Phylogenetic analysis reveals a scattered distribution of autumn colours

Background and Aims

Leaf colour in autumn is rarely considered informative for taxonomy, but there is now growing interest in the evolution of autumn colours and different hypotheses are debated. Research efforts are hindered by the lack of basic information: the phylogenetic distribution of autumn colours. It is not known when and how autumn colours evolved.

Methods

Data are reported on the autumn colours of 2368 tree species belonging to 400 genera of the temperate regions of the world, and an analysis is made of their phylogenetic relationships in order to reconstruct the evolutionary origin of red and yellow in autumn leaves.

Key Results

Red autumn colours are present in at least 290 species (70 genera), and evolved independently at least 25 times. Yellow is present independently from red in at least 378 species (97 genera) and evolved at least 28 times.

Conclusions

The phylogenetic reconstruction suggests that autumn colours have been acquired and lost many times during evolution. This scattered distribution could be explained by hypotheses involving some kind of coevolutionary interaction or by hypotheses that rely on the need for photoprotection.Key words: Autumn colour, leaf colour, comparative analysis, coevolution, photoprotection, phylogenetic analysis     

Phylogenetic analysis of morphology in Prunus reveals extensive homoplasy

Prunus is a large and economically important genus with considerable morphological variation. The evolution of vegetative and reproductive characters are examined here by parsimony reconstruction on trees obtained from data of ITS, trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, and 25 morphological characters of 37 species of Prunus and representatives of eight other genera of Rosaceae. Prunus grayana is supported as the sister species to the rest of Prunus and the common ancestor of Prunus is reconstructed as having deciduous and serrated leaves, leafy racemes and fruit with well-developed pericarp. All diagnostic characters used in classification of the raceme-bearing species show some degree of convergent evolution and do not reflect phylogenetic relatedness. Some character states, such as evergreen foliage and entire leaf margin, are likely adaptations to environments with higher humidity and mean temperature. However, these hypotheses need to be tested by including species formerly classified in genus Pygeum, which were not available for this study. A clade consisting of subgenera Prunus, Amygdalus, Emplectocladus and section Microcerasus (formerly in subgenus Cerasus) is characterized by having axillary buds organized in groups of three, two of which give rise to flowers or inflorescences and one to a vegetative shoot. Fruits with thin pericarps are common in Prunus but they arose more than once independently. Dry fruits also evolved more than once, and only in species of Prunus living in arid environments, suggesting that this feature is another example of adaptation. Maddenia hypoleuca is nested within Prunus and the morphological characters used to segregate it from Prunus have been misinterpreted or are also found in species of Prunus previously classified in genus Pygeum.     

Phylogenetic analysis of ferlin genes reveals ancient eukaryotic origins

Background  

The ferlin gene family possesses a rare and identifying feature consisting of multiple tandem C2 domains and a C-terminal transmembrane domain. Much currently remains unknown about the fundamental function of this gene family, however, mutations in its two most well-characterised members, dysferlin and otoferlin, have been implicated in human disease. The availability of genome sequences from a wide range of species makes it possible to explore the evolution of the ferlin family, providing contextual insight into characteristic features that define the ferlin gene family in its present form in humans.     

Phylogenetic analysis reveals that Rhabdopleura is an extant graptolite

A phylogenetic analysis of morphological data from modern pterobranch hemichordates (Cephalodiscus, Rhabdopleura) and representatives of each of the major graptolite orders reveals that Rhabdopleura nests among the benthic, encrusting graptolite taxa as it shares all of the synapomorphies that unite the graptolites. Therefore, rhabdopleurids can be regarded as extant members of the Subclass Graptolithina (Class Pterobranchia). Combined with the results of previous molecular phylogenetic studies of extant deuterostomes, these results also suggest that the Graptolithina is a sister taxon to the Subclass Cephalodiscida. The Graptolithina, as an important component of Early–Middle Palaeozoic biotas, provide data critical to our understanding of early deuterostome phylogeny. This result allows one to infer the zooid morphology, mechanics of colony growth and palaeobiology of fossil graptolites in direct relation to the living members of the clade. The Subdivision Graptoloida (nom. transl.), which are all planktic graptolites, is well supported in this analysis. In addition, we recognize the clade Eugraptolithina (nov.). This clade comprises the Graptoloida and all of the other common and well‐known graptolites of the distinctive Palaeozoic fauna. Most of the graptolites traditionally regarded as tuboids and dendroids appear to be paraphyletic groups within the Eugraptolithina; however, Epigraptus is probably not a member of this clade. The Eugraptolithina appear to be derived from an encrusting, Rhabdopleura‐like species, but the available information is insufficient to resolve the phylogeny of basal graptolites. The phylogenetic position of Mastigograptus and the status of the Dithecoidea and Mastigograptida also remain unresolved. □ Biodiversity, Cambrian, Hemichordata, Deuterostomia, Ordovician.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Sicilian goats reveals a new mtDNA lineage

The mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) sequence of 67 goats belonging to the Girgentana, Maltese and Derivata di Siria breeds was partially sequenced in order to present the first phylogenetic characterization of Sicilian goat breeds. These sequences were compared with published sequences of Indian and Pakistani domestic goats and wild goats. Mitochondrial lineage A was observed in most of the Sicilian goats. However, three Girgentana haplotypes were highly divergent from the Capra hircus clade, indicating that a new mtDNA lineage in domestic goats was found.     

Phylogenetic analysis reveals gene conversions in multigene families of rhizobia

Gene families are an important and intrinsic trait of rhizobial species. These gene copies can participate in non-reciprocal recombination events, also called gene conversions. Gene conversion has diverse roles, but it is usually implicated in the evolution of multigene families. Here, we searched for gene conversions in multigene families of six representative rhizobial genomes. We identified 11 gene families with different numbers of copies, genome location and function in CFN42 and CIAT652 strains of Rhizobium etli, Rhizobium sp NGR234, Mesorhizobium loti MAFF303099, Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021, and Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110. Gene conversions were detected by phylogenetic inference in the nifD and nifK gene families in R. etli. Sequence analysis confirmed multiple gene conversions in these two gene families. We suggest that gene conversion events have an important role in homogenizing multigene families in rhizobia.     

Phylogenetic analysis reveals multiple introductions of Cynodon species in Australia

The distinction between native and introduced flora within isolated land masses presents unique challenges. The geological and colonisation history of Australia, the world's largest island, makes it a valuable system for studying species endemism, introduction, and phylogeny. Using this strategy we investigated Australian cosmopolitan grasses belonging to the genus Cynodon. While it is believed that seven species of Cynodon are present in Australia, no genetic analyses have investigated the origin, diversity and phylogenetic history of Cynodon within Australia. To address this gap, 147 samples (92 from across Australia and 55 representing global distribution) were sequenced for a total of 3336bp of chloroplast DNA spanning six genes. Data showed the presence of at least six putatively introduced Cynodon species (C. transvaalensis, C. incompletus, C. hirsutus, C. radiatus, C. plectostachyus and C. dactylon) in Australia and suggested multiple recent introductions. C. plectostachyus, a species often confused with C. nlemfuensis, was not previously considered to be present in Australia. Most significantly, we identified two common haplotypes that formed a monophyletic clade diverging from previously identified Cynodon species. We hypothesise that these two haplotypes may represent a previously undescribed species of Cynodon. We provide further evidence that two Australian native species, Brachyachne tenella and B. convergens belong in the genus Cynodon and, therefore, argue for the taxonomic revision of the genus Cynodon.     

Phylogenetic analysis reveals the surprising diversity of an oxygenase class

As metalloenzymes capable of transforming a broad range of substrates with high stereo- and regiospecificity, the multicomponent Rieske oxygenases (ROs) have been studied in bacterial systems for applications in bioremediation and industrial biocatalysis. These studies include genetic and biochemical investigations, determination of enzyme structure, phylogenetic analysis, and enzyme classification. Although RO terminal oxygenase components (RO–Os) share a conserved domain structure, their sequences are highly divergent and present significant challenges for identification and classification. Herein, we present the first global phylogenetic analysis of a broad range of RO–Os from diverse taxonomic groups. We employed objective, structure-based criteria to significantly reduce the inclusion of erroneously aligned sequences in the analysis. Our findings reveal that RO biochemical studies to date have been largely concentrated in an unexpectedly narrow portion of the RO–O sequence landscape. Additionally, our analysis demonstrates the existence two distinct groups of RO–O sequences. Finally, the sequence diversity recognized in this study necessitates a new RO–O classification scheme. We therefore propose a P450-like naming system. Our results reveal a diversity of sequence and potential catalytic functionality that has been wholly unappreciated in the RO literature. This study also demonstrates that many commonly used bioinformatic tools may not be sufficient to analyze the vast amount of data available in current databases. These findings facilitate the expanded exploration of RO catalytic capabilities in both biological and technological contexts and increase the potential for practical exploitation of their activities.     

Phylogenetic diversification of the globin gene superfamily in chordates

Phylogenetic reconstructions provide a means of inferring the branching relationships among members of multigene families that have diversified via successive rounds of gene duplication and divergence. Such reconstructions can illuminate the pathways by which particular expression patterns and protein functions evolved. For example, phylogenetic analyses can reveal cases in which similar expression patterns or functional properties evolved independently in different lineages, either through convergence, parallelism, or evolutionary reversals. The purpose of this article is to provide a robust phylogenetic framework for interpreting experimental data and for generating hypotheses about the functional evolution of globin proteins in chordate animals. To do this, we present a consensus phylogeny of the chordate globin gene superfamily. We document the relative roles of gene duplication and whole-genome duplication in fueling the functional diversification of vertebrate globins, and we unravel patterns of shared ancestry among globin genes from representatives of the three chordate subphyla (Craniata, Urochordata, and Cephalochordata). Our results demonstrate the value of integrating phylogenetic analyses with genomic analyses of conserved synteny to infer the duplicative origins and evolutionary histories of globin genes. We also discuss a number of case studies that illustrate the importance of phylogenetic information when making inferences about the evolution of globin gene expression and protein function. Finally, we discuss why the globin gene superfamily presents special challenges for phylogenetic analysis, and we describe methodological approaches that can be used to meet those challenges.     

Phylogenetic analysis reveals the global migration of seasonal influenza A viruses

The winter seasonality of influenza A virus in temperate climates is one of the most widely recognized, yet least understood, epidemiological patterns in infectious disease. Central to understanding what drives the seasonal emergence of this important human pathogen is determining what becomes of the virus during the non-epidemic summer months. Herein, we take a step towards elucidating the seasonal emergence of influenza virus by determining the evolutionary relationship between populations of influenza A virus sampled from opposite hemispheres. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of 487 complete genomes of human influenza A/H3N2 viruses collected between 1999 and 2005 from Australia and New Zealand in the southern hemisphere, and a representative sub-sample of viral genome sequences from 413 isolates collected in New York state, United States, representing the northern hemisphere. We show that even in areas as relatively geographically isolated as New Zealand's South Island and Western Australia, global viral migration contributes significantly to the seasonal emergence of influenza A epidemics, and that this migration has no clear directional pattern. These observations run counter to suggestions that local epidemics are triggered by the climate-driven reactivation of influenza viruses that remain latent within hosts between seasons or transmit at low efficiency between seasons. However, a complete understanding of the seasonal movements of influenza A virus will require greatly expanded global surveillance, particularly of tropical regions where the virus circulates year-round, and during non-epidemic periods in temperate climate areas.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Syntrophobacter wolinii reveals a relationship with sulfate-reducing bacteria

A 16S rRNA sequence analysis of Syntrophobacter wolinii was done by using PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA-genes from DNA isolated from the S. wolinii-Desulfovibrio sp. coculture. Phylogenetic analysis using the obtained sequence revealed that S. wolinii was not related to bacteria growing syntrophically on other fatty acids than propionate, but was related to sulfate-reducing bacteria. The closest related bacteria are Desulfomonile tiedjei and Desulfoarculus baarsii.     

Phylogenetic footprinting reveals a nuclear protein which binds to silencer sequences in the human gamma and epsilon globin genes.

Tissue- and developmental stage-specific expression of the human beta-like globin genes is regulated by a combination of ubiquitous and erythroid-restricted trans factors that bind to cis elements near each of the five active genes. Additional interactions of these cis and trans factors with sequences located in the far 5' end of the cluster occur by as yet obscure mechanisms. Because of the complexity of this regulatory puzzle, precise identification of the determinants that control hemoglobin switching has proven difficult. Phylogenetic footprinting is an evolutionary approach to this problem which is based on the supposition that the basic mechanisms of switching are conserved throughout mammalian phylogeny. Alignment of the 5' flanking regions of the gamma genes of several species allows the identification of footprints of 100% conserved sequence. We have now tested oligomers spanning 13 such phylogenetic footprints and find that 12 are bound by nuclear proteins. One conserved element located at -1086 from the gamma genes exhibits repressor activity in transient transfection studies. The protein that binds this element, CSBP-1 (conserved sequence-binding protein 1), also binds at three sites within a silencer element upstream from the epsilon globin gene. Further analysis reveals that the CSBP-1 binding activity is identical to that of a recently cloned zinc finger protein that has been shown to act as a repressor in other systems. The binding of CSPB-1 to silencer sequences in the epsilon and gamma globin genes may be important in the stage-specific silencing of these genes.     

Genome wide analysis reveals association of a FTO gene variant with epigenetic changes

Variants of the FTO gene show strong association with obesity, but the mechanisms behind this association remain unclear. We determined the genome wide DNA methylation profile in blood from 47 female preadolescents. We identified sites associated with the genes KARS, TERF2IP, DEXI, MSI1, STON1 and BCAS3 that had a significant differential methylation level in the carriers of the FTO risk allele (rs9939609). In addition, we identified 20 differentially methylated sites associated with obesity. Our findings suggest that the effect of the FTO obesity risk allele may be mediated through epigenetic changes. Further, these sites might prove to be valuable biomarkers for the understanding of obesity and its comorbidites.     

Phylogenetic analysis of a retroposon family as represented on the human X chromosome

SINE-R elements constitute a class of retroposons derived from the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K family that are present in hominoid primates and active in the human genome. In an investigation of the X chromosome, we identified twenty-five SINE-R elements with between 89.6 and 97.7% homology with the SINE-R.C2 element that is human specific, originally identified in the gene for the C2 component of complement. SINE-R.C2 and a sequence HS307 that we previously identified in a region of Xq21.3 that has a recently created homology with a 4 Mb block in Yp11.2 are amongst the group of elements that have diverged furthest from the parent HERV-K10 sequence. The sequence on the X chromosome resemble those that we previously described on chromosomes 7 and 17 and the Y chromosome, with a similar range of variation. Phylogenetic analysis from the retroposon family including those of African great apes using the neighbor-joining method suggests that the SINE-R retroposon family have evolved independently during primate evolution. Further investigation of SINE-R elements on the sex chromosomes, particularly in recently created regions of X-Y homology, may cast light on the timing of the retroposition process and its possible relevance to recent evolutionary change.     

Phylogenetic analysis of polyomavirus simian virus 40 from monkeys and humans reveals genetic variation

A phylogenetic analysis of 14 complete simian virus 40 (SV40) genomes was conducted in order to determine strain relatedness and the extent of genetic variation. This analysis included infectious isolates recovered between 1960 and 1999 from primary cultures of monkey kidney cells, from contaminated poliovaccines and an adenovirus seed stock, from human malignancies, and from transformed human cells. Maximum-parsimony and distance methods revealed distinct SV40 clades. However, no clear patterns of association between genotype and viral source were apparent. One clade (clade A) is derived from strain 776, the reference strain of SV40. Clade B contains isolates from poliovaccines (strains 777 and Baylor), from monkeys (strains N128, Rh911, and K661), and from human tumors (strains SVCPC and SVMEN). Thus, adaptation is not essential for SV40 survival in humans. The C terminus of the T-antigen (T-ag-C) gene contains the highest proportion of variable sites in the SV40 genome. An analysis based on just the T-ag-C region was highly congruent with the whole-genome analysis; hence, sequencing of just this one region is useful in strain identification. Analysis of an additional 16 strains for which only the T-ag-C gene was sequenced indicated that further SV40 genetic diversity is likely, resulting in a provisional clade (clade C) that currently contains strains associated with human tumors and human strain PML-1. Four other polymorphic regions in the genome were also identified. If these regions were analyzed in conjunction with the T-ag-C region, most of the phylogenetic signal could be captured without complete genome sequencing. This report represents the first whole-genome approach to establishing phylogenetic relatedness among different strains of SV40. It will be important in the future to develop a more complete catalog of SV40 variation in its natural monkey host, to determine if SV40 strains from different clades vary in biological or pathogenic properties, and to identify which SV40 strains are transmissible among humans.     

DNA聚合酶X家族系统发育树的重建

随着DNA聚合酶X家族成员数量的增加,特别是两个昆虫痘病毒(entomopoxvirus,EPV)成员的加入,家族内部的系统发育关系需要重新检查。总共37个来自不同物种的DNA聚合酶x家族成员的核心结构域序列被分析。结果显示：系统发育树呈现的家族内部系统发育关系基本上与家族成员的物种分布状态相吻合,其中,病毒成员与真核生物DNA聚合酶beta(polβ)亚群构成姐妹群,提示病毒成员可能起源于真核细胞的相应基因。亚群的歧异时间、基因结构比较和同线基因保守性分析显示,哺乳动物DNA聚合酶基因(Pol M)可能起源于脱氧核苷酸末端转移酶基因(TdT)最近发生的基因重复。