scholarly journals Origin of the type I antifreeze gene in flounders in response to Cenozoic climate change

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie A Graham ◽  
Sherry Y Gauthier ◽  
Peter L Davies

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) inhibit ice growth within fish and protect them from freezing in icy seawater. Alanine-rich, alpha-helical AFPs (type I) have independently (convergently) evolved in four branches of fishes, one of which is a subsection of the righteye flounders. The origin of this gene family has been elucidated by sequencing two loci from a starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus, collected off Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The first locus had two alleles that demonstrated the plasticity of the AFP gene family, one encoding 33 AFPs and the other allele only four. In the closely related Pacific halibut, this locus encodes multiple Gig2 (antiviral) proteins, but in the starry flounder, the Gig2 genes were found at a second locus due to a lineage-specific duplication event. An ancestral Gig2 gave rise to a 3-kDa "skin" AFP isoform, encoding three Ala-rich 11-a.a. repeats, that is expressed in skin and other peripheral tissues. Subsequent gene duplications, followed by internal duplications of the 11 a.a. repeat and the gain of a signal sequence, gave rise to circulating AFP isoforms. One of these, the "hyperactive" 32-kDa Maxi likely underwent a contraction to a shorter 3.3-kDa "liver" isoform. Present day starry flounders found in Pacific Rim coastal waters from California to Alaska show a positive correlation between latitude and AFP gene dosage, with the shorter allele being more prevalent at lower latitudes. This study conclusively demonstrates that the flounder AFP arose from the Gig2 gene, so it is evolutionarily unrelated to the three other classes of type I AFPs from non-flounders. Additionally, this gene arose and underwent amplification coincident with the onset of ocean cooling during the Cenozoic ice ages.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Yaqiong Wu ◽  
Chunhong Zhang ◽  
Wenlong Wu ◽  
Weilin Li ◽  
Lianfei Lyu

BACKGROUND: Black raspberry is a vital fruit crop with a high antioxidant function. MADS-box genes play an important role in the regulation of fruit development in angiosperms. OBJECTIVE: To understand the regulatory role of the MADS-box family, a total of 80 MADS-box genes were identified and analyzed. METHODS: The MADS-box genes in the black raspberry genome were analyzed using bioinformatics methods. Through an analysis of the promoter elements, the possible functions of different members of the family were predicted. The spatiotemporal expression patterns of members of the MADS-box family during black raspberry fruit development and ripening were systematically analyzed. RESULTS: The genes were classified into type I (Mα: 33; Mβ: 6; Mγ: 10) and type II (MIKC *: 2; MIKCC: 29) genes. We also obtained a complete overview of the RoMADS-box gene family through phylogenetic, gene structure, conserved motif, and cis element analyses. The relative expression analysis showed different expression patterns, and most RoMADS-box genes were more highly expressed in fruit than in other tissues of black raspberry. CONCLUSIONS: This finding indicates that the MADS-box gene family is involved in the regulation of fruit ripening processes in black raspberry.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1224-1232 ◽  
Author(s):  
W F Ng ◽  
F Sarangi ◽  
R L Zastawny ◽  
L Veinot-Drebot ◽  
V Ling

Overproduction of P-glycoprotein is intimately associated with multidrug resistance. This protein appears to be encoded by a multigene family. Thus, differential expression of different members of this family may contribute to the complexity of the multidrug resistance phenotype. Three lambda genomic clones isolated from a hamster genomic library represent different members of the hamster P-glycoprotein gene family. Using a highly conserved exon probe, we found that the hamster P-glycoprotein gene family consists of three genes. We also found that the P-glycoprotein gene family consists of three genes in mice but has only two genes in humans and rhesus monkeys. The hamster P-glycoprotein genes have similar exon-intron organizations within the 3' region encoding the cytoplasmic domains. We propose that the hamster P-glycoprotein gene family arose from gene duplication. The hamster pgp1 and pgp2 genes appear to be more closely related to each other than either gene is to the pgp3 gene. We speculate that the hamster pgp1 and pgp2 genes arose from a recent gene duplication event and that primates did not undergo this duplication and therefore contain only two P-glycoprotein genes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (6) ◽  
pp. E1160-E1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Silvestri ◽  
Assunta Lombardi ◽  
Pieter de Lange ◽  
Luigi Schiavo ◽  
Antonia Lanni ◽  
...  

Aging is associated with changes in thyroid gland physiology. Age-related changes in the contribution of peripheral tissues to thyroid hormone serum levels have yet to be systematically assessed. Here, we investigated age-related alterations in the contributions of the liver and kidney to thyroid hormone homeostasis using 6-, 12-, and 24-mo-old male Wistar rats. A significant and progressive decline in plasma thyroxine occurred with age, but triiodothyronine (T3) was decreased only at 24 mo. This was associated with an unchanged protein level of the thyroid hormone transporter monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) in the kidney and with a decreased MCT8 level in the liver at 24 mo. Hepatic type I deiodinase (D1) protein level and activity declined progressively with age. Renal D1 levels were decreased at both 12 and 24 mo but D1 activity was decreased only at 24 mo. In the liver, no changes occurred in thyroid hormone receptor (TR) TRα1, whereas a progressive increase in TRβ1 occurred at both mRNA and total protein levels. In the kidney, both TRα1 and TRβ1 mRNA and total protein levels were unchanged between 6 and 12 mo but increased at 24 mo. Interestingly, nuclear TRβ1 levels were decreased in both liver and kidney at 12 and 24 mo, whereas nuclear TRα1 levels were unchanged. Collectively, our data show differential age-related changes among hepatic and renal MCT8 and D1 and TR expressions, and they suggest that renal D1 activity is maintained with age to compensate for the decrease in hepatic T3 production.


Parasitology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 137 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. McSORLEY ◽  
J. R. GRAINGER ◽  
Y. HARCUS ◽  
J. MURRAY ◽  
A. J. NISBET ◽  
...  

SUMMARYThe transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) gene family regulates critical processes in animal development, and plays a crucial role in regulating the mammalian immune response. We aimed to identify TGF-β homologues from 2 laboratory model nematodes (Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis) and 2 major parasites of ruminant livestock (Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta). Parasite cDNA was used as a template for gene-specific PCR and RACE. Homologues of the TGH-2 subfamily were isolated, and found to differ in length (301, 152, 349 and 305 amino acids respectively), with variably truncated N-terminal pre-proteins. All contained conserved C-terminal active domains (>85% identical over 115 amino acids) containing 9 cysteine residues, as in C. elegans DAF-7, Brugia malayi TGH-2 and mammalian TGF-β. Surprisingly, only the H. contortus homologue retained a conventional signal sequence, absent from shorter proteins of other species. RT-PCR assays of transcription showed that in H. contortus and N. brasiliensis expression was maximal in the infective larval stage, and very low in adult worms. In contrast, in H. polygyrus and T. circumcincta, tgh-2 transcription is higher in adults than infective larvae. The molecular evolution of this gene family in parasitic nematodes has diversified the pre-protein and life-cycle expression patterns of TGF-β homologues while conserving the structure of the active domain.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Starry H. Rampengan

Abstract: Amiodarone is a highly effective anti-arrhythmic agent used in certain arrhythmias from supraventricular tachycardia to life-threatening ventricular tachycardia. Its use is associated with numerous side-effects that could deteriorate a patient’s condition. Consequently, a clinician should consider the risks and benefits of amiodarone before initiating the treatment.The thyroid gland is one of the organs affected by amiodarone. Amiodarone and its metabolite desethyl amiodaron induce alterations in thyroid hormone metabolism in the thyroid gland, peripheral tissues, and probably also in the pituitary gland. These actions result in elevations of serum T4 and rT3 concentrations, transient increases in TSH concentrations, and decreases in T3 concentrations. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are prone to occur in patients receiving amiodarone. Amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism (AIH) results from the inability of the thyroid to escape from the Wolff-Chaikoff effect and is readily managed by either discontinuation of amiodarone or thyroid hormone replacement. Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) may arise from either iodine-induced excessive thyroid hormone synthesis (type I, usually with underlying thyroid abnormality), or destructive thyroiditis with release of preformed hormones (type II, commonly with apparently normal thyroid glands). Therefore, monitoring of thyroid function should be performed in all amiodarone-treated patients to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of amiodarone-induced thyroid dysfunction. Key words: Amiodarone, thyroid function, side effect, management, monitoring.     Abstrak: Amiodaron adalah obat antiaritmia yang cukup efektif dalam menangani beberapa keadaaan aritmia mulai dari supraventrikuler takikardia sampai takikardia ventrikuler yang mengancam kehidupan. Namun penggunaan obat ini ternyata menimbulkan efek samping pada organ lain yang dapat menimbulkan perburukan keadaan pasien. Sehingga, dalam penggunaan amiodaron, klinisi juga harus menimbang keuntungan dan kerugian yang ditimbulkan oleh obat ini. Salah satu organ yang dipengaruhi oleh amiodaron adalah kelenjar tiroid. Amiodaron dan metabolitnya desetil amiodaron memengaruhi hormon tiroid pada kelenjar tiroid, jaringan perifer, dan mungkin pada pituitari. Aksi amiodaron ini menyebabkan peningkatan T4, rT3 dan TSH, namun menurunkan kadar T3. Hipotiroidisme dan tirotoksikosis dapat terjadi pada pasien yang diberi amiodaron. Amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism (AIH) terjadi karena ketidakmampuan tiroid melepaskan diri dari efek Wolff Chaikof, dan dapat ditangani dengan pemberian  hormon substitusi T4 atau penghentian amiodaron. Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) terjadi karena sintesis hormon tiroid yang berlebihan yang diinduksi oleh iodium (tipe I, biasanya sudah mempunyai kelainan tiroid sebelumnya) atau karena tiroiditis destruktif yang disertai pelepasan hormon tiroid yang telah terbentuk (tipe II, biasanya dengan kelenjar yang normal). Pemantauan fungsi tiroid seharusnya dilakukan pada semua pasien yang diberi amiodaron untuk memfasilitasi diagnosis dan terapi yang dini terjadinya  disfungsi tiroid yang diinduksi amiodaron. Kata Kunci: Amiodaron, fungsi tiroid, efek samping, penanganan, pemantauan.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanai Cardona

AbstractWhen and how oxygenic photosynthesis originated remains controversial. Wide uncertainties exist for the earliest detection of biogenic oxygen in the geochemical record or the origin of water oxidation in ancestral lineages of the phylum Cyanobacteria. A unique trait of oxygenic photosynthesis is that the process uses a Type I reaction centre with a heterodimeric core, also known as Photosystem I, made of two distinct but homologous subunits, PsaA and PsaB. In contrast, all other known Type I reaction centres in anoxygenic phototrophs have a homodimeric core. A compelling hypothesis for the evolution of a heterodimeric Type I reaction centre is that the gene duplication that allowed the divergence of PsaA and PsaB was an adaptation to incorporate photoprotective mechanisms against the formation of reactive oxygen species, therefore occurring after the origin of water oxidation to oxygen. Here I show, using sequence comparisons and Bayesian relaxed molecular clocks that this gene duplication event may have occurred in the early Archean more than 3.4 billion years ago, long before the most recent common ancestor of crown group Cyanobacteria and the Great Oxidation Event. If the origin of water oxidation predated this gene duplication event, then that would place primordial forms of oxygenic photosynthesis at a very early stage in the evolutionary history of life.


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