scholarly journals Giant viruses encode novel types of actins possibly related to the origin of eukaryotic actin: the viractins

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violette Da Cunha ◽  
Morgan Gaia ◽  
Hiroyuki Ogata ◽  
Olivier Jaillon ◽  
Tom O. Delmont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Gene Duplication ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Actin Gene ◽  
Gene Repertoire ◽  
Eukaryotic Lineage ◽  
Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor ◽  
Giant Viruses ◽  
Related Proteins ◽  
A Current

Actin is a major component of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Many related actin homologues can be found in eukaryotes1, some of them being present in most or all eukaryotic lineages. The gene repertoire of the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) therefore would have harbored both actin and various actin-related proteins (ARPs). A current hypothesis is that the different ARPs originated by gene duplication in the proto-eukaryotic lineage from an actin gene that was inherited from Asgard archaea. Here, we report the first detection of actin-related genes in viruses (viractins), encoded by 19 genomes belonging to the Imitervirales, a viral order encompassing the giant Mimiviridae. Most viractins were closely related to the actin, contrasting with actin-related genes of Asgard archaea and Bathyarchaea (a newly discovered clade). Our phylogenetic analysis suggests viractins could have been acquired from proto-eukaryotes and possibly gave rise to the conventional eukaryotic actin after being reintroduced into the pre-LECA eukaryotic lineage.

scholarly journals Heimdallarchaea encodes profilin with eukaryotic-like actin regulation and polyproline binding

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabeen Survery ◽  
Fredrik Hurtig ◽  
Syed Razaul Haq ◽  
Jens Eriksson ◽  
Lionel Guy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exact Sequence ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Eukaryotic Cell ◽  
Cellular Biology ◽  
Eukaryotic Lineage ◽  
Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor ◽  
Sequence Of Events

AbstractIt is now widely accepted that the first eukaryotic cell emerged from a merger of an archaeal host cell and an alphaproteobacterium. However, the exact sequence of events and the nature of the cellular biology of both partner cells is still contentious. Recently the structures of profilins from some members of the newly discovered Asgard superphylum were determined. In addition, it was found that these profilins inhibit eukaryotic rabbit actin polymerization and that this reaction is regulated by phospholipids. However, the interaction with polyproline repeats which are known to be crucial for the regulation of profilin:actin polymerization was found to be absent for these profilins and was thus suggested to have evolved later in the eukaryotic lineage. Here, we show that Heimdallarchaeota LC3, a candidate phylum within the Asgard superphylum, encodes a putative profilin (heimProfilin) that interacts with PIP2 and its binding is regulated by polyproline motifs, suggesting an origin predating the rise of the eukaryotes. More precisely, we determined the 3D-structure of Heimdallarchaeota LC3 profilin and show that this profilin is able to: i) inhibit eukaryotic actin polymerization in vitro; ii) bind to phospholipids; iii) bind to polyproline repeats from enabled/vasodilator‐stimulated phosphoprotein; iv) inhibit actin from Heimdallarchaeota from polymerizing into filaments. Our results therefore provide hints of the existence of a complex cytoskeleton already in last eukaryotic common ancestor.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Perkinsus Based on Actin Gene Sequences

1997 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly S. Reece ◽  
Mark E. Siddall ◽  
Eugene M. Burreson ◽  
John E. Graves
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Actin Gene ◽  
Gene Sequences

scholarly journals Isolation and Phylogenetic Analysis of Novel Viruses Infecting the Phytoplankton Phaeocystis globosa (Prymnesiophyceae)

2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 3700-3705 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. D. Brussaard ◽  
S. M. Short ◽  
C. M. Frederickson ◽  
C. A. Suttle
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Dna Polymerase ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Polymerase Gene ◽  
Phaeocystis Globosa ◽  
The Family ◽  
Algal Host

ABSTRACT Viruses infecting the harmful bloom-causing alga Phaeocystis globosa (Prymnesiophyceae) were readily isolated from Dutch coastal waters (southern North Sea) in 2000 and 2001. Our data show a large increase in the abundance of putative P. globosa viruses during blooms of P. globosa, suggesting that viruses are an important source of mortality for this alga. In order to examine genetic relatedness among viruses infecting P. globosa and other phytoplankton, DNA polymerase gene (pol) fragments were amplified and the inferred amino acid sequences were phylogenetically analyzed. The results demonstrated that viruses infecting P. globosa formed a closely related monophyletic group within the family Phycodnaviridae, with at least 96.9% similarity to each other. The sequences grouped most closely with others from viruses that infect the prymnesiophyte algae Chrysochromulina brevifilum and Chrysochromulina strobilus. Whether the P. globosa viruses belong to the genus Prymnesiovirus or form a separate group needs further study. Our data suggest that, like their phytoplankton hosts, the Chrysochromulina and Phaeocystis viruses share a common ancestor and that these prymnesioviruses and their algal host have coevolved.

scholarly journals Structure, expression and phylogenetic analysis of the gene encoding actin I in Pneumocystis carinii.

Genetics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
pp. 743-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
L D Fletcher ◽  
J M McDowell ◽  
R R Tidwell ◽  
R B Meagher ◽  
C C Dykstra
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Essential Gene ◽  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Comparative Sequence Analysis ◽  
Cdna Clones ◽  
Actin Gene ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Actin Protein ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
High Degree

Abstract Actin is a major component of the cytoskeleton and one of the most abundant proteins found in eukaryotic cells. Comparative sequence analysis shows that this essential gene has been highly conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution making it useful for phylogenetic analysis. Complete cDNA clones for the actin-encoding gene were isolated and characterized from Pneumocystis carinii purified from immunosuppressed rat lungs. The nucleotide sequence encodes a protein of 376 amino acids. The predicted actin protein of P. carinii shares a high degree of conservation to other known actins. Only one major actin gene was found in P. carinii. The P. carinii actin sequence was compared with 30 other actin sequences. Gene phylogenies constructed using both neighbor-joining and protein parsimony methods places the P. carinii actin sequence closest to the majority of the fungi. Since the phylogenetic relationship of P. carinii to fungi and protists has been questioned, these data on the actin gene phylogeny support the grouping of P. carinii with the fungi.

scholarly journals Structural characterization of a Thorarchaeota profilin indicates eukaryotic-like features but with an extended N-terminus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celestine N Chi ◽  
Ravi Teja Inturi ◽  
Sandra Martinez Lara ◽  
Mahmoud Darweesh
Keyword(s):  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Eukaryotic Cell ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor ◽  
Rigid Core ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Metagenomics Analysis

The emergence of the first eukaryotic cell was preceded by evolutionary events which are still highly debatable. Recently, comprehensive metagenomics analysis has uncovered that the Asgard super-phylum is the closest yet known archaea host of eukaryotes. However, it remains to be established if a large number of eukaryotic signature proteins predicated to be encoded by the Asgard super-phylum are functional at least, in the context of a eukaryotic cell. Here, we determined the three-dimensional structure of profilin from Thorarchaeota by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and show that this profilin has a rigid core with a flexible N-terminus which was previously implicated in polyproline binding. In addition, we also show that thorProfilin co-localizes with eukaryotic actin in cultured HeLa cells. This finding reaffirm the notion that Asgardean encoded proteins possess eukaryotic-like characteristics and strengthen likely existence of a complex cytoskeleton already in a last eukaryotic common ancestor

Molecular evolution of the actin family

2002 ◽  
Vol 115 (13) ◽  
pp. 2619-2622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly V. Goodson ◽  
William F. Hawse
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Molecular Evolution ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
The Core ◽  
Nuclear Process ◽  
Core Set ◽  
Eukaryotic Proteins ◽  
Related Proteins

Members of the actin family have well-characterized cytoskeletal functions,but actin and actin-related proteins (ARPs) have also been implicated in nuclear activities. Previous analyses of the actin family have identified four conserved subfamilies, but many actin-related proteins (ARPs) do not fall into these groups. A new systematic phylogenetic analysis reveals that at least eight ARP subfamilies are conserved from humans to yeast, indicating that these ARPs are part of the core set of eukaryotic proteins. Members of at least three subfamilies appear to be involved in chromatin remodeling,suggesting that ARPs play ancient, fundamental roles in this nuclear process.

scholarly journals Sawfly Genomes Reveal Evolutionary Acquisitions That Fostered the Mega-Radiation of Parasitoid and Eusocial Hymenoptera

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1099-1188
Author(s):  
Jan Philip Oeyen ◽  
Patrice Baa-Puyoulet ◽  
Joshua B Benoit ◽  
Leo W Beukeboom ◽  
Erich Bornberg-Bauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Transposable Element ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Odorant Receptors ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Gene Repertoire ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Reliable Identification ◽  
Efficient Detection ◽  
Co2 Detection

Abstract The tremendous diversity of Hymenoptera is commonly attributed to the evolution of parasitoidism in the last common ancestor of parasitoid sawflies (Orussidae) and wasp-waisted Hymenoptera (Apocrita). However, Apocrita and Orussidae differ dramatically in their species richness, indicating that the diversification of Apocrita was promoted by additional traits. These traits have remained elusive due to a paucity of sawfly genome sequences, in particular those of parasitoid sawflies. Here, we present comparative analyses of draft genomes of the primarily phytophagous sawfly Athalia rosae and the parasitoid sawfly Orussus abietinus. Our analyses revealed that the ancestral hymenopteran genome exhibited traits that were previously considered unique to eusocial Apocrita (e.g., low transposable element content and activity) and a wider gene repertoire than previously thought (e.g., genes for CO2 detection). Moreover, we discovered that Apocrita evolved a significantly larger array of odorant receptors than sawflies, which could be relevant to the remarkable diversification of Apocrita by enabling efficient detection and reliable identification of hosts.

scholarly journals Ancient Genome Duplications Did Not Structure the Human Hox-Bearing Chromosomes

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 771-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin L. Hughes ◽  
Jack da Silva ◽  
Robert Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Gene Duplication ◽  
Genome Duplication ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Gene Duplications ◽  
Human Chromosomes ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Genome Duplications

The fact that there are four homeobox (Hox) clusters in most vertebrates but only one in invertebrates is often cited as evidence for the hypothesis that two rounds of genome duplication by polyploidization occurred early in vertebrate history. In addition, it has been observed in humans and other mammals that numerous gene families include paralogs on two or more of the fourHox-bearing chromosomes (the chromosomes bearing theHox clusters; i.e., human chromosomes 2, 7, 12, and 17), and the existence of these paralogs has been taken as evidence that these genes were duplicated along with the Hox clusters by polyploidization. We tested this hypothesis by phylogenetic analysis of 42 gene families including members on two or more of the humanHox-bearing chromosomes. In 32 of these families there was evidence against the hypothesis that gene duplication occurred simultaneously with duplication of the Hox clusters. Phylogenies of 14 families supported the occurrence of one or more gene duplications before the origin of vertebrates, and of 15 gene duplication times estimated for gene families evolving in a clock-like manner, only six were dated to the same time period early in vertebrate history during which the Hox clusters duplicated. Furthermore, of gene families duplicated around the same time as the Hoxclusters, the majority showed topologies inconsistent with their having duplicated simultaneously with the Hox clusters. The results thus indicate that ancient events of genome duplication, if they occurred at all, did not play an important role in structuring the mammalian Hox-bearing chromosomes.

Platypus immunoglobulin M and the divergence of the two extant monotreme lineages

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Belov ◽  
L Hellman
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Variable Region ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Constant Region ◽  
Sequence Comparisons ◽  
Level Sequence ◽  
High Level

A full-length cDNA clone encoding the platypus (Ornithorynchus anatinus) immunoglobulin M (IgM) heavy chain was isolated from a spleen cDNA library using a short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) IgM constant region (Cµ) probe. The isolation of platypus IgM shows that O. anatinus, like all other examined jawed vertebrates, express a classical IgM molecule. Amino acid sequence comparisons of the constant regions of IgM reveals a high level sequence conservation between O. anatinus and T. aculeatus sequences (87%), and only approximately 48% identity between O. anatinus and therian Cµ sequences. The variable region of this clone belongs to clan 3, supporting the view that this family is used preferentially, if not exclusively by O. anatinus, as opposed to the use of all three variable region clans by T. aculeatus. Phylogenetic analysis of Cµ sequences supports the traditional Theria hypothesis and suggests that the O. anatinus and T. aculeatus lineages separated from their last common ancestor approximately 21 million years ago.

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