Calorie restriction reduces rDNA recombination independently of rDNA silencing

Calorie restriction (CR) extends lifespan in yeast, worms, flies and mammals, suggesting that it acts via a conserved mechanism. In yeast, activation of the NAD‐dependent histone deacetylase, Sir2, by CR is thought to increase silencing at the ribosomal DNA, thereby reducing the recombination‐induced generation of extrachromosomal rDNA circles, hence increasing replicative lifespan. Although accumulation of extrachromosomal rDNA circles is specific to yeast aging, it is thought that Sirtuin activation represents a conserved longevity mechanism through which the beneficial effects of CR are mediated in various species. We show here that growing yeast on 0.05 or 0.5% glucose (severe and moderate CR, respectively) does not increase silencing at either sub‐telomeric or rDNA loci compared with standard (2% glucose) media. Furthermore, rDNA silencing was unaffected in the hxk2Δ, sch9Δ and tor1Δ genetic mimics of CR, but inhibited by FOB1 deletion. All these interventions extend lifespan in multiple yeast backgrounds, revealing a poor correlation between rDNA silencing and longevity. In contrast, CR and deletion of the FOB1, HXK2, SCH9 and TOR1 genes, all significantly reduced rDNA recombination. This silencing‐independent mechanism for suppressing rDNA recombination may therefore contribute to CR‐mediated lifespan extension.     

Mutations in rDNA

Summary The action of -amanitin, an inhibitor of RNA synthesis, on the induction by hydroxyurea (HU) of chromosomal aberrations in nucleolus organizer regions of barley was studied. The data obtained show that -amanitin can effectively modify aberration induction in rDNA. Administered before mutagen treatment or in combination with the mutagen, the toxin significantly decreased the HU-induced aberration frequencies in NORs. The data obtained provide further evidence that -amanitin is an effective modulator of aberration induction in NORs either by interfering with RNA synthesis or by modifying chromatin structure.     

Quelling targets the rDNA locus and functions in rDNA copy number control

Background  

RNA silencing occurs in a broad range of organisms. Although its ancestral function is probably related to the genome defense mechanism against repetitive selfish elements, it has been found that RNA silencing regulates different cellular processes such as gene expression and chromosomal segregation. In Neurospora crassa, a RNA silencing mechanism, called quelling, acts to repress the expression of transgenes and transposons, but until now no other cellular functions have been shown to be regulated by this mechanism.     

Amplification of rDNA and type I sequences in Drosophila males deficient in rDNA

rDNA magnification is a heritable change in rDNA content that occurs in D. melanogaster males when chromosomes deficient in rDNA are placed together for several generations. We have examined the restriction endonuclease cleavage pattern of the rDNA from an X chromosome undergoing magnification, and find no evidence for the selective amplification of either uninterrupted rDNA units or those containing insertion sequences. In addition, we observe an amplification of rDNA in the first generation of extremely bobbed male progeny to a level exceeding that of wild-type flies, but that reduces to the wild-type level in subsequent generations. The type I rDNA insertion elements also occur as tandem arrays, independently of rDNA. Southern hybridizations indicate that the majority of these sequences are located in the heterochromatin surrounding the nucleolus organizer on the X chromosome, and we find that they, too, amplify transiently in the first generation of magnifying males.     

Evolution of rDNA in Nicotiana allopolyploids: a potential link between rDNA homogenization and epigenetics

Background: The evolution and biology of rDNA have interested biologistsfor many years, in part, because of two intriguing processes:(1) nucleolar dominance and (2) sequence homogenization. Wereview patterns of evolution in rDNA in the angiosperm genusNicotiana to determine consequences of allopolyploidy on theseprocesses. Scope: Allopolyploid species of Nicotiana are ideal for studying rDNAevolution because phylogenetic reconstruction of DNA sequenceshas revealed patterns of species divergence and their parents.From these studies we also know that polyploids formed overwidely different timeframes (thousands to millions of years),enabling comparative and temporal studies of rDNA structure,activity and chromosomal distribution. In addition studies onsynthetic polyploids enable the consequences of de novo polyploidyon rDNA activity to be determined. Conclusions: We propose that rDNA epigenetic expression patterns establishedeven in F₁ hybrids have a material influence on the likely patternsof divergence of rDNA. It is the active rDNA units that arevulnerable to homogenization, which probably acts to reducemutational load across the active array. Those rDNA units thatare epigenetically silenced may be less vulnerable to sequencehomogenization. Selection cannot act on these silenced genes,and they are likely to accumulate mutations and eventually beeliminated from the genome. It is likely that whole silencedarrays will be deleted in polyploids of 1 million years of ageand older.     

水稻45S rDNA和5S rDNA的染色体定位研究

45SrDNA和5SrDNA是水稻中与核糖体RNA合成有关的2个功能片段,有关这2个序列在水稻染色体上的位置,不同研究者的研究结果不尽相同,在获得水稻染色体清晰制片的基础上,通过FISH确定了45SrDNA序列位于水稻的第9号和第10号染色体的短臂末端,并且第9号染色体上的拷贝数多于第10号染色体,5SrDNA序列位于第11号染色体短臂靠近着丝点处。     

Phylogeny of Hesionidae (Aciculata, Polychaeta), assessed from morphology, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, 16S rDNA and COI

We assess phylogenetic relationships within the polychaete family Hesionidae from morphological data combined with nucleotide data from 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, 16S rDNA and COI. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses were performed on two data sets; the first was based on a more restricted set of terminals with both morphological and molecular data (17 ingroup terminals), while the second included additional taxa with morphological data only (25 ingroup terminals). The different sets of terminals yielded fully congruent results, as did the parsimony and the Bayesian analyses. Our results indicate high levels of homoplasy in traditionally used morphological characters in the group, and that Hesioninae, Gyptini and Gyptis are nonmonophyletic. Hesionini (mainly Hesione and Leocrates ), Psamathini (mainly Hesiospina , Micropodarke , Nereimyra , Psamathe and Syllidia ), Ophiodrominae (Gyptini and Ophiodromini) and Ophiodromini (mainly Heteropodarke , Ophiodromus and Podarkeopsis ) are monophyletic and agree with previous classifications, and Hesionini is probably the sister to all other hesionids. The placements of the small hesionids capricornia and Lizardia , the hydrothermal vent taxa Hesiodeira and Hesiolyra , and the newly described Hesiobranchia , remain uncertain.     

rDNA magnification in D. melanogaster: state of rDNA copies following the first step.

Summary D. melanogaster males of bb/O genetic constitution undergoing rDNA magnification were mated singly to XXbb ⁺/O females, yielding bb/O male progeny, and to X_NO-w sn bb ⁺ fameles, yielding bb/X_NO- females. The male and female offspring were scored for the bb ⁺ phenotype.Results show that there is a higher percentage of bb ⁺ flies in the bb/O male progeny than in bb/X_NO- females progeny, in single crosses as well as in the combined data. rRNA/DNA hybridization experiments agree with this observation, by showing that the rDNA content in the progeny of premagnified flies was higher in the sons than in the daughters.These data indicate that the increase of ribosomal RNA genes is not due to a stable event such as an unequal mitotic sister exchange, whereas they do not contrast with the extracopy model.     

Evidence for an excess of rDNA in the testis of Drosophila melanogaster during rDNA magnification.

Summary Hybridization of rRNA with DNA extracted from different tissues of different genotypes have been performed. The results show that: 1) in DNA extracted from the testis of premagnified males there exists an excess of rDNA, which is consistent with the model proposed by Ritossa (1972) and by us (1973) to explain the phenomenon of magnification. 2) in DNA extracted from diploid tissues of different genotypes the percent of rDNA is directly proportional to the number of ribosomal genes. 3) in polytene cells the percent of rDNA for all genotypes so far studied is less than that in diploid cells and is not significantly dependant on the genotype. This last result is consistent with those of Spear and Gall (1973).     

SSU rDNA phylogeny of cladoniiform lichens

To examine phylogenetic relationships among the "cladoniiform" lichenized fungi, i.e., the families Cladoniaceae, Baeomycetaceae, Icmadophilaceae, Stereocaulaceae, and Siphulaceae, and to provide evidence for the anticipated independent origins of podetia and pseudopodetia, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of SSU (small subunit) rDNA sequences from 39 lichen-forming fungi. These fungi represent all of the major growth forms of lichen associations, fruticose (including "cladoniiform"), foliose, and crustose. Our analysis suggests that lichen-forming fungi with a "cladoniiform" morphology arose multiple times within the ascomycetes. Additionally, each of the other thallus growth forms, crustose, foliose, and fruticose, have originated multiple times. It also seems to be clear that neither all podetiate nor all pseudopodetiate taxa form a monophyletic group. Therefore the term "podetium" should be restricted to homologous structures that are most probably limited to the genera Cladonia, Cladina, Pycnothelia, and allies. The "pseudopodetia" of Stereocaulon (Stereocaulaceae) and Cladia (Cladiaceae) may represent different states of the same homologous character. Our phylogenetic hypothesis supports the monophyletic origin of the order Lecanorales sensu stricto, including representatives of five suborders Cladoniineae, Lecanorineae, Teloschistineae, Agyriineae and Peltigerineae, but excluding representatives of the suborders Acarosporineae (Acarospora schleicheri and Megaspora verrucosa), Pertusariineae (Pertusaria trachythallina), and Umbilicarineae. The suborder Cladoniineae and the family Cladoniaceae both appear to be polyphyletic assemblages.     

斜茎黄芪根瘤菌的16SrDNA和23SrDNAPCR—RFLP比较分析

在表型性状数值分析和ＡＦＬＰ指纹图谱分析的基础上,选取５４株斜茎黄芪根瘤菌的代表菌株及已知根瘤菌参比菌株,进行１６ＳｒＤＮＡ和２３ＳｒＤＮＡ的ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ比较分析。结果表明斜茎黄芪根瘤菌具有极大的系统发育多样性,分别具有２４个１６ＳｒＤＮＡ遗传图谱类型和２２个２３ＳｒＤＮＡ遗传图谱类型,１６ＳｒＤＮＡ与２３ＳｒＤＮＡＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ聚类分析树状图谱有较好的一致性,但也存在一些差异。在对较大类群的划分上,它们的结果与表型性状数值分析结果有较好的一致性。将１６ＳｒＤＮＡ和２３ＳｒＤＮＡＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ分析数据合并在一起进行分析时,得出２６个综合遗传图谱类型和１个综合聚类分析树状图谱。很明显,１６ＳｒＤＮＡ与２３ＳｒＤＮＡ的合并,能够得出更可靠的系统发育结论。     

Regulation of rDNA stability by sumoylation

Repair of DNA lesions by homologous recombination relies on the copying of genetic information from an intact homologous sequence. However, many eukaryotic genomes contain repetitive sequences such as the ribosomal gene locus (rDNA), which poses a risk for illegitimate recombination. Therefore, the eukaryotic cell has evolved mechanisms to favor equal sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and suppress unequal SCE, single-strand annealing and break-induced replication. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the tight regulation of homologous recombination at the rDNA locus is dependent on the Smc5–Smc6 complex and sumoylation of Rad52, which directs DNA double-strand breaks in the rDNA to relocalize from within the nucleolus to the nucleoplasm before association with the recombination machinery. The relocalization before repair is important for maintaining rDNA stability. The focus of this review is the regulation of recombinational DNA repair at the rDNA locus by sumoylation and the Smc5–Smc6 complex in S. cerevisiae.