scholarly journals Evolutionary analysis of LP3 gene family in conifers: an ASR homolog

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Lecoy ◽  
MR García-Gil
Keyword(s):  
Codon Usage ◽  
Gene Family ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Acid Stress ◽  
Water Deficit Stress ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
Translation Efficiency

AbstractDrought has long been established as a major environmental stress for plants which have in turn developed several coping strategies, ranging from physiological to molecular mechanisms. LP3; a homolog of the Abscisic Acid, Stress and Ripening (ASR) gene was first detected in tomato; and has been shown to be present in four different isoforms in loblolly pine called LP3-0, LP3-1, LP3-2 and LP3-3. While ASR has already been extensively studied notably in tomato, the same cannot be said of LP3. Like ASR, the different LP3 isoforms have been shown to be upregulated in response to water deficit stress and to also act as transcription factors for genes likely involved in hexose transport. In this study we have investigated the evolutionary history of LP3 gene family, with the aim of relating it to that of ASR from a phylogenetic perspective and comparing the differences in selective pressure and codon usage. Phylogenetic analyses of different LP3 homologs compared to ASR show that LP3 is less divergent across species than ASR and that even when comparing the different sub-sections of the gene the divergence rate of LP3 is lower than that of ASR. Analysis of different gene parameters showed that there were differences in GC1% and GC2% but not in total or GC3% content. All genes had a relatively high CAI value associated with a low to moderate ENC value, which is indicative of high translation efficiency found in highly expressed genes. Analysis of codon usage also showed that LP3 preferentially uses different codons than ASR. Selective pressure analysis across most of the LP3 and ASR genes used in this study showed that these genes were principally undergoing purifying selection, with the exception of LP3-3 which seems to be undergoing diversifying selection most probably due to the fact that it likely recently diverged from LP3-0. This study thus provides insight in how ASR and LP3 have diverged from each other while remaining homologous.

scholarly journals Experimental determination of codon usage-dependent selective pressure on high copy-number genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyne Jossé ◽  
Tarun Singh ◽  
Tobias von der Haar
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Codon Usage ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Recombinant Protein Expression ◽  
High Expression ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Optimal Codon

AbstractOne of the central hypotheses in the theory of codon usage evolution is that in highly expressed genes particular codon usage patterns arise because they facilitate efficient gene expression and are thus selected for in evolution. Here we use plasmid copy number assays and growth rate measurements to explore details of the relationship between codon usage, gene expression level, and selective pressure in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We find that when high expression levels are required optimal codon usage is beneficial and provides a fitness advantage, consistent with evolutionary theory. However, when high expression levels are not required, optimal codon usage is surprisingly and strongly selected against. We show that this selection acts at the level of protein synthesis, and we exclude a number of molecular mechanisms as the source for this negative selective pressure including nutrient and ribosome limitations and proteotoxicity effects. These findings inform our understanding of the evolution of codon usage bias, as well as the design of recombinant protein expression systems.

scholarly journals Characterization of the GRAS gene family reveals their contribution to the high adaptability of wheat

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10811
Author(s):  
Yanfeng Liu ◽  
Wei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Draft Genome ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Segmental Duplications ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
And Function ◽  
Gras Gene

GRAS transcription factors play important roles in many processes of plant development as well as abiotic and biotic stress responses. However, little is known about this gene family in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), one of the most important crops worldwide. The completion of a quality draft genome allows genome-wide detection and evolutionary analysis of the GRAS gene family in wheat. In this study, 188 TaGRAS genes were detected and divided into 12 subfamilies based on phylogenetic analyses: DELLA, DLT, HAM, LISCL, SCL3, SCL4/7, SCR, SHR, PAT1, Os19, Os4 and LAS. Tandem and segmental duplications are the main contributors to the expansion of TaGRAS, which may contribute to the adaptation of wheat to various environmental conditions. A high rate of homoeolog retention during hexaploidization was detected, suggesting the nonredundancy and biological importance of TaGRAS homoeologs. Systematic analyses of TaGRAS indicated the conserved expression pattern and function of the same subfamily during evolution. In addition, we detected five genes belonging to the LISCL subfamily induced by both biotic and abiotic stresses and they may be potential targets for further research through gene editing. Using degradome and ChIP-seq data, we identified the targets of miR171 and histone modifications and further analyzed the contribution of epigenetic modification to the subfunctionalization of TaGRAS. This study laid a foundation for further functional elucidation of TaGRAS genes.

scholarly journals Evolutionary Analysis of the YABBY Gene Family in Brassicaceae

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2700
Author(s):  
Yun-Hai Lu ◽  
Intikhab Alam ◽  
Yan-Qing Yang ◽  
Ya-Cen Yu ◽  
Wen-Chao Chi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Brassica Species ◽  
Variable Number ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
Brassicaceae Species ◽  
Yabby Gene ◽  
Stress Signals ◽  
Evolutionary Story

The YABBY gene family is one of the plant transcription factors present in all seed plants. The family members were extensively studied in various plants and shown to play important roles in plant growth and development, such as the polarity establishment in lateral organs, the formation and development of leaves and flowers, and the response to internal plant hormone and external environmental stress signals. In this study, a total of 364 YABBY genes were identified from 37 Brassicaceae genomes, of which 15 were incomplete due to sequence gaps, and nine were imperfect (missing C2C2 zinc-finger or YABBY domain) due to sequence mutations. Phylogenetic analyses resolved these YABBY genes into six compact clades except for a YAB3-like gene identified in Aethionema arabicum. Seventeen Brassicaceae species each contained a complete set of six basic YABBY genes (i.e., 1 FIL, 1 YAB2, 1 YAB3, 1 YAB5, 1 INO and 1 CRC), while 20 others each contained a variable number of YABBY genes (5–25) caused mainly by whole-genome duplication/triplication followed by gene losses, and occasionally by tandem duplications. The fate of duplicate YABBY genes changed considerably according to plant species, as well as to YABBY gene type. These YABBY genes were shown to be syntenically conserved across most of the Brassicaceae species, but their functions might be considerably diverged between species, as well as between paralogous copies, as demonstrated by the promoter and expression analysis of YABBY genes in two Brassica species (B. rapa and B. oleracea). Our study provides valuable insights for understanding the evolutionary story of YABBY genes in Brassicaceae and for further functional characterization of each YABBY gene across the Brassicaceae species.

scholarly journals A new gene family diagnostic for intracellular biomineralization of amorphous Ca-carbonates by cyanobacteria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karim Benzerara ◽  
Elodie Duprat ◽  
Tristan Bitard-Feildel ◽  
Géraldine Caumes ◽  
Corinne Cassier-Chauvat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Environmental Distribution ◽  
Calcium Carbonates ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Biomineralization Process ◽  
New Gene

Cyanobacteria have massively contributed to carbonate deposit formation over the geological history. They are traditionally thought to biomineralize CaCO3 extracellularly as an indirect byproduct of photosynthesis. However, the recent discovery of freshwater cyanobacteria forming intracellular amorphous calcium carbonates (iACC) challenges this view. Despite the geochemical interest of such a biomineralization process, its molecular mechanisms and evolutionary history remain elusive. Here, using comparative genomics, we identify a new gene (ccyA) and protein (calcyanin) family specifically associated with cyanobacterial iACC biomineralization. Calcyanin is composed of a conserved C-terminal domain, which likely adopts an original fold, and a variable N- terminal domain whose structure allows differentiating 4 major types among the 35 known calcyanin homologues. Calcyanin lacks detectable full-length homologs with known function. Yet, genetic and comparative genomic analyses suggest a possible involvement in Ca homeostasis, making this gene family a particularly interesting target for future functional studies. Whatever its function, this new gene family appears as a gene diagnostic of intracellular calcification in cyanobacteria. By searching for ccyA in publicly available genomes, we identified 13 additional cyanobacterial strains forming iACC. This significantly extends our knowledge about the phylogenetic and environmental distribution of cyanobacterial iACC biomineralization, especially with the detection of multicellular genera as well as a marine species. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that iACC biomineralization is ancient, with independent losses in various lineages and some HGT cases that resulted in the broad but patchy distribution of calcyanin across modern cyanobacteria. Overall, iACC biomineralization emerges as a new case of genetically controlled biomineralization in bacteria.

scholarly journals Comparative and evolutionary analysis of the reptilian hedgehog gene family (Shh, Dhh, and Ihh)

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7613
Author(s):  
Tian Xia ◽  
Honghai Zhang ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Xiufeng Yang ◽  
Guolei Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Hedgehog Signaling ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary Patterns ◽  
Site Model ◽  
Evolutionary Forces

The hedgehog signaling pathway plays a vital role in human and animal patterning and cell proliferation during the developmental process. The hedgehog gene family of vertebrate species includes three genes, Shh, Dhh, and Ihh, which possess different functions and expression patterns. Despite the importance of hedgehog genes, genomic evidence of this gene family in reptiles is lacking. In this study, the available genomes of a number of representative reptile species were explored by utilizing adaptive evolutionary analysis methods to characterize the evolutionary patterns of the hedgehog gene family. Altogether, 33 sonic hedgehog (Shh), 25 desert hedgehog (Dhh), and 20 Indian hedgehog (Ihh) genes were obtained from reptiles, and six avian and five mammalian sequences were added to the analysis. The phylogenetic maximum likelihood (ML) tree of the Shh, Dhh, and Ihh genes revealed a similar topology, which is approximately consistent with the traditional taxonomic group. No shared positive selection site was identified by the PAML site model or the three methods in the Data Monkey Server. Branch model and Clade model C analyses revealed that the Dhh and Ihh genes experienced different evolutionary forces in reptiles and other vertebrates, while the Shh gene was not significantly different in terms of selection pressure. The different evolutionary rates of the Dhh and Ihh genes suggest that these genes may be potential contributors to the discrepant sperm and body development of different clades. The different adaptive evolutionary history of the Shh, Dhh, and Ihh genes among reptiles may be due to their different functions in regulating cellular events of development from the embryonic stages to adulthood. Overall, this study has provided meaningful information regarding the evolution of the hedgehog gene family in reptiles and a theoretical foundation for further analyses on the functional and molecular mechanisms that have shaped the reptilian hedgehog genes.

scholarly journals Genome-wide identification and characterization of the fibrillin gene family in Triticum aestivum

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9225
Author(s):  
Yaoyao Jiang ◽  
Haichao Hu ◽  
Yuhua Ma ◽  
Junliang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Aestivum ◽  
Gene Family ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stress ◽  
Bioinformatic Tools ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Specific Analysis

Background The fibrillin (FBN) gene family is highly conserved and widely distributed in the photosynthetic organs of plants. Members of this gene family are involved in the growth and development of plants and their response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Wheat (Triticum aestivum), an important food crop, has a complex genetic background and little progress has occurred in the understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Methods In this study, we identified 26 FBN genes in the whole genome of T. aestivum through bioinformatic tools and biotechnological means. These genes were divided into 11 subgroups and were distributed on 11 chromosomes of T. aestivum. Interestingly, most of the TaFBN genes were located on the chromosomes 2A, 2B and 2D. The gene structure of each subgroup of gene family members and the position and number of motifs were highly similar. Results The evolutionary analysis results indicated that the affinities of FBNs in monocots were closer together. The tissue-specific analysis revealed that TaFBN genes were expressed in different tissues and developmental stages. In addition, some TaFBNs were involved in one or more biotic and abiotic stress responses. These results provide a basis for further study of the biological function of FBNs.

scholarly journals Genome-wide identification of sucrose nonfermenting-1-related protein kinase (SnRK) genes in barley and RNA-seq analyses of their expression in response to abscisic acid treatment

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Chen ◽  
Longhua Zhou ◽  
Panpan Jiang ◽  
Ruiju Lu ◽  
Nigel G. Halford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abscisic Acid ◽  
Gene Family ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Gene Promoters ◽  
Related Protein ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Response Elements ◽  
Genome Data

Abstract Background Sucrose nonfermenting-1 (SNF1)-related protein kinases (SnRKs) play important roles in regulating metabolism and stress responses in plants, providing a conduit for crosstalk between metabolic and stress signalling, in some cases involving the stress hormone, abscisic acid (ABA). The burgeoning and divergence of the plant gene family has led to the evolution of three subfamilies, SnRK1, SnRK2 and SnRK3, of which SnRK2 and SnRK3 are unique to plants. Therefore, the study of SnRKs in crops may lead to the development of strategies for breeding crop varieties that are more resilient under stress conditions. In the present study, we describe the SnRK gene family of barley (Hordeum vulgare), the widespread cultivation of which can be attributed to its good adaptation to different environments. Results The barley HvSnRK gene family was elucidated in its entirety from publicly-available genome data and found to comprise 50 genes. Phylogenetic analyses assigned six of the genes to the HvSnRK1 subfamily, 10 to HvSnRK2 and 34 to HvSnRK3. The search was validated by applying it to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa) genome data, identifying 50 SnRK genes in rice (four OsSnRK1, 11 OsSnRK2 and 35 OsSnRK3) and 39 in Arabidopsis (three AtSnRK1, 10 AtSnRK2 and 26 AtSnRK3). Specific motifs were identified in the encoded barley proteins, and multiple putative regulatory elements were found in the gene promoters, with light-regulated elements (LRE), ABA response elements (ABRE) and methyl jasmonate response elements (MeJa) the most common. RNA-seq analysis showed that many of the HvSnRK genes responded to ABA, some positively, some negatively and some with complex time-dependent responses. Conclusions The barley HvSnRK gene family is large, comprising 50 members, subdivided into HvSnRK1 (6 members), HvSnRK2 (10 members) and HvSnRK3 (34 members), showing differential positive and negative responses to ABA.

scholarly journals Massively parallel gene expression variation measurement of a synonymous codon library

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Schmitz ◽  
Fuzhong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Codon Usage ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Massively Parallel ◽  
Protein Abundance ◽  
Translation Efficiency ◽  
Gene Expression Variation ◽  
Expression Variation ◽  
Change In Mean ◽  
Adaptation Index

Abstract Background Cell-to-cell variation in gene expression strongly affects population behavior and is key to multiple biological processes. While codon usage is known to affect ensemble gene expression, how codon usage influences variation in gene expression between single cells is not well understood. Results Here, we used a Sort-seq based massively parallel strategy to quantify gene expression variation from a green fluorescent protein (GFP) library containing synonymous codons in Escherichia coli. We found that sequences containing codons with higher tRNA Adaptation Index (TAI) scores, and higher codon adaptation index (CAI) scores, have higher GFP variance. This trend is not observed for codons with high Normalized Translation Efficiency Index (nTE) scores nor from the free energy of folding of the mRNA secondary structure. GFP noise, or squared coefficient of variance (CV2), scales with mean protein abundance for low-abundant proteins but does not change at high mean protein abundance. Conclusions Our results suggest that the main source of noise for high-abundance proteins is likely not originating at translation elongation. Additionally, the drastic change in mean protein abundance with small changes in protein noise seen from our library implies that codon optimization can be performed without concerning gene expression noise for biotechnology applications.

scholarly journals Inter-species functional compatibility of the Theobroma cacao and Arabidopsis FT orthologs: 90 million years of functional conservation of meristem identity genes

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. F. Prewitt ◽  
A. Shalit-Kaneh ◽  
S. N. Maximova ◽  
M. J. Guiltinan
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Tissue Culture ◽  
Gene Family ◽  
Flowering Time ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Regulatory Pathways ◽  
Late Flowering ◽  
Precocious Flowering ◽  
Transition To Flowering

Abstract Background In angiosperms the transition to flowering is controlled by a complex set of interacting networks integrating a range of developmental, physiological, and environmental factors optimizing transition time for maximal reproductive efficiency. The molecular mechanisms comprising these networks have been partially characterized and include both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory pathways. Florigen, encoded by FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) orthologs, is a conserved central integrator of several flowering time regulatory pathways. To characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in controlling cacao flowering time, we have characterized a cacao candidate florigen gene, TcFLOWERING LOCUS T (TcFT). Understanding how this conserved flowering time regulator affects cacao plant’s transition to flowering could lead to strategies to accelerate cacao breeding. Results BLAST searches of cacao genome reference assemblies identified seven candidate members of the CENTRORADIALIS/TERMINAL FLOWER1/SELF PRUNING gene family including a single florigen candidate. cDNA encoding the predicted cacao florigen was cloned and functionally tested by transgenic genetic complementation in the Arabidopsis ft-10 mutant. Transgenic expression of the candidate TcFT cDNA in late flowering Arabidopsis ft-10 partially rescues the mutant to wild-type flowering time. Gene expression studies reveal that TcFT is spatially and temporally expressed in a manner similar to that found in Arabidopsis, specifically, TcFT mRNA is shown to be both developmentally and diurnally regulated in leaves and is most abundant in floral tissues. Finally, to test interspecies compatibility of florigens, we transformed cacao tissues with AtFT resulting in the remarkable formation of flowers in tissue culture. The morphology of these in vitro flowers is normal, and they produce pollen that germinates in vitro with high rates. Conclusion We have identified the cacao CETS gene family, central to developmental regulation in angiosperms. The role of the cacao’s single FT-like gene (TcFT) as a general regulator of determinate growth in cacao was demonstrated by functional complementation of Arabidopsis ft-10 late-flowering mutant and through gene expression analysis. In addition, overexpression of AtFT in cacao resulted in precocious flowering in cacao tissue culture demonstrating the highly conserved function of FT and the mechanisms controlling flowering in cacao.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Histone Deacetylase Gene Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Peng Jin ◽  
Shiqi Gao ◽  
Long He ◽  
Miaoze Xu ◽  
Tianye Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stress ◽  
Gene Family ◽  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Plant Viruses ◽  
Gene Family Evolution ◽  
Yellow Mosaic Virus ◽  
Wheat Yellow Mosaic Virus

Histone acetylation is a dynamic modification process co-regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Although HDACs play vital roles in abiotic or biotic stress responses, their members in Triticumaestivum and their response to plant viruses remain unknown. Here, we identified and characterized 49 T. aestivumHDACs (TaHDACs) at the whole-genome level. Based on phylogenetic analyses, TaHDACs could be divided into 5 clades, and their protein spatial structure was integral and conserved. Chromosomal location and synteny analyses showed that TaHDACs were widely distributed on wheat chromosomes, and gene duplication has accelerated the TaHDAC gene family evolution. The cis-acting element analysis indicated that TaHDACs were involved in hormone response, light response, abiotic stress, growth, and development. Heatmaps analysis of RNA-sequencing data showed that TaHDAC genes were involved in biotic or abiotic stress response. Selected TaHDACs were differentially expressed in diverse tissues or under varying temperature conditions. All selected TaHDACs were significantly upregulated following infection with the barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV), Chinese wheat mosaic virus (CWMV), and wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV), suggesting their involvement in response to viral infections. Furthermore, TaSRT1-silenced contributed to increasing wheat resistance against CWMV infection. In summary, these findings could help deepen the understanding of the structure and characteristics of the HDAC gene family in wheat and lay the foundation for exploring the function of TaHDACs in plants resistant to viral infections.

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