The Study of Plant Phylogeny Using Amino-Acid-Sequences of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase .VI. Some Solanum and Allied Species From Different Continents

1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Martin ◽  
JM Dowd ◽  
C Morris ◽  
DE Symon

The N-terminal 40 amino acid sequences of the small subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase have been determined for 13 species of Solanum, one other species of Solanaceae and two of Convolvulaceae. From these, and previously published sequences from Solanaceae, a minimal phylogenetic tree is derived. This agrees well with current taxonomy; the first dichotomy in the Solanaceae tree is between the two subfamilies Solanoideae and Cestroideae; within Solanum the subgenera Solanum and Leptostemonum separate dichotomously; within subgenus Leptostemonum the African and Asian species diverge from the Australian. Within the Australian species of subgenus Leptostemonum two most unusual substitutions have been noted. The implications for the hypotheses of a 'molecular evolutionary clock' and of biogeographical dispersal by continental drift are discussed.


1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Martin ◽  
JM Dowd

N-terminal, 40 amino acid sequences of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit are given for three species of Polygonaceae, three of Magnoliaceae and for Metasequoia. Making use of three plastocyanin and one cytochrome c sequences from the literature, these families are added to a previously published phylogenetic tree. Fagaceae and Proteaceae are also added. Uncertainties in the 14-family tree are pointed out. The root of the tree is identified using gymnosperm sequences. The concept of primitiveness as it is relevant to this research is discussed. From the phylogenetic tree there is no evidence for primitiveness of Magnoliaceae, though it is not precluded. Polygonaceae and Chenopodiaceae form a branch that diverges from the main tree near the presumptive dicotyledonous origin.



1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Martin ◽  
JM Dowd

N-terminal, 40 amino acid sequences of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit (SSU) are given for four species of Proteaceae, six of Fagaceae including four from Nothofagus, and seven from Solanaceae including six new sequences from Nicotiana. Phylogenetic trees, regarded as tentative since only one protein is involved, are given for each of the three groups and approximate positions of the families in the angiosperm tree are indicated. An example of the destabilizing of a hitherto invariant site is given. Working from the 'molecular evolutionary clock' hypothesis, and deriving time from plate tectonics, the data from both Proteaceae and Nothofagus lead to rates of evolution of SSU of one non-silent nucleotide substitution per 9 My. This agrees with an early Cretaceous origin of the angiosperms. A test is proposed to distinguish distributions that are the result of 'vicariance biogeography' from those due to 'dispersal biogeography'. It is concluded that distribution of Nicotiana is most likely due to dispersal.



1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Martin ◽  
JM Dowd

The N-terminal sequences (40 amino acids) are given for the small subunit (SSU) of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase from three species of Ranunculaceae and three species of Malvaceae. Methods are given for integrating these into a previously published phylogenetic tree for eight families. The two new familial nodes that have been derived group closely with each other and with equivalent nodes of Asteraceae and Caprifoliaceae. There appears to be considerably more variation in Ranunculaceae than in Malvaceae and possible reasons for this are discussed.



1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 411 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Martin ◽  
JM Dowd ◽  
SJL Stone

The first 40 amino acid sequences of the small subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase are given for 24 angiosperm species, three from each of eight families chosen because cytochrome c and plastocyanin sequences are already available. Using computer methods, these data have been analysed to yield minimal phylogenetic Steiner trees. A well defined minimal tree becomes apparent when data from all three proteins are combined. The root of the minimal tree is indicated by the node where a gymnosperm joins. The minimal tree is briefly compared with published phylogenies: in agreement is the divergence of the dicotyledons and monocotyledons from the root and the grouping of the Asteraceae and Caprifoliaceae; in disagreement, and a feature of all three proteins, is the close grouping of the Fabaceae with the Brassicaceae.



1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Martin ◽  
AC Jennings

Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase has been prepared from 50 species of angiosperms from 16 diverse families. In 35 preparations, well known 'bland leaf' methods were used but 15 species had 'pungent leaves' and for these a new preparative method is described. Automatic methods have been used to obtain N-terminal sequences (40 amino acids) of the small subunit (SSU) from all 50 species and the pattern of variability is discussed: 26 of 40 positions are variable to a degree similar to that found in plastocyanin and plant cytochrome c, i.e, an average of 3.7 different amino acids per variable site. These results, and the fact that sufficient protein can be obtained from 100 g of leaves, make a widespread phylogenetic survey of angiosperm SSU feasible and it is claimed that the method is at least as practicable as nucleic acid sequencing. A limited amount of sequencing has been carried out on the large subunit (LSU) but its low variability discourages a protein sequencing survey. Implications for gene structure and function are discussed and evidence is given that active LSU is derived from a precursor with 14 additional amino acids at the N-terminus. In SSU, variability of the two N- terminal amino acids suggests that they are not involved in the signals for removal of either the transit peptide or, in the RNA, of the intron, excision of one end of which depends on the codons for the invariable amino acids at positions 3 and 4. Evidence is also given that if the N-terminus of SSU is methionine, as is common, then it is modified and associated with a 'frayed' N-terminus.



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