7.9％.9个蛋白编码基因和14个tRNA基因在J链编码,其余4个蛋白编码基因和8个tRNA基因在N链编码,基因排列顺序与其它已知鳞翅目昆虫相同.13个蛋白编码基因中除COⅠ以CGA作为起始密码外,其余蛋白质基因均以ATN作为起始密码子,终止密码子多数为典型的TAA、TAG,只有COⅡ和ND4以单独的T作为终止密码子.在所测得的22个tRNA基因中,除tRNASer (AGN)缺少DHU臂外,其余tRNA均能形成典型的三叶草结构.与其它多数鳞翅目昆虫一样,大紫蛱蝶的非编码区序列中散在着一些长短不一的串联重复单元,在与其近缘物种非编码区的比较当中并未发现共同的保守序列区.     

赤麂线粒体全基因组的序列和结构

提取赤麂细胞株总DNA,参照我们实验室已测定的同属动物小麂线粒体全基因组序列设计引物,PCR扩增、测序、拼接,获得赤麂线粒体全基因组序列并进行生物信息学分析。赤麂线粒体全基因组序列全长16354bp。定位了22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因、13个蛋白编码基因和1个D-loop区。赤麂与小麂及其它哺乳动物线粒体的基因组结构相同,它们的序列同源性都较高。     

鲤鱼线粒体tRNA^phe基因结构的特异性

在脊椎动物线粒基因组的研究中。迄今为止已测定了人、牛、大鼠、爪蟾、鲸鱼、海豹、鸡等动物线粒体基因组的全序列。结果表明,脊椎动物线粒体基因组结构排列非常紧密。22个tRNA基因分布于结构基因和rRNA基因之间,并随其临近的基因一起转录,随后被精确地剪切焉,继续加工成熟。线粒体tRNA与细胞质tRNA相比有许多不同之处,如D环碱基数明显减少：TψC环中缺少T54－C－Pu－A序列：且各个臂上有高比例的碱基错配;同时在线粒体rRNA中A＋U含量很高。目前有报道指出线粒体中某些tRNA三叶草结构的变化与物种的进化相关联,但这一说法是否具有普遍性尚须探讨。我们最近完成了鲤鱼线粒体tRNA^phe基因的结构分析（图一）,并将其与上述已报导的几种脊椎动物粒体tRNA^phe基因进行了比较（表一）,发现这些tRNA^phe基因的D臂上都存在一个13bp的强保守区,而其它21种线粒体tRNA基因上的这一区域都是最不保守的。我们将此保守区前7个碱基与真核生物RNAPollIII识别的A区相比较,发现RNAPolIII识别的A区的3个强保守碱基在大事箕类型与碱基排列位置上完全与此保守区相同（图二）。考虑到tRNA^phe基因在线粒体基因组上位于置换环区和线粒体rRNA基因编码区之间这一特殊区域内,这种结构上的特殊性暗示着tRNA^phe基因与其它tRNSA基因在功能上存在着差异。鲤鱼线粒体tRNA^phe基因位于D环与12sRNA基因之间,由重链编码,长度为67bp,同哺乳动物线粒体tRNA基因一样,也不编码3′端的CCA序列。鲤鱼线料体tRNA^phe基因G＋C／A＋U＝0．76,可见其A＋U含量明显高于细胞质tRNA,从其二级结构上看,其氨基酸臂富含GC 对,存在二个错配碱基对,TψC环无TψC序列,T茎也有高比例的错配,且无细胞质tRNSA中特有的那组G－C对,D环由6个碱基组成,其D臂完全互补配对。在已知种类的线粒体其他tRNA基因结构中,反密码环最为保守,其次为氨基酸臂,D环和T环及其相应的臂最不保守。但是在tRNA^phe基因中最保守的却是D环的臂。这种tRNA^phe基因结构上的不寻常性,显示了其功能上的不寻常性,目前人们普遍的看法是线粒体tRNA^phe基因在其转录过程中,还起着识别转录本加工信号的作用,但这一过程的细节目前还不甚清楚。从结构上看,tRNA^phe基因 位于线粒体基因组D环一侧,而D环上具有重链复制启动始点和重链轻链转录调控区。在绝大多数由重链编码的基因中,tRNA^phe基因是被首先转录的基因,同时也是在各种成熟RNA转录本中,必须被剪切下来的tRNA。由此可见tRNA^phe基因在转录水平以及转录后的加工水平上均具有特殊的调控作用。我们推测脊椎动物tRNSA^phe其D臂上强保守结构的存在,也正是这种作用的一种反映。关于tRNA^phe基因结构与功能的关系及其表达调控特性的研究正在进行中。     

猫蛱蝶线粒体基因组全序列分析

采用PCR步移法对猫蛱蝶Timelaea maculata线粒体基因组全序列进行了测定和分析.分析结果表明:猫蛱蝶线粒体基因组全长15 178 bp,包括13个蛋白编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因和一段长度为382 bp的A+T富含区,基因排列顺序与其它已知鳞翅目昆虫相同.猫蛱蝶线粒体基因组中存在很高的A+T含量(81.1％).13个蛋白编码基因中除CO Ⅰ以CGA作为起始密码外,其余蛋白质基因均以ATN作为起始密码子.COⅡ和ND4基因使用了不完全终止密码子T,其余基因均以典型的TAA、TAG为终止密码子.在所测得的22个tRNA基因中,除tRNAser(AGN)缺少DHU臂外,其余tRNA均能形成典型的三叶草结构.与其它多数鳞翅目昆虫一样,猫蛱蝶的A+T富含区中有一段由“ATAGAA”引导的保守的多聚T结构,长度为19 bp,并散在着一些长短不一的串联重复单元.     

人线粒体RNA加工及调控

线粒体是细胞内氧化磷酸化（oxidative phosphorylation,OXPHOS）和合成三磷酸腺苷（adenosine triphosphate,ATP）的细胞器，是细胞能量代谢的“动力工厂”。线粒体几乎存在于所有真核生物中，参与细胞凋亡、钙稳态以及先天免疫反应的调节等过程，对细胞行使正常的生理功能至关重要。线粒体是半自主细胞器，拥有自身的基因组DNA，编码37个基因，包括2个rRNA基因、13个m RNA基因和22个tRNA基因。线粒体的基因表达需要经过复杂的转录和转录后加工过程，包括多顺反子RNA的切割、RNA的修饰以及RNA的末端加工等过程。异常的线粒体RNA加工会导致线粒体RNA表达谱发生变化、线粒体翻译紊乱、线粒体功能失常等，从而造成多种线粒体相关疾病。本文综述了线粒体DNA的转录、RNA转录后加工以及影响RNA加工的因素方面的最新研究进展。     

鲤鱼线粒体tRNA~(phe)基因结构的特异性

鲤鱼线粒体tRNA~(phe)基因的核酸序列已被测定。在鲸、人、爪蟾、牛、小鼠、鸡和鲤鱼中对此基因序列比较发现在D茎存在一个奇怪的保守结构,然而D茎在其余种类的已经测定的脊椎动物线粒体tRNA基因和细胞质tRNA基因中是极不保守的。这一保守结构包含有13bp碱基,我们将此保守区前7个碱基与真核生物RNA PolⅢ识别的A区相比较,发现在此不同物种的两种序列存在部分的同源性。考虑到tRNA~(phe)基因在线粒体基因组上位于置换环区和线粒体rRNA基因编码区之间这一特殊区域内,我们推测这一奇怪的保守结构可能存在其它更为有意义的功能。     

Evolution of mitochondrial gene content: gene loss and transfer to the nucleus

Mitochondrial gene content is highly variable across extant eukaryotes. The number of mitochondrial protein genes varies from 3 to 67, while tRNA gene content varies from 0 to 27. Moreover, these numbers exclude the many diverse lineages of non-respiring eukaryotes that lack a mitochondrial genome yet still contain a mitochondrion, albeit one often highly derived in ultrastructure and metabolic function, such as the hydrogenosome. Diversity in tRNA gene content primarily reflects differential usage of imported tRNAs of nuclear origin. In the case of protein genes, most of this diversity reflects differential degrees of functional gene transfer to the nucleus, with more minor contributions resulting from gene loss from the cell as a consequence of either substitution via a functional nuclear homolog or the cell's dispensation of the function of the gene product. The tempo and pattern of mitochondrial gene loss is highly episodic, both across the broad sweep of eukaryotes and within such well-studied groups as angiosperms. All animals, some plants, and certain other groups of eukaryotes are mired in profound stases in mitochondrial gene content, whereas other lineages have experienced relatively frequent gene loss. Loss and transfer to the nucleus of ribosomal protein and succinate dehydrogenase genes has been especially frequent, sporadic, and episodic during angiosperm evolution. Potential mechanisms for activation of transferred genes have been inferred, and intermediate stages in the process have been identified by comparative studies. Several hypotheses have been proposed for why mitochondrial genes are transferred to the nucleus, why mitochondria retain genomes, and why functional gene transfer is almost exclusively unidirectional.     

Insect mitochondrial genomics 2: The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a giant stonefly, Pteronarcys princeps, asymmetric directional mutation bias, and conserved plecopteran A+T-region elements.

Mitochondrial (mt) genome sequences of insects are receiving renewed attention in molecular phylogentic studies, studies of mt-genome rearrangement, and other unusual molecular phenomena, such as translational frameshifting. At present, the basal neopteran lineages are poorly represented by mt-genome sequences. Complete mt-genome sequences are available in the databases for only the Orthoptera and Blatteria; 9 orders are unrepresented. Here, we present the complete mt-genome sequence of a giant stonefly, Pteronarcys princeps (Plecoptera; Pteronarcyidae). The 16,004 bp genome is typical in its genome content, gene organisation, and nucleotide composition. The genome shows evidence of strand-specific mutational biases, correlated with the time between the initiation of leading and the initiation of lagging strand replication. Comparisons with other insects reveal that this trend is seen in other insect groups, but is not universally consistent among sampled mt-genomes. The A+T region is compared with that of 2 stoneflies in the family Peltoperlidae. Conserved stem-loop structures and sequence blocks are noted between these distantly related families.     

Biochemistry and Evolution of Anaerobic Energy Metabolism in Eukaryotes

Summary: Major insights into the phylogenetic distribution, biochemistry, and evolutionary significance of organelles involved in ATP synthesis (energy metabolism) in eukaryotes that thrive in anaerobic environments for all or part of their life cycles have accrued in recent years. All known eukaryotic groups possess an organelle of mitochondrial origin, mapping the origin of mitochondria to the eukaryotic common ancestor, and genome sequence data are rapidly accumulating for eukaryotes that possess anaerobic mitochondria, hydrogenosomes, or mitosomes. Here we review the available biochemical data on the enzymes and pathways that eukaryotes use in anaerobic energy metabolism and summarize the metabolic end products that they generate in their anaerobic habitats, focusing on the biochemical roles that their mitochondria play in anaerobic ATP synthesis. We present metabolic maps of compartmentalized energy metabolism for 16 well-studied species. There are currently no enzymes of core anaerobic energy metabolism that are specific to any of the six eukaryotic supergroup lineages; genes present in one supergroup are also found in at least one other supergroup. The gene distribution across lineages thus reflects the presence of anaerobic energy metabolism in the eukaryote common ancestor and differential loss during the specialization of some lineages to oxic niches, just as oxphos capabilities have been differentially lost in specialization to anoxic niches and the parasitic life-style. Some facultative anaerobes have retained both aerobic and anaerobic pathways. Diversified eukaryotic lineages have retained the same enzymes of anaerobic ATP synthesis, in line with geochemical data indicating low environmental oxygen levels while eukaryotes arose and diversified.     

Mitochondrial genome structure of photosynthetic eukaryotes

Current ideas of plant mitochondrial genome organization are presented. Data on the size and structural organization of mtDNA, gene content, and peculiarities are summarized. Special emphasis is given to characteristic features of the mitochondrial genomes of land plants and photosynthetic algae that distinguish them from the mitochondrial genomes of other eukaryotes. The data published before the end of 2014 are reviewed.     

Parallels in genome evolution in mitochondria and bacterial symbionts

Mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles of the eukaryotic cell, originate from an endosymbiotic alpha-proteobacterium. These organelles are believed to have arisen only once in evolutionary history, but despite their common ancestry, mitochondrial DNAs vary extensively throughout eukaryotes in genome architecture and gene content. New insights into early mitochondrial genome evolution come from the investigation of primitive mitochondriate eukaryotes, as well as the comparison between mitochondria and intracellular bacterial symbionts.     

Dictyostelium discoideum mitochondrial DNA encodes a NADH:Ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit which is nuclear encoded in other eukaryotes

Complex I, a key component of the mitochondrial electron transport system, is thought to have evolved from at least two separate enzyme systems prior to the evolution of mitochondria from a bacterial endosymbiont, but the genes for one of the enzyme systems are thought to have subsequently been transferred to the nuclear DNA. We demonstrated that the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum retains the ancestral characteristic of having mitochondria encoding at least one gene (80-kDa subunit) that is nuclear encoded in other eukaryotes. This is consistent with the cellular slime molds of the family Dictyosteliaceae having diverged from other eukaryotes at an early stage prior to the loss of the mitochondrial gene in the lineage giving rise to plants and animals. The D. discoideum mitochondrially encoded 80-kDa subunit of complex I exhibits a twofold-higher mutation rate compared with the homologous chromosomal gene in other eukaryotes, making it the most divergent eukaryotic form of this protein.Correspondence to: K.L. Williams     

Population structure, history and gene flow in a group of closely related land snails: genetic variation in Partula from the Society Islands of the Pacific

Previous studies of Partula land snails from the Society Islands, French Polynesia, have shown that populations within species are highly differentiated in terms of their morphology, behaviour, ecology and molecular genetic variation. Despite this level of variability, differences between species are sometimes small, possibly reflecting the fact that reproductive isolation is not always complete and there exists the opportunity for genetic exchange between taxa through hybridization. The present study uses sequence data from a mitochondrial gene to further investigate genetic variation in Society Island Partula. Most populations are found in this study to be highly differentiated, but within individual species there seems to be no simple relationship either between genetic distance and geographical proximity, or between variation in mitochondria and that in allozymes or morphological characteristics. Among species there appears to be no simple correlation between degrees of reproductive isolation and genetic relatedness according to mitochondrial DNA. The results suggest that past events as well as ongoing drift and selection may have been important in affecting patterns of variation. Similarities among species at specific localities suggest that there must have been some genetic exchange in the past, although this may not necessarily reflect ongoing rates of hybridization. The discrepancy between results for different markers probably reflects the differential effects of drift and selection on mitochondrial and nuclear genes.     

Diplonemid glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and prokaryote-to-eukaryote lateral gene transfer.

Lateral gene transfer refers to the movement of genetic information from one genome to another, and the integration of that foreign DNA into its new genetic environment. There are currently only a few well-supported cases of prokaryote-to-eukaryote transfer known that do not involve mitochondria or plastids, but it is not clear whether this reflects a lack of such transfer events, or poor sampling of diverse eukaryotes. One gene where this process is apparently active is glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), where lateral transfer has been implicated in the origin of euglenoid and kinetoplastid genes. We have characterised GAPDH genes from diplonemids, heterotrophic flagellates that are closely related to kinetoplastids and euglenoids. Two distinct classes of diplonemid GAPDH genes were found in diplonemids, however, neither class is closely related to any other euglenozoan GAPDH. One diplonemid GAPDH is related to the cytosolic gapC of eukaryotes, although not to either euglenoids or kinetoplastids, and the second is related to cyanobacterial and proteobacterial gap3. The bacterial gap3 gene in diplonemids provides one of the most well-supported examples of lateral gene transfer from a bacterium to a eukaryote characterised to date, and may indicate that diplonemids have acquired a novel biochemical capacity through lateral transfer.     

Genome structure and gene content in protist mitochondrial DNAs.

Although the collection of completely sequenced mitochondrial genomes is expanding rapidly, only recently has a phylogenetically broad representation of mtDNA sequences from protists (mostly unicellular eukaryotes) become available. This review surveys the 23 complete protist mtDNA sequences that have been determined to date, commenting on such aspects as mitochondrial genome structure, gene content, ribosomal RNA, introns, transfer RNAs and the genetic code and phylogenetic implications. We also illustrate the utility of a comparative genomics approach to gene identification by providing evidence that orfB in plant and protist mtDNAs is the homolog of atp8 , the gene in animal and fungal mtDNA that encodes subunit 8 of the F0portion of mitochondrial ATP synthase. Although several protist mtDNAs, like those of animals and most fungi, are seen to be highly derived, others appear to be have retained a number of features of the ancestral, proto-mitochondrial genome. Some of these ancestral features are also shared with plant mtDNA, although the latter have evidently expanded considerably in size, if not in gene content, in the course of evolution. Comparative analysis of protist mtDNAs is providing a new perspective on mtDNA evolution: how the original mitochondrial genome was organized, what genes it contained, and in what ways it must have changed in different eukaryotic phyla.