Using the strictly neutral model as a null hypothesis, we tested for
deviations from expected levels of nucleotide polymorphism at the alcohol
dehydrogenase locus (Adh-1) within and among four species of pocket gophers
(Geomys bursarius major, G. knoxjonesi, G. texensis llanensis, and G.
attwateri). The complete protein-encoding region was examined, and 10
unique alleles, representing both electromorphic and cryptic alleles, were
used to test hypotheses (e.g., the neutral model) concerning the
maintenance of genetic variation. Nineteen variable sites were identified
among the 10 alleles examined, including 9 segregating sites occurring in
synonymous positions and 10 that were nonsynonymous. Several statistical
methods, including those that test for within-species variation as well as
those that examine variation within and among species, failed to reject the
null hypothesis that variation (both within and between species of Geomys)
at the Adh locus is consistent with the neutral theory. However, there was
significant heterogeneity in the ratio of polymorphism to divergence across
the gene, with polymorphisms clustered in the first half of the coding
region and fixed differences clustered in the second half of the gene. Two
alternative hypotheses are discussed as possible explanations for this
heterogeneity: an old balanced polymorphism in the first half of the gene
or a recent selective sweep in the second half of the gene.
相似文献
Light microscopy was used to study the structure and function of vacuoles in living protoplasts of barley (Hordeum vulgare cv Himalaya) aleurone. Light microscopy showed that aleurone protoplasts contain two distinct types of vacuole: the protein storage vacuole and a lysosome-like organelle, which we have called the secondary vacuole. Fluorescence microscopy using pH-sensitive fluorescent probes and a fluorogenic substrate for cysteine proteases showed that both protein storage vacuoles and secondary vacuoles are acidic, lytic organelles. Ratio imaging showed that the pH of secondary vacuoles was lower in aleurone protoplasts incubated in gibberellic acid than in those incubated in abscisic acid. Uptake of fluorescent probes into intact, isolated protein storage vacuoles and secondary vacuoles required ATP and occurred via at least two types of vanadate-sensitive, ATP-dependent tonoplast transporters. One transporter catalyzed the accumulation of glutathione-conjugated probes, and another transported probes not conjugated to glutathione. 相似文献
The actinorhizal bacterium Frankia expresses nitrogenase and can therefore convert molecular nitrogen into ammonia and the by-product hydrogen. However, nitrogenase is inhibited by oxygen. Consequently, Frankia and its actinorhizal hosts have developed various mechanisms for excluding oxygen from their nitrogen-containing compartments. These include the expression of oxygen-scavenging uptake hydrogenases, the formation of hopanoid-rich vesicles, enclosed by multi-layered hopanoid structures, the lignification of hyphal cell walls, and the production of haemoglobins in the symbiotic nodule. In this work, we analysed the expression and structure of the so-called uptake hydrogenase (Hup), which catalyses the in vivo dissociation of hydrogen to recycle the energy locked up in this ‘waste’ product. Two uptake hydrogenase syntons have been identified in Frankia: synton 1 is expressed under free-living conditions while synton 2 is expressed during symbiosis. We used qPCR to determine synton 1 hup gene expression in two Frankia strains under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. We also predicted the 3D structures of the Hup protein subunits based on multiple sequence alignments and remote homology modelling. Finally, we performed BLAST searches of genome and protein databases to identify genes that may contribute to the protection of nitrogenase against oxygen in the two Frankia strains. Our results show that in Frankia strain ACN14a, the expression patterns of the large (HupL1) and small (HupS1) uptake hydrogenase subunits depend on the abundance of oxygen in the external environment. Structural models of the membrane-bound hydrogenase subunits of ACN14a showed that both subunits resemble the structures of known [NiFe] hydrogenases (Volbeda et al.1995), but contain fewer cysteine residues than the uptake hydrogenase of the Frankia DC12 and Eu1c strains. Moreover, we show that all of the investigated Frankia strains have two squalene hopane cyclase genes (shc1 and shc2). The only exceptions were CcI3 and the symbiont of Datisca glomerata, which possess shc1 but not shc2. Four truncated haemoglobin genes were identified in Frankia ACN14a and Eu1f, three in CcI3, two in EANpec1 and one in the Datisca glomerata symbiont (Dg). 相似文献
Cell death was studied in barley (cv Himalaya) aleurone cells treated with abscisic acid and gibberellin. Aleurone protoplasts incubated in abscisic acid remained viable in culture for at least 3 weeks, but exposure to gibberellin initiated a series of events that resulted in death. Between 4 and 8 days after incubation in gibberellin, >70% of all protoplasts died. Death, which occurred after cells became highly vacuolated, was manifest by an abrupt loss of plasma membrane integrity followed by rapid shrinkage of the cell corpse. Hydrolysis of DNA began before death and occurred as protoplasts ceased production of alpha-amylase. DNA degradation did not result in the accumulation of discrete low molecular weight fragments. DNA degradation and cell death were prevented by LY83583, an inhibitor of gibberellin signaling in barley aleurone. We conclude that cell death in aleurone cells is hormonally regulated and is the final step of a developmental program that promotes successful seedling establishment. 相似文献
25 aromatic carboxylic acids which are analogs of benzoic acid were tested in the rat diaphragm preparation for effects on chloride conductance (G(Cl)). Of the 25, 19 were shown to reduce membrane G(Cl) with little effect on other membrane parameters, although their apparent K(i) varied widely. This inhibition was reversible if exposure times were not prolonged. The most effective analog studied was anthracene-9-COOH (9-AC; K(i) = 1.1 x 10(-5) M). Active analogs produced concentration-dependent inhibition of a type consistent with interaction at a single site or group of sites having similar binding affinities, although a correlation could also be shown between lipophilicity and K(i). Structure-activity analysis indicated that hydrophobic ring substitution usually increased inhibitory activity while para polar substitutions reduced effectiveness.
These compounds do not appear to inhibit G(Cl) by altering membrane surface charge and the inhibition produced is not voltage dependent. Qualitative characteristics of the I-V relationship for Cl(-) current are not altered. Conductance to all anions is not uniformly altered by these acids as would be expected from steric occlusion of a common channel. Concentrations of 9-AC reducing G(Cl) by more than 90 percent resulted in slight augmentation of G(I). The complete conductance sequence obtained at high levels of 9-AC was the reverse of that obtained under control conditions. Permeability sequences underwent progressive changes with increasing 9-AC concentration and ultimately inverted at high levels of the analog. Aromatic carboxylic acids appear to inhibit G(Cl) by binding to a specific intramembrane site and altering the selectivity sequence of the membrane anion channel.
alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitors (alpha 1-PIs) are members of the serpin
superfamily of proteinase inhibitors, and are important in the maintenance
of homeostasis in a wide variety of animal taxa. Previous studies have
shown that in mice (genus Mus), evolution of alpha 1-PIs is characterized
by gene amplification, region-specific concerted evolution, and rapid
accumulation of amino acid substitutions. The latter occurs primarily in
the reactive center, which is the region of the alpha 1-PI molecule that
determines the inhibitor's specificity for target proteinases. The P1
residue within the reactive center, which is methionine in so-called
orthodox alpha 1-PIs and an amino acid other than methionine in unorthodox
alpha 1-PIs, is a primary determinant of inhibitor specificity. In the
present study, we find that the expression of mRNAs encoding unorthodox
alpha 1-PIs is polymorphic within Mus species, i.e., among individuals or
inbred strains. This is in striking contrast to mRNAs that encode orthodox
alpha 1-PIs, whose concentrations are relatively invariant. The
intraspecies variations in mRNA expression represent polymorphisms in the
structure of the alpha 1- PI gene family. The results, taken together with
previously described aspects of alpha 1-PI evolution, indicate that the
dissimilar levels of polymorphism exhibited by orthodox and unorthodox
alpha 1-PIs, which likely have distinct physiological functions, may
reflect different levels of selective constraint. The significance of this
finding to the evolution of gene families is discussed.
相似文献
Internal eliminated sequences (IESs) often interrupt ciliate genes in the
silent germline nucleus but are exactly excised and eliminated from the
developing somatic nucleus from which genes are then expressed. Some long
IESs are transposons, supporting the hypothesis that short IESs are ancient
transposon relics. In light of that hypothesis and to explore the
evolutionary history of a collection of IESs, we have compared various
alleles of a particular locus (the 81 locus) of the ciliated protozoa
Oxytricha trifallax and O. fallax. Three short IESs that interrupt two
genes of the locus are found in alleles from both species, and thus must be
relatively ancient, consistent with the hypothesis that short IESs are
transposon relics. In contrast, TBE1 transposon interruptions of the locus
are allele-specific and probably the results of recent transpositions.
These IESs (and the TBE1s) are precisely excised from the DNA of the
developing somatic macronucleus. Each IES interrupts a highly conserved
sequence. A few nucleotides at the ends of each IES are also conserved,
suggesting that they interact critically with IES excision machinery.
However, most IES nucleotide positions have evolved at high rates, showing
little or no selective constraint for function. Nonetheless, the length of
each IES has been maintained (+/- 3 bp). While one IES is approximately 33
bp long, three other IESs have very similar sizes, approximately 70 bp
long. Two IESs are surrounded by direct repeats of the sequence TTCTT. No
other sequence similarities were found between any of the four IESs.
However, the ends of one IES do match the inverted terminal repeat
consensus sequence of the "TA" IESs of Paramecium. Three O. trifallax
alleles appear to have been recipients in recent conversion events that
could have been provoked by double-strand breaks associated with IES ends
subsequent to IES transposition. Our findings support the hypothesis that
short IESs evolved from ancient transposons that have lost most of their
sequences, except those necessary for precise excision during macronuclear
development.
相似文献
Receptor cells of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) are thought to detect
pheromone-like molecules important for reproductive physiology. Several
compounds derived from male mouse urine have been demonstrated to affect
endocrine events in female mice. In the present study, the ability of these
compounds to affect VNO activity was tested. In dissociated VNO cells held
under voltage clamp conditions, application of dehydro-exo-brevicomin (DHB)
evoked an outward current at negative holding potentials and an inward
current at positive holding potentials. Under current clamp, DHB reduced
action potential firing. Since DHB application caused a decrease in
membrane conductance, this compound appeared to act by reducing inward
current through closing an ion channel. Biochemical experiments tested the
effects of DHB and 2- (sec-butyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole (SBT) on cAMP levels
in the VNO. A mixture of DHB and SBT decreased cAMP levels in VNO sensory
tissue and had no effect on VNO non-sensory tissue. The results suggest
that pheromones have an inhibitory influence on action potential generation
and on cAMP levels in receptor cells of the VNO.
相似文献