Analysis of the Secondary Structure of ITS1 in Pectinidae: Implications for Phylogenetic Reconstruction and Structural Evolution |
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Authors: | Shi Wang Zhenmin Bao Ning Li Lingling Zhang Jingjie Hu |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (MGB), Division of Life Science and Technology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, People’s Republic of China |
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Abstract: | It is at present difficult to accurately position gaps in sequence alignment and to determine substructural homology in structure
alignment when reconstructing phylogenies based on highly divergent sequences. Therefore, we have developed a new strategy
for inferring phylogenies based on highly divergent sequences. In this new strategy, the whole secondary structure presented
as a string in bracket notation is used as phylogenetic characters to infer phylogenetic relationships. It is no longer necessary
to decompose the secondary structure into homologous substructural components. In this study, reliable phylogenetic relationships
of eight species in Pectinidae were inferred from the structure alignment, but not from sequence alignment, even with the
aid of structural information. The results suggest that this new strategy should be useful for inferring phylogenetic relationships
based on highly divergent sequences. Moreover, the structural evolution of ITS1 in Pectinidae was also investigated. The whole
ITS1 structure could be divided into four structural domains. Compensatory changes were found in all four structural domains.
Structural motifs in these domains were identified further. These motifs, especially those in D2 and D3, may have important
functions in the maturation of rRNAs. |
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Keywords: | ITS1 Pectinidae phylogenetic reconstruction secondary structure structural evolution |
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