基于ITS序列的东亚当归属植物的分类学研究

采用PCR直接测序法,测定了东亚地区狭义当归属Angelica s.s.及其近缘共7属40种代表植物的核糖体DNA ITS序列,并结合GenBank中相关植物的ITS序列(含外类群3种),应用遗传距离与系统树分析法对东亚地区狭义当归属植物内部以及当归属与其近缘属植物之间的亲缘关系进行了分析。结果表明:(1)广义当归属中的狭义当归属、柳叶芹属Czernaevia和高山芹属Coelopleurum之间的亲缘关系较近,山芹属Ostericum与它们的亲缘关系较远,这与果实形态、化学分析的结果一致,建议将山芹属作为一个相对独立的分类群处理。(2)ITS序列分析结果支持狭义当归属不是单起源的自然分类群,而应该被分成若干组的观点。(3)ITS序列以及化学成分分析结果表明,前胡属Peucedanum与狭义当归属之间的亲缘关系很近。(4)形态、化学成分以及ITS等多方面分析结果显示,当归A.sinensis与狭义当归属的多数植物之间均有一定的差距,其归属问题值得商榷。(5)ITS序列与化学成分的分析结果均显示藁本属Ligusticum不是一个自然类群。     

应用ITS序列分析新疆濒危植物盐桦的系统发育

目的:依据ITS序列分析新疆濒危植物盐桦的系统发育.方法:运用PCR直接测序法,对珍稀濒危植物盐桦(Betulahalophila)的nrDNA的ITS区(包括ITS-1,5.8SrDNA和ITS-2)进行序列测定,并与GenBank中提取的17种桦木科桦木属植物的ITS区序列进行了组合分析.结果:盐桦的ITS序列和已公布的17种桦木科桦木属植物的ITS区序列差别不大,同源性在99.67%～99.01%之间.采用clustalx软件对盐桦和17种桦木属植物的ITS区序列进行系统发育分析,构建了桦木属植物的ITS分子系统树,18种桦木科桦木属植物形成三个分支,盐桦与Betula alnoides、Betula populifolia、Betula pubescens同为一支.结论:盐桦在桦木科桦木属内有独特的分类地位.     

用rDNA的ITS序列探讨绵刺属的系统位置

绵刺属由于其特殊的形态特征,其系统位置至今仍存在争议。本文选定了蔷薇亚科6种植物和李亚科1种植物,扩增并测定了其核糖体DNA的ITS序列(不包括5.8S片断)。分析时又从GenBank中选取了蔷薇科另外5种植物的ITS序列共同分析。比较这12种植物的ITS1+ITS2,发现不同植物间序列长度变异较大。ITS1的长度范围为224~266 bp,ITS2的长度范围为202~221 bp。用PAUP 3.1.1软件对12种植物的ITS1+ITS2进行分析,结果表明蔷薇亚科中和绵刺属亲缘关系最近的属为金露梅属,其次为地蔷薇属,再次为山莓草属,而这4个属均具有花柱基侧生的特点,这与传统上依据花托杯状或坛状将绵刺属放在蔷薇属和龙牙草属附近的处理不符。系统树上李亚科的2种植物明显地聚为一个单系类群,说明绵刺与蒙古扁桃关系相对甚远。研究结果还表明绵刺这一蒙古高原旱生植物区系成分是由东亚中生植物区系成分的银露梅演化而来;绵刺的各种形态特征和生态习性是长期适应荒漠干旱气候环境的结果。这一植物起源及其迁移路线的发现,为深入研究亚洲中部荒漠植物区系和植被的形成提供了新的证据。     

中国独活属的分支分类学研究

研究运用分支分析方法研究了16种独活属植物的系统发育关系。采用最简约性分析的分支与界限法Branch—and—Bound(bandh)的严格一致树(thestrict consensus cladogram)和非加权配对算术平均法up weighted pair group method using arithmetic average method(UPGMA)对其进行分支分析。研究结果表明：两种方法均支持将独活属分为4个组,即多裂叶组Sect．Millefolia、多毛组Sect．Villosa、多管组Sect．Plurivittata、独活组Sect．Heracleum。《中国植物志》中少管组Sect．Wendia的法落海Heracleum apaense没有独立成组,它的系统位置还需要进一步研究。根据PAUP软件分析中的不同处理方法,探讨了中国独活属植物的系统进化及其起源问题。     

樟属植物ITS序列多态性分析

对樟科樟属(Cinnamomum Schaeffer) 17个代表样本的核糖体DNA内转录间隔区(nrDNA ITS)进行克隆测序。对获得的87条不同ITS序列的长度变异、GC含量、5.8S区二级结构的稳定性、遗传距离、进化模式以及系统发育关系进行了相关分析。研究结果显示, ITS序列在樟属植物内存在明显的多态性, 87条序列中的22条序列被鉴定为假基因序列, 其余65条序列为功能基因序列; 假基因序列采用中性进化模式, 变异明显大于功能序列。ITS序列在樟属植物中出现一致性进化不完全和假基因现象也可能发生在樟科其它类群中, 这可能是导致樟科植物ITS序列直接测序方式成功率低的重要原因。     

丝瓜藓属(Pohlia Hedw.)的系统位置及属内种间关系探讨

丝瓜藓属的系统地位及属内种间关系存在争议。本研究首次利用核糖体DNA内转录间区(ITS)序列数据对丝瓜藓属及相关科属植物进行系统发育分析。最大简约法,最大似然法及贝叶斯推论法构建的系统树均表明,ITS序列数据不支持将丝瓜藓属划归提灯藓科。丝瓜藓属植物与缺齿藓属植物构成一个单系分支。Brotherus(1903),Ochi(1959),Shaw(1984)及Hill等(2006)等学者提出的丝瓜藓属属下分类均不是单系类群。     

基于DNA非编码区序列探讨罗布麻的分类问题

通过测定中国产罗布红麻、大叶白麻和白麻的ITSt、rnL内含子和trnL-F非编码区序列,并与其它相关植物的相应序列比较,探讨“罗布麻”的系统分类。结果显示:罗布红麻、大叶白麻和白麻3种植物的ITS序列完全一致,而与罗布麻属加拿大麻的ITS序列相差较大;在trnL内含子和trnL-F非编码区,大叶白麻和白麻的完全一致,与罗布红麻之间仅有3个位点的变异,而加拿大麻与美国茶叶花在这3个位点却和白麻属的完全一致等。以上结果显示在ITSt、rnL内含子和trnL-F非编码区,白麻属和罗布麻属之间没有本质区别,罗布红麻与大叶白麻和白麻之间的亲缘关系可能较罗布红麻与罗布麻属内其它物种间的亲缘关系更近。遗传距离与系统树的分析结果进一步支持以上推论。建议撤销白麻属,将大叶白麻和白麻合并到罗布麻属。     

山茶属植物ITS的多态性——一个广泛逃离一致性进化的实例

利用位于45S rDNA内转录间隔区（ITS）的3对SSR引物, 对山茶属（Camellia L.）的40个物种进行PCR扩增, 检测3个SSR位点的多态性, 研究物种倍性与多态性之间的关系。实验结果显示, 37个种（占92.5%）的ITS片段存在个体内长度多态性, 在这些种类的个体内至少有2–6类ITS拷贝, 表明山茶属植物的ITS片段存在广泛的非一致性进化; ITS序列上存在易于滑动的SSR位点, 并且其基因组中有较多位于不同染色体上的rDNA位点, 这很可能是山茶属植物ITS片段存在广泛多态性的原因。然而, 研究中没有发现多倍体种类ITS片段的多态性显著高于二倍体种类。山茶属植物ITS片段的多态性提示该属植物的rDNA可能存在更为复杂的进化模式, 在利用ITS片段解决该属植物的系统分类问题时应更为谨慎。     

PCR产物直接测序还是克隆测序 密叶杉属rDNA ITS序列的测定方法

通过PCR产物直接测序和克隆测序对三种密叶杉属（Athrotaxis）植物rDNA内转录间隔区(ITS)及5.8 S rDNA序列进行了测定与分析。实验表明A. selaginoides rDNA重复序列间的纯合程度很高, 对PCR产物直接测序就可以测定其ITS区序列。而A. laxifolia、A. cupressoides的ITS1重复序列间的纯合程度较低,各重复单位间序列存在插入/缺失,只有对PCR产物进行克隆测序才能确定其序列。A. laxifolia、A. cupressoides的ITS2区尽管也存在 多态性,但不同重复序列的浓度比较平均,对PCR产物直接测序就可确定重复序列间的变异情况。本实验表明尽管是同一属的三种植物,但其rDNA重复序列间的纯合程度不同,同一植物ITS的不同区域,其重复序列间的纯合程度也不同,针对不同的ITS片段可采用不同的方法以测定其序列。     

PCR产物直接测序还是克隆测序?——密叶杉属rDNA ITS序列的测定方法

通过PCR产物直接测序和克隆测序对三种密叶杉属 (Athrotaxis)植物rDNA内转录间隔区 (ITS)及5 .8SrDNA序列进行了测定与分析。实验表明A .selaginoidesrDNA重复序列间的纯合程度很高 ,对PCR产物直接测序就可以测定其ITS区序列。而A .laxifolia、A .cupressoides的ITS1重复序列间的纯合程度较低 ,各重复单位间序列存在插入 /缺失 ,只有对PCR产物进行克隆测序才能确定其序列。A .laxi folia、A .cupressoides的ITS2区尽管也存在多态性 ,但不同重复序列的浓度比较平均 ,对PCR产物直接测序就可确定重复序列间的变异情况。本实验表明尽管是同一属的三种植物 ,但其rDNA重复序列间的纯合程度不同 ,同一植物ITS的不同区域 ,其重复序列间的纯合程度也不同 ,针对不同的ITS片段可采用不同的方法以测定其序列。     

衣藻属的系统发育分析——基于形态形状和nrDNA ITS序列

通过实验分析莱茵衣藻 ( Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) 1个种和互连网获得衣藻属 1 5个种及丝藻属 1个种 ( Ulothrix zonata) ,共 1 7个种的 nr DNA ITS序列 ,并以 U.zonata为外类群 ,采用计算机分析软件包对其进行分析及构建分子系统发育树图。同时以 1 2个传统分类性状 ,对此 1 6种衣藻构建数据矩阵 ;以 U.zonata动孢子的相应性状为外类群原始性状 ,用Wagner法在计算机上对其进行分枝分析 ;然后比较并分析分子系统树和表征性状分支分析树的异同。初步尝试以 ITS分子序列系统发育分析作为传统性状分析的补充来研究衣藻种间的亲缘关系。     

Genetic diversity of Paramecium species on the basis of multiple loci analysis and ITS secondary structure models

Among ciliates, Paramecium has become a privileged model for the study of “species problem” particularly in the case of the “Paramecium aurelia complex” that has been intensely investigated. Despite extensive studies, the taxonomy of Paramecium is still challenging. The major problem is an uneven sampling of Paramecium with relatively few representatives of each species. To investigate species from the less discovered region (Pakistan), 10 isolates of Paramecium species including a standing-alone FT8 strain previously isolated by some of us were subjected to molecular characterization. Fragments of 18S recombinant DNA (rDNA), ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-5′LSU rDNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, and hsp70 genes were used as molecular markers for phylogenetic analysis of particular isolates. The nucleotide sequences of polymerase chain reaction products of all markers were compared with the available sequences of relevant markers of other Paramecium species from GenBank. Phylogenetic trees based on all molecular markers showed that all the nine strains had a very close relationship with Paramecium primaurelia except for the FT8 strain. FT8 consistently showed its unique position in comparison to all other species in the phylogenetic trees. Available sequences of internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and ITS2 and some other ciliate sequences from GenBank were used for the construction of secondary models. Two highly conserved helices supported by compensatory base changes among all ciliates of ITS2 secondary structures were found similar to other eukaryotes. Therefore, the most conserved 120 to 180 base pairs regions were identified for their comparative studies. We found that out of the three helices in ITS1 structure, helix B was more conserved in Paramecium species. Despite various substitutions in the primary sequence, it was observed that secondary structures of ITS1 and ITS2 could be helpful in interpreting the phylogenetic relationships both at species as well as at generic level.     

Phylogeny of Panax using chloroplast trnC-trnD intergenic region and the utility of trnC-trnD in interspecific studies of plants

Sequences of the chloroplast trnC-trnD region and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA were obtained for all species of Panax L. (the ginseng plant genus, Araliaceae) to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships. The trnC-trnD phylogeny is congruent with the ITS phylogeny for the diploid taxa of Panax. This study is the first use of the trnC-trnD sequence data for phylogenetic analysis at the interspecific level. We evaluated this DNA region for its phylogenetic utility at the lower taxonomic level for flowering plants. The trnC-trnD region includes the trnC-petN intergenic spacer, the petN gene, the petN-psbM intergenic spacer, the psbM gene, and the psbM-trnD intergenic spacer. The petN and psbM genes are small, 90 and 104-114 bp across angiosperms, respectively, and have conserved sequences. We have designed universal amplification and sequencing primers within these two genes. Using these primers, we have successfully amplified the entire trnC-trnD region for a diversity of flowering plant groups, including Aralia L. (Araliaceae), Calycanthus L. (Calycanthaceae), Corylus L. (Betulaceae), Hamamelis L. (Hamamelidaceae), Hydrocotyle L. (Apiaceae), Illigera Blume (Hernandiaceae), Nelumbo Adans. (Nelumbonaceae), Nolana L. ex L.f. (Solanaceae), Prunus L. (Rosaceae), and Staphylea L. (Staphyleaceae). In Panax, the trnC-trnD region provides a similar number of informative phylogenetic characters as the ITS regions and a slightly higher number of informative characters than the chloroplast ndhF gene. We thus demonstrate the utility of the trnC-trnD region for lower-level phylogenetic studies in flowering plants.     

The ITS region of groundwater amphipods: length,secondary structure and phylogenetic information content in Crangonyctoids and Niphargids

The phylogenetic analysis of groundwater amphipods is challenging due to the lack of suitable morphological characters. However, molecular phylogenies based on the 18S and 28S nuclear genes of two Crangonyctoidea species endemic to Iceland, Crymostygius thingvallensis and Crangonyx islandicus, support the taxonomy of these species on the basis of morphological characters. Molecular analyses suggest that the genus Crangonyx is paraphyletic, with the species that is found in Eurasia being highly divergent genetically from the species present in North America and Iceland. Studies of the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Niphargus also warrant further work. The nuclear ITS2 region has recently been proposed as a barcoding marker for plants and animals. In addition, ITS2 has been used to build phylogenies at high taxonomic levels by including its secondary structure. In this study, we want to evaluate the applicability of the ITS region for this group of species and describe its characteristics. The taxonomy of C. thingvallensis, as well as the paraphyly of the genus Crangonyx, is supported herein by phylogenies based on the ITS2 variation. The secondary structure and the length of the ITS2 sequences of the Crangonyctoidea and the Niphargidae species studied are highly variable and are characterized by duplications. The ITS2 sequence of Niphargus plateaui is the longest metazoan sequence deposited in the ITS2 database so far. Although saturation was observed in the nucleotide variation of this marker, the addition of the secondary structure information for the reconstruction of the phylogeny did not add support to the phylogenetic trees. The ITS1 region, which is known to be more variable than ITS2 and bears a large duplication within C. islandicus, was found to be less useful for phylogenetic reconstruction.     

Deep-level diagnostic value of the rDNA-ITS region

The similarity of certain reported angiosperm rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences to those of green algae prompted our analysis of the deep-level phylogenetic signal in the highly conserved but short 5.8S and hypervariable ITS2 sequences. We found that 5.8S sequences yield phylogenetic trees similar to but less well supported than those generated by a ca. 10-fold longer alignment from rDNA-18S sequences, as well as independent evidence. We attribute this result to our finding that, compared to 18S, the 5.8S has a higher proportion of sites subject to vary and greater among-site substitution rate homogeneity. We also determined that our phylogenetic results are not likely affected by intramolecular compensatory mutation to maintain RNA secondary structure nor by evident systematic biases in base composition. Despite historical homology, there appears to be no ITS2 primary sequence similarity shared sufficient similarity to cluster correctly on the basis of alignability. Our results indicate that groups, however, share sufficient similarity to cluster correctly on the basis of alignability. Our results indicate that ITS region sequences can diagnose organismal origins and phylogenetic relationships at many phylogenetic levels and provide a useful paradigm for molecular evolutionary study.      

Molecular phylogeny of 21 tropical bamboo species reconstructed by integrating non-coding internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and 2) sequences and their consensus secondary structure

The unavailability of the reproductive structure and unpredictability of vegetative characters for the identification and phylogenetic study of bamboo prompted the application of molecular techniques for greater resolution and consensus. We first employed internal transcribed spacer (ITS1, 5.8S rRNA and ITS2) sequences to construct the phylogenetic tree of 21 tropical bamboo species. While the sequence alone could grossly reconstruct the traditional phylogeny amongst the 21-tropical species studied, some anomalies were encountered that prompted a further refinement of the phylogenetic analyses. Therefore, we integrated the secondary structure of the ITS sequences to derive individual sequence-structure matrix to gain more resolution on the phylogenetic reconstruction. The results showed that ITS sequence-structure is the reliable alternative to the conventional phenotypic method for the identification of bamboo species. The best-fit topology obtained by the sequence-structure based phylogeny over the sole sequence based one underscores closer clustering of all the studied Bambusa species (Sub-tribe Bambusinae), while Melocanna baccifera, which belongs to Sub-Tribe Melocanneae, disjointedly clustered as an out-group within the consensus phylogenetic tree. In this study, we demonstrated the dependability of the combined (ITS sequence+structure-based) approach over the only sequence-based analysis for phylogenetic relationship assessment of bamboo.     

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic utility of the rDNA external transcribed spacer region in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stylosanthes</Emphasis> (Fabaceae)

Supplementary Material The nucleotide sequence of the ribosomal external transcribed spacer (ETS) region of Stylosanthes mexicana was determined and used to evaluate its potential for examination of intra- and inter-specific relationships in Stylosanthes, as compared to the use of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The entire ETS region comprises 1,145 bp and is composed of a region of non-repetitive sequences consisting of three subregions with organizational and nucleotide-sequence conservation, and a triplicated segment of about 100 bp. A primer designed in the second conserved subregion allowed us to amplify and sequence directly the 3' part (423-431 bp) of the ETS from 22 genotypes of 12 representative Stylosanthes species that were previously used in phylogenetic analysis of the genus. The study revealed that the right-hand part of Stylosanthes ETS contains approximately twice as much variable and informative characters than the ITS. Moreover, pairwise sequence-divergence values are twice as high, on average, when compared to the ITS. The ITS and ETS datasets are consistent in phylogenetic reconstruction of Stylosanthes, and combined parsimony analysis resulted in a strict consensus tree that is better resolved and generally better supported than trees obtained from separate analysis of the spacer regions.     

Ribosomal ITS sequences and plant phylogenetic inference

One of the most popular sequences for phylogenetic inference at the generic and infrageneric levels in plants is the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the 18S-5.8S-26S nuclear ribosomal cistron. The prominence of this source of nuclear DNA sequence data is underscored by a survey of phylogenetic publications involving comparisons at the genus level or below, which reveals that of 244 papers published over the last five years, 66% included ITS sequence data. Perhaps even more striking is the fact that 34% of all published phylogenetic hypothesis have been based exclusively on ITS sequences. Notwithstanding the many important contributions of ITS sequence data to phylogenetic understanding and knowledge of genome relationships, a number of molecular genetic processes impact ITS sequences in ways that may mislead phylogenetic inference. These molecular genetic processes are reviewed here, drawing attention to both underlying mechanism and phylogenetic implications. Among the most prevalent complications for phylogenetic inference is the existence in many plant genomes of extensive sequence variation, arising from ancient or recent array duplication events, genomic harboring of pseudogenes in various states of decay, and/or incomplete intra- or inter-array homogenization. These phenomena separately and collectively create a network of paralogous sequence relationships potentially confounding accurate phylogenetic reconstruction. Homoplasy is shown to be higher in ITS than in other DNA sequence data sets, most likely because of orthology/paralogy conflation, compensatory base changes, problems in alignment due to indel accumulation, sequencing errors, or some combination of these phenomena. Despite the near-universal usage of ITS sequence data in plant phylogenetic studies, its complex and unpredictable evolutionary behavior reduce its utility for phylogenetic analysis. It is suggested that more robust insights are likely to emerge from the use of single-copy or low-copy nuclear genes.