scholarly journals Duplications and functional specialization force distinct evolution of isoflavonoid biosynthetic genes in legumes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Shan Jiao ◽  
Yu Zhao ◽  
Wen Feng Chen

AbstractIsoflavonoids are specialized plant metabolites, almost exclusive to legumes, and synthesized by the phenylpropanoid pathway. Leguminous plants produce 5-deoxyflavonoids and 5-deoxyisoflavonoids that act in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and involved in plant pathogen and stress response. However, little is known about evolutional origin of legume-specific isoflavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Here, we explored the genome-wide analysis of key genes: chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone reductase (CHR), isoflavone synthase (IFS) and isoflavone reductase (IFR), encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of (iso) flavonoids in legumes and nonlegumes. Among them, CHS, CHR and IFR comprise multigene families, underling the significant role of gene duplication in the evolutionary. Most duplications of CHS were highly the conventional leguminous type, whereas some were grouped with nonleguminous CHS genes. We also found that CHR homologs in soybean and Sesbania rostrata previously reported were ambiguous and should be re-identified. Phylogenetic analysis and protein sequences alignment indicated that IFSs in legumes are highly conserved. Intriguingly, unlike other IFRs in legumes, IFR-like homologs in Sophora flavescens and Lupinus angustifolius shared high sequence similarity and protein structures with homologs in nonlegumes. Overall, these results offer reasonable gene annotations and comparative analysis and also provided a glimpse into evolutional route of legume-specific isoflavonoid biosynthesis.HighlightIsoflavonoids are specialized plant metabolites, almost exclusive to legumes. We firstly provide evidence that evolutional origin of legume-specific isoflavonoid biosynthesis may be driven by gene duplications and functional specialization.

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 699-710
Author(s):  
Ravi Gedela

 Neurospora crassa possesses a complex of Ca2+_signaling system consisting of 48 Ca2+-signaling proteins.  The Ca+2-signalling  protein plays an important role in a range of processes such as a Ca2+ stress tolerance, hyphal tip branching growth, cytoskeletal organization, cell cycle progression, circadian clocks, sporulation, sexual development, and ultraviolet (uv) survival.  The environmental factors, broadly defined to include chemical, physical, nutritional, and behavioral factors...etc.  In this article, we are reporting here a role of physic-chemical environmental factors pH, glucose and ultraviolet (UV) affect on ∆NCU06366, and ∆NCU05225 Ca2+ -signaling knockout mutants in N. crassa.  The verified result showed that, ∆NCU06366 and ∆NCU05225 Ca2+ -signaling knockout mutants slower growth rate at pH (7.6), and glucose starvation against to the control wild type respectively.  In addition to that the found results showed, ultraviolet (UV) survival, there is no UV radiation affects on ∆NCU06366 and ∆NCU05225 Ca2+-signaling knockout mutants as evaluate to the positive and the negative controls in N.crassa.  Along with that, In-silico analysis Multiple sequence analysis and Phylogenetics tree for conserve domain of NCU05225 (NADH dehydrogenase) and NCU06366 (Ca2+/H+ anti-porter) Ca2+-signaling genes encodes proteins in N.crassa, showed high sequence similarity and 68-100% and 89% homology  to the other class of fungi respectively.  It indicates that, NCU05225 (Mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase) and NCU06366 (Ca2+/H+ exchangers) Ca2+-signaling gene encoding conserve domain widespread in other class of fungi as well.   


Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. 305-315
Author(s):  
Lynn Mertens King

Abstract Nucleotide sequences of eight Est-5A and Est-5C genes corresponding to previously sequenced Est-5B genes in Drosophila pseudoobscura were determined to compare patterns of polymorphism and divergence among members of this small gene family. The three esterase genes were also sequenced from D. persimilis and D. miranda for interspecific comparisons. The data provide evidence that gene conversion between loci contributes to polymorphism and to the homogenization of the Est-5 genes. For Est-5B, which encodes one of the most highly polymorphic proteins in Drosophila, 12% of the segregating amino acid variants appear to have been introduced via gene conversion from other members of the gene family. Interlocus gene conversion can also explain high sequence similarity, especially at synonymous sites, between Est-5B and Est-5A. Tests of neutrality using interspecific comparisons show that levels of polymorphism conform to neutral expectations at each Est-5 locus. However, McDonald-Kreitman tests based on intraspecific gene comparisons indicate that positive selection on amino acids has accompanied Est-5 gene duplication and divergence in D. pseudoobscura.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenfeng Mao ◽  
Fumihiko Nakamura

Filamin C (FLNC) is one of three filamin proteins (Filamin A (FLNA), Filamin B (FLNB), and FLNC) that cross-link actin filaments and interact with numerous binding partners. FLNC consists of a N-terminal actin-binding domain followed by 24 immunoglobulin-like repeats with two intervening calpain-sensitive hinges separating R15 and R16 (hinge 1) and R23 and R24 (hinge-2). The FLNC subunit is dimerized through R24 and calpain cleaves off the dimerization domain to regulate mobility of the FLNC subunit. FLNC is localized in the Z-disc due to the unique insertion of 82 amino acid residues in repeat 20 and necessary for normal Z-disc formation that connect sarcomeres. Since phosphorylation of FLNC by PKC diminishes the calpain sensitivity, assembly, and disassembly of the Z-disc may be regulated by phosphorylation of FLNC. Mutations of FLNC result in cardiomyopathy and muscle weakness. Although this review will focus on the current understanding of FLNC structure and functions in muscle, we will also discuss other filamins because they share high sequence similarity and are better characterized. We will also discuss a possible role of FLNC as a mechanosensor during muscle contraction.


Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakada ◽  
Aslam ◽  
Fakher ◽  
Greaves ◽  
Li ◽  
...  

Chromatin remodeling complex orchestrates numerous aspects of growth and development in eukaryotes. SWI2/SNF2-Related 1 chromatin remodeling complex (SWR1-C) is a member of the SWI/SNF ATPase-containing chromatin remodeling complex responsible for the exchange of H2A for H2A.Z. In plants, SWR1-C plays a crucial role by transcriptionally regulating numerous biological and developmental processes. However, SWR1-C activity remains obscure in pineapple. Here, we aim to identify the SWR1-C subunits in pineapple. By genome-wide identification, we found a total of 11 SWR1-C subunits in the pineapple. The identified SWR1-C subunits were named and classified based on the sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis. RNA-Seq analysis showed that pineapple SWR1-C subunits are expressed differentially in different organs and at different stages. Additionally, the qRT-PCR of pineapple SWR1-C subunits during abiotic stress exposure showed significant changes in their expression. We further investigated the functions of pineapple SWR1 COMPLEX 6 (AcSWC6) by ectopically expressing it in Arabidopsis. Interestingly, transgenic plants ectopically expressing AcSWC6 showed susceptibility to fungal infection and enhanced resistance to salt and osmotic stress, revealing its involvement in biotic and abiotic stress. Moreover, the complementation of mutant Arabidopsis swc6 by pineapple SWC6 suggested the conserved function of SWC6 in plants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 7375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Rogstam ◽  
Maria Nyblom ◽  
Signe Christensen ◽  
Celeste Sele ◽  
Vladimir O. Talibov ◽  
...  

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19), emerged at the end of 2019 and quickly spread to cause a global pandemic with severe socio-economic consequences. The early sequencing of its RNA genome revealed its high similarity to SARS, likely to have originated from bats. The SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein 10 (nsp10) displays high sequence similarity with its SARS homologue, which binds to and stimulates the 3′-to-5′ exoribonuclease and the 2′-O-methlytransferase activities of nsps 14 and 16, respectively. Here, we report the biophysical characterization and 1.6 Å resolution structure of the unbound form of nsp10 from SARS-CoV-2 and compare it to the structures of its SARS homologue and the complex-bound form with nsp16 from SARS-CoV-2. The crystal structure and solution behaviour of nsp10 will not only form the basis for understanding the role of SARS-CoV-2 nsp10 as a central player of the viral RNA capping apparatus, but will also serve as a basis for the development of inhibitors of nsp10, interfering with crucial functions of the replication–transcription complex and virus replication.


1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (2) ◽  
pp. 662-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Thanbichler ◽  
Bernhard Neuhierl ◽  
August Böck

ABSTRACT Selenium-accumulating Astragalus spp. contain an enzyme which specifically transfers a methyl group fromS-methylmethionine to the selenol of selenocysteine, thus converting it to a nontoxic, since nonproteinogenic, amino acid. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of this enzyme revealed thatEscherichia coli possesses a protein (YagD) which shares high sequence similarity with the enzyme. The properties and physiological role of YagD were investigated. YagD is anS-methylmethionine: homocysteine methyltransferase which also accepts selenohomocysteine as a substrate. Mutants inyagD which also possess defects in metE andmetH are unable to utilize S-methylmethionine for growth, whereas a metE metH double mutant still grows on S-methylmethionine. Upstream of yagD and overlapping with its reading frame is a gene (ykfD) which, when inactivated, also blocks growth on methylmethionine in ametE metH genetic background. Since it displays sequence similarities with amino acid permeases it appears to be the transporter for S-methylmethionine. Methionine but notS-methylmethionine in the medium reduces the amount ofyagD protein. This and the existence of four MET box motifs upstream of yfkD indicate that the two genes are members of the methionine regulon. The physiological roles of the ykfDand yagD products appear to reside in the acquisition ofS-methylmethionine, which is an abundant plant product, and its utilization for methionine biosynthesis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuxian Yang ◽  
Li Huang ◽  
Jikun Song ◽  
Lisen Liu ◽  
Yingying Bian ◽  
...  

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is an economically important crop grown for natural fiber and seed oil production. DA1 is a ubiquitin receptor that determines final seed and organ size by restricting the period of cell proliferation. In the present study, we identified 7 DA1-like genes each in cultivated tetraploid (AADD) G. hirsutum and G. barbadense, and 4 and 3 DA1-like genes in their ancestral diploid G. arboreum (A2A2) and G. raimondii (D5D5), respectively. The 7 GhDA1 genes were confirmed to be distributed on four At and three Dt subgenome chromosomes in G. hirsutum. GhDA1-1A showed a high sequence similarity to AtDA1 in Arabidopsis, and they possessed the same functional domains, suggesting conserved functions. The overexpression of GhDA1-1AR301K in Arabidopsis significantly increased seed size and seed weight, indicating that GhDA1-1A is a promising target for cotton improvement. This study provides information on the molecular evolutionary properties of DA1-like genes in cotton, which will be useful for the genetic improvement of cotton.


Plant Methods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ramadan ◽  
Muna Alariqi ◽  
Yizan Ma ◽  
Yanlong Li ◽  
Zhenping Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), harboring a complex allotetraploid genome, consists of A and D sub-genomes. Every gene has multiple copies with high sequence similarity that makes genetic, genomic and functional analyses extremely challenging. The recent accessibility of CRISPR/Cas9 tool provides the ability to modify targeted locus efficiently in various complicated plant genomes. However, current cotton transformation method targeting one gene requires a complicated, long and laborious regeneration process. Hence, optimizing strategy that targeting multiple genes is of great value in cotton functional genomics and genetic engineering. Results To target multiple genes in a single experiment, 112 plant development-related genes were knocked out via optimized CRISPR/Cas9 system. We optimized the key steps of pooled sgRNAs assembly method by which 116 sgRNAs pooled together into 4 groups (each group consisted of 29 sgRNAs). Each group of sgRNAs was compiled in one PCR reaction which subsequently went through one round of vector construction, transformation, sgRNAs identification and also one round of genetic transformation. Through the genetic transformation mediated Agrobacterium, we successfully generated more than 800 plants. For mutants identification, Next Generation Sequencing technology has been used and results showed that all generated plants were positive and all targeted genes were covered. Interestingly, among all the transgenic plants, 85% harbored a single sgRNA insertion, 9% two insertions, 3% three different sgRNAs insertions, 2.5% mutated sgRNAs. These plants with different targeted sgRNAs exhibited numerous combinations of phenotypes in plant flowering tissues. Conclusion All targeted genes were successfully edited with high specificity. Our pooled sgRNAs assembly offers a simple, fast and efficient method/strategy to target multiple genes in one time and surely accelerated the study of genes function in cotton.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 313
Author(s):  
Heli A. M. Mönttinen ◽  
Janne J. Ravantti ◽  
Minna M. Poranen

RNA viruses are the fastest evolving known biological entities. Consequently, the sequence similarity between homologous viral proteins disappears quickly, limiting the usability of traditional sequence-based phylogenetic methods in the reconstruction of relationships and evolutionary history among RNA viruses. Protein structures, however, typically evolve more slowly than sequences, and structural similarity can still be evident, when no sequence similarity can be detected. Here, we used an automated structural comparison method, homologous structure finder, for comprehensive comparisons of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). We identified a common structural core of 231 residues for all the structurally characterized viral RdRps, covering segmented and non-segmented negative-sense, positive-sense, and double-stranded RNA viruses infecting both prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. The grouping and branching of the viral RdRps in the structure-based phylogenetic tree follow their functional differentiation. The RdRps using protein primer, RNA primer, or self-priming mechanisms have evolved independently of each other, and the RdRps cluster into two large branches based on the used transcription mechanism. The structure-based distance tree presented here follows the recently established RdRp-based RNA virus classification at genus, subfamily, family, order, class and subphylum ranks. However, the topology of our phylogenetic tree suggests an alternative phylum level organization.


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