Interpretation of intraspecific variability in mtDNAs of Aspergillus niger strains and rearrangement of their mtDNAs following mitochondrial transmissions

Physical and functional maps of mitochondrial DNAs of Aspergillus niger strains representing different mitochondrial DNA RFLP patterns were constructed and compared. In spite of the high similarity in the organisation of mitochondrial DNAs among examined strains, differences could be easily recognised by applying molecular markers, such as the different intron content of the cox1 genes, the sequence of the intergenic regions between the Met- and His-tRNA genes and downstream of the tRNA-Gly gene. Intraspecific mitochondrial transfers between the heterokaryon incompatible mitochondrial oligomycin-resistant A. niger strain, as the donor, and other A. niger-sensitive strains bearing different RFLP patterns resulted in oligomycin-resistant progeny possessing either rearranged or unchanged donor mitochondrial DNA and recipient nuclei. Since the intergenic marker sequences of mitochondrial DNAs turned out to be identical in the donor and the progeny, it can be assumed that the oligomycin-resistant progeny inherit the mitochondrial DNA of the donor strain; this may either remain unchanged or may be modified by a mobile intron of the cox1 gene of the recipient mitochondria.     

Phylogeny and Self-Splicing Ability of the Plastid tRNA-Leu Group I Intron

Group I introns are mobile RNA enzymes (ribozymes) that encode conserved primary and secondary structures required for autocatalysis. The group I intron that interrupts the tRNA-Leu gene in cyanobacteria and plastids is remarkable because it is the oldest known intervening sequence and may have been present in the common ancestor of the cyanobacteria (i.e., 2.7–3.5 billion years old). This intron entered the eukaryotic domain through primary plastid endosymbiosis. We reconstructed the phylogeny of the tRNA-Leu intron and tested the in vitro self-splicing ability of a diverse collection of these ribozymes to address the relationship between intron stability and autocatalysis. Our results suggest that the present-day intron distribution in plastids is best explained by strict vertical transmission, with no intron losses in land plants or a subset of the Stramenopiles (xanthophyceae/phaeophyceae) and frequent loss among green algae, as well as in the red algae and their secondary plastid derivatives (except the xanthophyceae/phaeophyceae lineage). Interestingly, all tested land plant introns could not self-splice in vitro and presumably have become dependent on a host factor to facilitate in vivo excision. The host dependence likely evolved once in the common ancestor of land plants. In all other plastid lineages, these ribozymes could either self-splice or complete only the first step of autocatalysis. The first two authors (Dawn Simon and David Fewer) have contributed equally to this work. Present address (David Fewer): Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, Viikki Biocenter, P.O. Box 56, Viikinkaari 9, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland     

Variability and phylogenetic incongruence of an SSU nrDNA group I intron in Artomyces,Auriscalpium, and Lentinellus (Auriscalpiaceae: Homobasidiomycetes)

Previous research has shown that a group I intron occurs in the SSU ribosomal DNA gene of isolates of Artomyces (Clavicorona, in part) and Lentinellus, but apparently it is absent in an Auriscalpium isolate. However, further investigation revealed that the intron is apparently absent in some species of Artomyces and Lentinellus and is present in at least one species of Auriscalpium. To examine this further, the presence or absence of the group I intron is reported for 13 species of Lentinellus, two species of Auriscalpium, and 16 species of Artomyces. The presence of the intron among the species was variable and is documented for seven species of Lentinellus, one species of Auriscalpium, and 12 species of Artomyces. Furthermore, the presence of the intron was variable among the isolates of several species, and variability of its presence was observed within single isolates, indicating inter-ribosomal repeat heterogeneity. Independent phylogenetic estimations were generated for the intron and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS). Tests of congruence for the two trees indicated that the data were heterogeneous. Some of the discontinuity between the two phylogenies is due to placement of the Ar. austropiperatus intron within the Lentinellus intron clade. Variability in the length of the intron was observed in populations of the pan-Northern Temperate species Ar. pyxidatus. This was due to the presence of an additional unknown insertional element found only within North American collections of Ar. pyxidatus and absent from European and Asian collections.     

A Comparison of Intraspecific Patterns of DNA Sequence Variation in Mitochondrial DNA, α-Enolase,and MHC Class II B Loci in Auklets (Charadriiformes: Alcidae)

Patterns of DNA sequence variation can be used to learn about mechanisms of organismal evolution, but only if mechanisms of sequence evolution are well understood. Although theories of molecular evolution are well developed, few empirical studies have addressed patterns and mechanisms of sequence evolution in nuclear genes within species. In the present study, we compared DNA sequences among three loci with different evolutionary constraints to determine the influences of effective population size, balancing selection, and linkage on intraspecific patterns of sequence variation. Specifically, we assessed the degree and nature of polymorphism in a 307-base pair (bp) fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, intron VIII of the gene for -enolase (a presumably neutral nuclear gene), and an ~600-bp fragment of an MHC class II B gene, including 155 bp of the hypervariable peptide binding region (a nuclear locus thought to be under balancing selection) for least and crested auklets (Aethia pusilla and A. cristatella; Charadriiformes: Alcidae). Transspecies polymorphism was found in both -enolase and the MHC but not cytochrome b and, given estimates of effective population size, probably represents retained ancestral variation. Biases in nucleotide composition suggested that mutational bias, tRNA availability, and the secondary structure of mRNA and/or DNA may influence base usage. Several lines of evidence indicated that balancing selection may be acting on the MHC II B exon 2. However, no evidence of balancing selection was observed in the intron and exon sequences immediately downstream of MHC II B exon 2. Current address (Hollie E. Walsh): Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195-1800, USA     

Recombination of chl-fus gene (Plastid Origin) downstream of hop: a locus of chromosomal instability

Background

The co-chaperone Hop [heat shock protein (HSP) organizing protein] has been shown to act as an adaptor for protein folding and maturation, in concert with Hsp70 and Hsp90. The hop gene is of eukaryotic origin. Likewise, the chloroplast elongation factor G (cEF-G) catalyzes the translocation step in chloroplast protein synthesis. The chl-fus gene, which encodes the cEF-G protein, is of plastid origin. Both proteins, Hop and cEF-G, derived from domain duplications. It was demonstrated that the nuclear chl-fus gene locates in opposite orientation to a hop gene in Glycine max. We explored 53 available plant genomes from Chlorophyta to higher plants, to determine whether the chl-fus gene was transferred directly downstream of the primordial hop in the proto-eukaryote host cell. Since both genes came from exon/module duplication events, we wanted to explore the involvement of introns in the early origin and the ensuing evolutionary changes in gene structure.

Results

We reconstructed the evolutionary history of the two convergent plant genes, on the basis of their gene structure, microsynteny and microcolinearity, from 53 plant nuclear genomes. Despite a high degree (72 %) of microcolinearity among vascular plants, our results demonstrate that their adjacency was a product of chromosomal rearrangements. Based on predicted exon − intron structures, we inferred the molecular events giving rise to the current form of genes. Therefore, we propose a simple model of exon/module shuffling by intronic recombinations in which phase-0 introns were essential for domain duplication, and a phase-1 intron for transit peptide recruiting. Finally, we demonstrate a natural susceptibility of the intergenic region to recombine or delete, seriously threatening the integrity of the chl-fus gene for the future.

Conclusions

Our results are consistent with the interpretation that the chl-fus gene was transferred from the chloroplast to a chromosome different from that of hop, in the primitive photosynthetic eukaryote, and much later before the appearance of angiosperms, it was recombined downstream of hop. Exon/module shuffling mediated by symmetric intron phases (i.e., phase-0 introns) was essential for gene evolution. The intergenic region is prone to recombine, risking the integrity of both genes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1780-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

mRNA序列与相应内含子序列匹配的普适性分析

剪切后的内含子在基因表达和调控过程中发挥重要作用,由此在成熟mRNA与相应的内含子之间也存在相互作用,并且二者协同进化。为了验证这一理论,以13个物种的基因组作为研究样本,凭借Smith-Waterman的局域比对方法,最终得到在成熟mRNA与其内含子序列之间的最佳匹配片段,同时在mRNA序列上显示出最佳匹配强度的分布区。然后对最佳匹配片段的长度、配对率的分布这两项参数进行分析之后,发现最佳匹配片段的这两个参数的特征,与siRNA和miRNA的结合特征是相近的;在mRNA序列上,得出UTR区与内含子相互作用强,GC含量低的片段偏好结合到3’UTR区,相反GC含量高的片段更倾向与5’UTR区发生相互作用。因此,最佳匹配片段的序列特征符合RNA-RNA相互作用规律,可以把内含子看成是一种具有基因表达调控功能的序列。以上研究对于进一步探讨内含子的功能和进化具有重大意义。     

转基因小鼠中外源基因部分内含子序列的缺失及其对转录的影响

利用PCR扩增及PCR测序在显微注射法产生的转基因小鼠中发现,整合在小鼠染色体上的肌球蛋白轻链2启动子(myosinlightchain2promoter,MLC2)-糜酶(chymase)外源融合基因存在两种形式,一种为全长的融合基因,另一种在糜酶结构基因的第一内含子中缺失了213bp的序列。RT-PCR结果表明,缺失了部分内含子序列的外源融合基因不能在转基因小鼠心脏中表达.而全长的外源融合基因则能较高水平地表达,竞争性PCR定量实验表明在200ng心脏总RNA反转录产物中约含5.05(±1.38)×106个糜酶cDNA分子。上述结果表明,糜酶结构基因的第一内含子可能对MLC2-糜酶基因的表达具有调控作用。