核内线粒体DNA片段(Numts)的研究进展

核内线粒体DNA片段(nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments, Numts)给线粒体DNA的研究和应用带来了严重干扰,因而备受广大学者的关注。国内外学者在Numts的检测方面做了大量的研究。尤其是近年来,随着大量基因组数据的积累,相关研究不再局限于研究特定线粒体基因的核内同源片段,而是拓展到基因组水平上比较不同物种的Numts含量和分布,物种内部Numts的多态性也日益被研究者重视。该文从Numts的形成机制、检测方法、数量和分布对线粒体DNA研究的干扰及排除方法等方面进行了总结与归纳,也对Numts的研究意义与未来的发展趋势进行了简要分析。     

线粒体COⅠ基因在昆虫DNA条形码中的研究与应用

自2003年DNA条形码(DNA barcodes)概念出现以来,DNA条形码技术(DNA barcoding)受到生物分类学领域普遍关注,线粒体细胞色素氧化酶亚基I(mtDNACOⅠ)被用作动物类群的主要条形码序列,基于该基因片段的昆虫条形码研究在国内外广泛开展。本文在概述DNA条形码、条形码技术及已开展的昆虫条形码研究计划的基础上,总结了昆虫mtDNACOⅠ条形码及其技术在发现和描述隐种、种类分子鉴定以及系统发育等方面的研究进展,分析了细胞核线粒体假基因(Numts)对mtDNACOⅠ条形码扩增的影响,提出检测和避免Numts的方法,并对DNA条形码技术的进一步研究和应用进行了讨论和展望。     

单个拟穴青蟹核内多拷贝线粒体COI假基因序列的研究(简报)

线粒体DNA(mtDNA)因它的高拷贝数、易扩增、高突变率、中性、低重组和母系遗传等特征,已广泛应用在系统进化和群体遗传研究方面[1,2].但是,由于mtDNA本身的特征,如异质性.     

两种获取鱼类线粒体DNA的方法比较

直接从鱼类组织提取线粒体DNA和先提取基因组DNA再用相应引物PCR扩增所需mtDNA某一区域序列片段是获取鱼类mtDNA切实可行的两种方法。对这两种方法在使用过程中的注意事项、各自的优缺点及应用范围进行了较为细致的比较,为更好地利用mtDNA这一重要分子标记研究鱼类mtDNA的遗传多态提供参考。     

甘蓝型油菜细胞质雄性不育材料1575A的分子鉴定

根据已报道的油菜育性相关基因orf224、orf138和orf222设计引物对1575A、陕3A、Ogura和nap等4份甘蓝型油菜的mtDNA进行PCR扩增.结果显示:引物对Syworf1382/ Xyworf1382在1575A和Ogura的mtDNA中均有1000 bp左右的扩增片段;测序结果表明,在1575A中的该扩增片段包含已报道基因orf138(登录号为AB055435)的全部编码序列;该引物对在陕3A和nap中都没有相应扩增片段.引物对Syworf222/Xyworf222在除Ogura外的其他3个材料的mtDNA中都有196 bp左右的扩增片段;测序结果显示,扩增产物与已报道基因orf222(登录号为DQ872162)同源性为100%.初步推测1575A属于Ogu CMS的改良类型.     

鲤和鲫线粒体(mtDNA)全基因组分析

为研究鲤(Cyprinus carpio)和鲫(Carassius auratus) mtDNA上的基因分布特征,丰富鱼类mtDNA数据库。本研究通过PCR扩增和测序,获得了鲤和鲫mtDNA基因组序列,经比对分析表明,鲤和鲫的mtDNA序列全长均为16 596 bp,共有13个蛋白质编码基因、22个tRNA基因、2个rRNA基因和1个D-Loop区。鲤和鲫的mtDNA序列中(A+T)百分含量分别为57.2%和57.1%,其碱基组成均具有一定的A/T碱基偏向性。N-J系统发育树分析表明,鲤和鲫与琵琶湖鮈亲缘关系最近,与达氏深水尾魟亲缘关系最远。本研究揭示了鲤和鲫mtDNA遗传变异特征及基因分布规律,为鱼类遗传资源保护及开发利用提供了参考依据。     

线粒体基因组测序策略和方法

本文综述了线粒体基因组测序策略和方法,在传统测序方法中介绍了基于物理分离线粒体DNA的克隆文库测序方法和基于PCR扩增产物的直接测序方法,后者重点介绍了基于长PCR扩增产物的引物步移法和基于总DNA的引物步移法;应用新一代高通量测序方法有基于总DNA样品的方法,包括需要预扩增mtDNA的多物种平行高通量和无需预扩增mtDNA的高通量方法,基于总RNA样品的转录组测序方法等。在实际工作中,选择哪种方法取决于研究规模、样品大小和保存状态、经费情况等。总的来说,基于长PCR扩增产物的引物步移法尤其适合小规模昆虫线粒体基因组研究,而对于大规模线粒体基因组研究来说,NGS技术无疑是省时省力的最佳选择。     

复合PCR扩增人mtDNA HVR方法的初探

目的:建立一种高效的扩增线粒体DNA高可变区(mtDNA HVR)的方法.方法:本研究选取5例健康成人静脉血,用人血全基因组DNA试剂盒,提取全基因组DNA,设计引物,用复合PCR方式,对线粒体DNA中的高可变区进行扩增.复合扩增的方式为:用6对套叠引物分开进行两次独立的PCR,扩增mtDNA HVR.第一次扩增用3对引物,目标DNA片段基本涵盖整个线粒体DNA的高可变区,扩增后得到互不重叠的3个短片段,分别为113 bp,126 bp和131bp.第二次复合扩增用其余的3对引物,目标片段基本重叠在第一次扩增所得的目标片段的区域内,扩增得到3个互不重叠的片段为124 bp,133 bp和93bp.所有扩增产物经过纯化后测序.结果:复合PCR方式获得的mtDNA HVR基因序列完整,5个样本均出现特异性条带,电泳结果条带单一、清晰.结论:复合扩增PCR方法对mtDNA HVR区的扩增效率高,测序结果稳定,结合6对套叠引物,不但保证了序列的完整性,另外,两次独立的PCR也减少了PCR反应过程中错配的发生,此法也适用于保存时间较久的古代线粒体DNA短片段的研究.复合扩增PCR还展示出了潜在的高产量的特点,相对传统PCR显示了其更多的优势.     

Leber氏病的PCR基因诊断

木文报告了用PCR技术对线拉体DNA突变引起的人类Leber氏病的研究。此病惠者的 mtDNA第11778位由G突变成A,这种点突变使sfaNI酶识别位点消失,因此可通过PC1t扩增此特 异片段确定其酶切多态性。我们扩增了含sfaN1酶切识别位点在内的一段340bp的mtDNA, sfaNI酶 将正常人的mtDNA切成190师和150bp两片段,而患者的mtDNA则保留完整的340bp, 关键词：线粒体DNA, PCR, Leber氏肩     

不同保存方法对川金丝猴粪便DNA提取效果的影响

目的:川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)是我国特有珍稀物种,其粪便作为一种非损伤性样品,为珍稀濒危动物的种群数量调查、遗传多样性评价、亲缘关系、系统进化等研究带来了很大便利,本研究试图建立高效、简便的粪便样品保存方法。方法:在现有珍稀濒危动物粪便样品保存方法的基础上,分别使用干燥法、冷冻法和干燥-冷冻法保存川金丝猴的粪便样品,比较了不同保存方法的DNA提取效果,以及对mtDNA控制区片段的PCR扩增成功率和微卫星基因的PCR扩增效率。结果:干燥法、冷冻法和干燥-冷冻法三种不同保存方法保存粪便1周时间后,提取的粪便DNA样本扩增mtDNA片段的成功率均为92%,微卫星基因的扩增成功率分别为79%、78%、80%;保存2个月后,mtDNA片段扩增成功率分别为80%、76%和80%,微卫星基因扩增成功率分别为65%、61%、67%;保存6个月后,mtDNA片段扩增成功率分别为56%、52%和64%,微卫星基因扩增成功率分别40%、34%、46%。因此,随着保存时间的增长,三种方法的保存效率都将明显降低,但干燥-冷冻法得到的DNA样本扩增成功率相对较高。结论:粪便样品能够为川金丝猴的遗传多样性评价等相关研究提供有效信息,干燥-冷冻法保存能够更为有效的保证DNA的提取和基因扩增效率。     

Mitochondrial pseudogenes: evolution's misplaced witnesses

Nuclear copies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have contaminated PCR-based mitochondrial studies of over 64 different animal species. Since the last review of these nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (Numts) in animals, Numts have been found in 53 of the species studied. The recent evidence suggests that Numts are not equally abundant in all species, for example they are more common in plants than in animals, and also more numerous in humans than in Drosophila. Methods for avoiding Numts have now been tested, and several recent studies demonstrate the potential utility of Numt DNA sequences in evolutionary studies. As relics of ancient mtDNA, these pseudogenes can be used to infer ancestral states or root mitochondrial phylogenies. Where they are numerous and selectively unconstrained, Numts are ideal for the study of spontaneous mutation in nuclear genomes.     

家马核基因组中线粒体核内插入序列分析

在各种真核生物核基因组中,存在一些由线粒体基因组转移进入核基因组中的DNA片段,这些被认为是分子化石的片段叫做线粒体核内插入序列(Numt)。由于Numt与真实的线粒体序列高度相似,因此它的存在必然会成为PCR扩增线粒体DNA的不利因素。利用已经公布的家马(Equus caballus)基因组序列(2007年9月公布,GenBank登录号为NC_009144-NC_009175)对家马Numt进行了深入分析,共发现200个可能的Numt,长度范围为29到3727bp,其中有10个的长度大于800bp。分析结果显示由于不存在线粒体控制区域的疑似Numt,因此对基于此区域的群体遗传学研究不会产生影响。本研究还发现在家马进化过程中,第1号和27号染色体更倾向于接受线粒体序列的转移。以上结果将为今后马科动物的研究提供重要的参考信息,有助于避免在线粒体DNA研究中由于Numt污染的存在而得出错误的实验结果。     

Estimates of linkage disequilibrium and effective population size in rainbow trout

Background

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is widely used in population genetic and phylogenetic studies in animals. However, such studies can generate misleading results if the species concerned contain nuclear copies of mtDNA (Numts) as these may amplify in addition to, or even instead of, the authentic target mtDNA. The aim of this study was to determine if Numts are present in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, to characterise any Numts detected, and to assess the utility of using mtDNA for population genetics studies in this species.

Results

BLAST searches revealed large numbers of Numts in the Ae. aegypti nuclear genome on 146 supercontigs. Although the majority are short (80% < 300 bp), some Numts are almost full length mtDNA copies. These long Numts are not due to misassembly of the nuclear genome sequence as the Numt-nuclear genome junctions could be recovered by amplification and sequencing. Numt evolution appears to be a complex process in Ae. aegypti with ongoing genomic integration, fragmentation and mutation and the secondary movement of Numts within the nuclear genome. The PCR amplification of the putative mtDNA nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) gene from 166 Southeast Asian Ae. aegypti mosquitoes generated a network with two highly divergent lineages (clade 1 and clade 2). Approximately 15% of the ND4 sequences were a composite of those from each clade indicating Numt amplification in addition to, or instead of, mtDNA. Clade 1 was shown to be composed at least partially of Numts by the removal of clade 1-specific bases from composite sequences following enrichment of the mtDNA. It is possible that all the clade 1 sequences in the network were Numts since the clade 2 sequences correspond to the known mitochondrial genome sequence and since all the individuals that produced clade 1 sequences were also found to contain clade 2 mtDNA-like sequences using clade 2-specific primers. However, either or both sets of clade sequences could have Numts since the BLAST searches revealed two long Numts that match clade 2 and one long Numt that matches clade 1. The substantial numbers of mutations in cloned ND4 PCR products also suggest there are both recently-derived clade 1 and clade 2 Numt sequences.

Conclusion

We conclude that Numts are prevalent in Ae. aegypti and that it is difficult to distinguish mtDNA sequences due to the presence of recently formed Numts. Given this, future population genetic or phylogenetic studies in Ae. aegypti should use nuclear, rather than mtDNA, markers.     

青蟹线粒体COI假基因的分离和特征分析

线粒体DNA标记在遗传结构和系统进化研究中得到广泛应用,然而核假基因的存在对此有很大威胁。本文以中国东南沿海的青蟹(Scylla paramamosain)为研究对象,利用线粒体COI基因的通用引物和特异性引物进行扩增,分别得到34个假基因（nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes, Numts）和5个线粒体COI基因序列。在所获得的34个假基因中共定义了29种单倍型,根据序列的相似度,这些假基因可以分为2类,每类假基因都有各自保守的核苷酸序列。第Ⅰ类假基因存在2处插入序列和1处8 bp的缺失序列,这些位点导致了整个阅读框的移位;在第Ⅱ类假基因和5个线粒体COI序列中只有碱基替换,未发现插入和缺失序列。实验结果分析表明,这两类假基因分别代表了2次核整合事件,即核转移事件的最低值。研究结果提示了     

Structure and chromosomal distribution of human mitochondrial pseudogenes

Nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (Numts) have been found in the genome of many eukaryote species, including humans. Using a BLAST approach, we found 1105 DNA sequences homologous to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the August 2001 Goldenpath human genome database. We assembled these sequences manually into 286 pseudogenes on the basis of single insertion events and constructed a chromosomal map of these Numts. Some pseudogenes appeared highly modified, containing inversions, deletions, duplications, and displaced sequences. In the case of four randomly selected Numts, we used PCR tests on cells lacking mtDNA to ensure that our technique was free from genome-sequencing artifacts. Furthermore, phylogenetic investigation suggested that one Numt, apparently inserted into the nuclear genome 25-30 million years ago, had been duplicated at least 10 times in various chromosomes during the course of evolution. Thus, these pseudogenes should be very useful in the study of ancient mtDNA and nuclear genome evolution.     

Mitochondrial COII Introgression into the Nuclear Genome of Gorilla gorilla

Numts are nonfunctional mitochondrial sequences that have translocated into nuclear DNA, where they evolve independently from the original mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence. Numts can be unintentionally amplified in addition to authentic mtDNA, complicating both the analysis and interpretation of mtDNA-based studies. Amplification of numts creates particular issues for studies on the noncoding, hypervariable 1 mtDNA region of gorillas. We provide data on putative numt sequences of the coding mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII). Via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloning, we obtained COII sequences for gorilla, orangutan, and human high-quality DNA and also from a gorilla fecal DNA sample. Both gorilla and orangutan samples yielded putative numt sequences. Phylogenetically more anciently transferred numts were amplified with a greater incidence from the gorilla fecal DNA sample than from the high-quality gorilla sample. Data on phylogenetically more recently transferred numts are equivocal. We further demonstrate the need for additional investigations into the use of mtDNA markers for noninvasively collected samples from gorillas and other primates.     

Incorporation of mitochondrial fragments in the nuclear genome (Numts) of the longhorned beetle Monochamus galloprovincialis (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)

A mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) study, based on 43 European populations (33 of them sampled in France) of Monochamus galloprovincialis , vector of the pinewood nematode, and 14 populations of its sister species Monochamus sutor was realized. Sequencing of 792 bp of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 521 bp of the COII genes revealed numerous ambiguities on multiple nucleotide sites for half of M. galloprovincialis specimens studied (44.8%). Hypotheses of heteroplasmy and pseudogenes ( Numts ) were examined. The mtDNA isolation by alkaline lysis and cloning (for three successfully used individuals) both support the hypothesis that the ambiguous sequences amplified were not of mtDNA nature and validate the presence of Numts in the nuclear genome of M. galloprovincialis . Multiple copies of mtDNA-like sequences were found paralogous to COI, tRNA leucin and COII regions. Phenetic analysis placed different recently diverged mtDNA-like sequences as a close relative of mtDNA sequences, and grouped 10 closely related mtDNA-like sequences as a more basal clade, closer to ancestral states and to M. sutor . This result supports that this nuclear family of pseudogenes arose independently of the other events and may represent mitochondrial haplotypes sampled from M. galloprovincialis ancestral populations. This is the first time that Numts are proved for a longhorned beetle, whereas no Numts were found within its sister species M. sutor. The incorporation mechanism of Numts in unknown for M. galloprovincialis , however, excess of ambiguous sites corresponding to synonymous mutations placed on third codon position as well as the absence of Numts in M. sutor , conducted to the hypothesis of a recent transfer of these Numts in the nuclear genome of M. galloprovincialis .     

Distinguishing gorilla mitochondrial sequences from nuclear integrations and PCR recombinants: guidelines for their diagnosis in complex sequence databases

Nuclear integrations of mitochondrial DNA (Numts) are widespread in many taxa and if left undetected can confound phylogeny interpretation and bias estimates of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity. This is particularly true in gorillas, where recent studies suggest multiple integrations of the first hypervariable (HV1) domain of the mitochondrial control region. Problems can also arise through the inadvertent incorporation of artifacts produced by in vitro recombination between sequence types during polymerase chain reaction amplification. This issue has attracted little attention yet could potentially exacerbate errors in databases already contaminated by Numts. Using a set of existing diagnostic tools, this study set out to systematically inventory Numts and PCR recombinants in a gorilla HV1 sequence database and address the degree to which existing public databases are contaminated. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct gorilla HV1 Numt groups (I, II, and III) that could be readily differentiated from mtDNA sequences by Numt-specific diagnostic sites and sequence-based motifs. Several instances of genuine recombination were also identified by a suite of detection methods. The location of putative breakpoints was identified by eye and by likelihood analysis. Findings from this study reveal widespread nuclear contamination of gorilla HV1 GenBank databases and underline the importance of recognizing not only Numts but also PCR recombinant artifacts as potential sources of data contamination. Guidelines for the routine identification of Numts and in vitro recombinants are presented and should prove useful in the detection of similar artifacts in other species mtDNA databases.     

Nuclear insertions help and hinder inference of the evolutionary history of gorilla mtDNA

Numts are fragments of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that have been translocated to the nucleus, where they can persist while their mitochondrial counterparts continue to rapidly evolve. Thus, numts represent 'molecular fossils' useful for comparison with mitochondrial variation, and are particularly suited for studies of the fast-evolving hypervariable segment of the mitochondrial control region (HV1). Here we used information from numts found in western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei) to estimate that these two species diverged about 1.3 million years ago (Ma), an estimate similar to recent calculations for the divergence of chimpanzee and bonobo. We also describe the sequence of a gorilla numt still possessing a segment lost from all contemporary gorilla mtDNAs. In contrast to that sequence, many numts of the HV1 are highly similar to authentic mitochondrial organellar sequences, making it difficult to determine whether purported mitochondrial sequences truly derive from that genome. We used all available organellar HV1 and corresponding numt sequences from gorillas in a phylogenetic analysis aimed at distinguishing these two types of sequences. Numts were found in several clades in the tree. This, in combination with the fact that only a limited amount of the extant variation in gorillas has been sampled, suggests that categorization of new sequences by the indirect means of phylogenetic comparison would be prone to uncertainty. We conclude that for taxa such as gorillas that contain numerous numts, direct approaches to the authentication of HV1 sequences, such as amplification strategies relying upon the circularity of the mtDNA molecule, remain necessary.