Genomic Analysis of the Root-Knot Nematode Genome

The legumeArachis hypogaea, commonly known as peanut or groundnut, is a very important food crop throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. The genus is endemic to South America being mostly associated with the savannah-like Cerrado. All species in the genus are unusual among legumes in that they produce their fruit below the ground. This profoundly influences their biology and natural distributions. The species occur in diverse habitats including grasslands, open patches of forest and even in temporarily flooded areas. Based on a number of criteria, including morphology and sexual compatibilities, the 80 described species are arranged in nine infrageneric taxonomic sections. While most wild species are diploid, cultivated peanut is a tetraploid. It is of recent origin and has an AABB-type genome. The most probable ancestral species areArachis duranensisandArachis ipaënsis, which contributed the A and B genome components, respectively. Although cultivated peanut is tetraploid, genetically it behaves as a diploid, the A and B chromosomes only rarely pairing during meiosis. Although morphologically variable, cultivated peanut has a very narrow genetic base. For some traits, such as disease and pest resistance, this has been a fundamental limitation to crop improvement using only cultivated germplasm. Transfer of some wild resistance genes to cultivated peanut has been achieved, for instance, the gene for resistance to root-knot nematode. However, a wider use of wild species in breeding has been hampered by ploidy and sexual incompatibility barriers, by linkage drag, and historically, by a lack of the tools needed to conveniently confirm hybrid identities and track introgressed chromosomal segments. In recent years, improved knowledge of species relationships has been gained by more detailed cytogenetic studies and molecular phylogenies. This knowledge, together with new tools for genetic and genomic analysis, will help in the more efficient use of peanut's genetic resources in crop improvement.

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Cloning and characterization of an extremely conserved satellite DNA family from the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria

Genome ◽

10.1139/g00-007 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 346-353 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Philippe Castagnone-Sereno ◽

Frédéric Leroy ◽

Pierre Abad

Keyword(s):

Satellite Dna ◽

Potential Role ◽

Genomic Organization ◽

Consensus Sequence ◽

Meloidogyne Arenaria ◽

Root Knot Nematode ◽

Phytoparasitic Nematode ◽

Nematode Genome

A new satellite DNA family, named pMaE, has been cloned from the genome of the phytoparasitic nematode, Meloidogyne arenaria (Nematoda: Tylenchida). It is represented as tandemly repeated sequences with a monomeric unit of 172 bp. The monomers are present at approximately 15 700 copies per haploid genome, and represent about 5.3% of the total genomic DNA. Twenty-seven independent monomers have been cloned and sequenced. The deduced consensus sequence is 70.9% A + T rich, with frequent stretches of A and (or) T. Several direct or inverted sub-repeats are present in the sequence, which may allow the formation of a dyad structure, suggesting some potential role of this repetitive sequence in heterochromatin condensation. The monomers are very homogeneous in sequence, showing on average 1.8% divergence from their consensus sequence. Moreover, Southern blot experiments and sequence analysis of homologous monomers from the genome of geographically distinct M. arenaria populations have shown that this satellite DNA is uniformly distributed and highly conserved within the species. Therefore, it is hypothesized that this unusually low level of variability, either within the genome of a given population or between populations, could be achieved as the result of some highly effective homogenization mechanism acting upon the nematode genome. Key words: genomic organization, Meloidogyne arenaria, satellite DNA.

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Genomic analysis of C-type lectins

Biochemical Society Symposium ◽

10.1042/bss0690059 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 69 ◽

pp. 59-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

Kurt Drickamer ◽

Andrew J. Fadden

Keyword(s):

Biological Effects ◽

Cell Signalling ◽

Genomic Analysis ◽

Binding Activity ◽

Immunoglobulin Superfamily ◽

Carbohydrate Binding ◽

Carbohydrate Recognition ◽

Calcium Dependent ◽

Binding Domains ◽

Carbohydrate Recognition Domains

Many biological effects of complex carbohydrates are mediated by lectins that contain discrete carbohydrate-recognition domains. At least seven structurally distinct families of carbohydrate-recognition domains are found in lectins that are involved in intracellular trafficking, cell adhesion, cell–cell signalling, glycoprotein turnover and innate immunity. Genome-wide analysis of potential carbohydrate-binding domains is now possible. Two classes of intracellular lectins involved in glycoprotein trafficking are present in yeast, model invertebrates and vertebrates, and two other classes are present in vertebrates only. At the cell surface, calcium-dependent (C-type) lectins and galectins are found in model invertebrates and vertebrates, but not in yeast; immunoglobulin superfamily (I-type) lectins are only found in vertebrates. The evolutionary appearance of different classes of sugar-binding protein modules parallels a development towards more complex oligosaccharides that provide increased opportunities for specific recognition phenomena. An overall picture of the lectins present in humans can now be proposed. Based on our knowledge of the structures of several of the C-type carbohydrate-recognition domains, it is possible to suggest ligand-binding activity that may be associated with novel C-type lectin-like domains identified in a systematic screen of the human genome. Further analysis of the sequences of proteins containing these domains can be used as a basis for proposing potential biological functions.

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