Molecular evolution of ribosomal intergenic spacers in Odontophrynus americanus 2n and 4n (Amphibia: Anura)

Genome ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lúcia E Alvares ◽  
Carlos Polanco ◽  
Olivier Brison ◽  
Luiz L Coutinho ◽  
Itamar R.G Ruiz

Ribosomal intergenic spacers (IGSs) of Odontophrynus americanus 2n and 4n were cloned, restriction mapped, and partially sequenced. Three distinct regions, namely α, β, and δ, were identified in the IGSs. The α and β regions flanked the 28S and 18S rRNA genes, respectively, conserving an identical restriction pattern at each ploidy level. The δ region, located between α and β, was highly variable in size and restriction pattern, enclosing different BamHI subrepeats (B-SR), 87- to 530-bp-long. Sequence analysis showed that B-SRs were composed mainly of different arrangements of similar blocks of sequences. Another family of repetitive sequences was found in the δ region, clustered inside large BamHI fragments. These subrepeats are 189-bp-long and, although very similar in diploid and tetraploid IGSs, show a pattern of concerted evolution. A hypothetical functional role for the 189-bp repeats is discussed in view of their predicted secondary structure and presence of potential E2 binding sites inside diploid subrepeats. Although the same structural elements were present both in diploid and tetraploid IGSs, the higher level of repeatability of tetraploid IGSs suggests that common ancestor sequences have undergone several rounds of amplification after O. americanus polyploidy.Key words: Odontophrynus americanus, amphibian polyploidy, ribosomal DNA, intergenic spacer, IGS subrepeats.

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 1220-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soon-Chun Jeong ◽  
David D Myrold

Specificity between Ceanothus species and their microsymbionts, Frankia, were investigated with nodules collected from three geographically separated copopulations of Ceanothus species. Nodules were analyzed using DNA sequencing and repetitive sequence polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) techniques. DNA sequencing of the intergenic spacer region between 16S and 23S rRNA genes suggested that Ceanothus-microsymbiotic Frankia are closely related at the intraspecific level. Diversity of the microsymbionts was further analyzed by genomic fingerprinting using repetitive sequences and PCR. A newly designed direct repeat (DR) sequence and a BOX sequence were used as PCR primers after justification that these primers can generate Frankia-specific fingerprints from nodule DNA. Analysis of the nodules using BOX- and DR-PCR showed that Ceanothus-microsymbiotic Frankia exhibited less diversity within each copopulation than among copopulations. These data suggested that geographic separation plays a more important role for divergence of Ceanothus-microsymbiotic Frankia than host plant.Key words: Frankia, Ceanothus, rep-PCR, diversity.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 2866-2875 ◽  
Author(s):  
C C Robinett ◽  
A O'Connor ◽  
M Dunaway

We have identified a novel activity for the region of the intergenic spacer of the Xenopus laevis rRNA genes that contains the 35- and 100-bp repeats. We devised a new assay for this region by constructing DNA plasmids containing a tandem repeat of rRNA reporter genes that were separated by the 35- and 100-bp repeat region and a rRNA gene enhancer. When the 35- and 100-bp repeat region is present in its normal position and orientation at the 3' end of the rRNA reporter genes, the enhancer activates the adjacent downstream promoter but not the upstream rRNA promoter on the same plasmid. Because this element can restrict the range of an enhancer's activity in the context of tandem genes, we have named it the repeat organizer (RO). The ability to restrict enhancer action is a feature of insulator elements, but unlike previously described insulator elements the RO does not block enhancer action in a simple enhancer-blocking assay. Instead, the activity of the RO requires that it be in its normal position and orientation with respect to the other sequence elements of the rRNA genes. The enhancer-binding transcription factor xUBF also binds to the repetitive sequences of the RO in vitro, but these sequences do not activate transcription in vivo. We propose that the RO is a specialized insulator element that organizes the tandem array of rRNA genes into single-gene expression units by promoting activation of a promoter by its proximal enhancers.


1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 2031-2045 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Cavalier-Smith ◽  
M. T. E. P. Allsopp ◽  
E. E. Chao ◽  
N. Boury-Esnault ◽  
J. Vacelet

We sequenced 18S rRNA genes of a calcareous sponge, Clathrina cerebrum, a demosponge, Axinella polypoides, and a zoanthid cnidarian, Parazoanthus axinellae. Our phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of kingdom Animalia and confirms that choanoflagellate protozoans are their closest relatives. Sponges as a whole are monophyletic, but possibly paraphyletic; demosponges and hexactinellids form a monophyletic group of silicious sponges. Our phylogenetic trees support a monophyletic origin of the nervous system in the immediate common ancestor of Cnidaria and Ctenophora. They weakly suggest that animals with a nervous system may be more closely related to calcareous sponges than to silicious sponges; the nervous system might have originated in an early calcareous sponge. Our trees confirm that Myxozoa and Placozoa are animals that arose by secondary loss of the nervous system, but suggest that Myxozoa may be sisters of, rather than derived from, Bilateria. Kingdom Animalia is divided into four subkingdoms: Radiata (Porifera, Cnidaria, Placozoa, Ctenophora), Myxozoa, Mesozoa, and Bilateria. The 18S rRNA genes of Myxozoa evolved over twice as fast as in Radiata. Comparison with the fossil record reveals a brief 10-fold (or greater) acceleration in the rate of rRNA evolution in early Bilateria followed by normal low rates for about 500 million years.


2021 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Neov ◽  
G.P. Vasileva ◽  
G. Radoslavov ◽  
P. Hristov ◽  
D.T.J. Littlewood ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of the study is to test a hypothesis for the phylogenetic relationships among mammalian hymenolepidid tapeworms, based on partial (D1–D3) nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, by estimating new molecular phylogenies for the group based on partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and nuclear 18S rRNA genes, as well as a combined analysis using all three genes. New sequences of COI and 18S rRNA genes were obtained for Coronacanthus integrus, C. magnihamatus, C. omissus, C. vassilevi, Ditestolepis diaphana, Lineolepis scutigera, Spasskylepis ovaluteri, Staphylocystis tiara, S. furcata, S. uncinata, Vaucherilepis trichophorus and Neoskrjabinolepis sp. The phylogenetic analyses confirmed the major clades identified by Haukisalmi et al. (Zoologica Scripta 39: 631–641, 2010): Ditestolepis clade, Hymenolepis clade, Rodentolepis clade and Arostrilepis clade. While the Ditestolepis clade is associated with soricids, the structure of the other three clades suggests multiple evolutionary events of host switching between shrews and rodents. Two of the present analyses (18S rRNA and COI genes) show that the basal relationships of the four mammalian clades are branching at the same polytomy with several hymenolepidids from birds (both terrestrial and aquatic). This may indicate a rapid radiation of the group, with multiple events of colonizations of mammalian hosts by avian parasites.


2007 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 329-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah M. Feazel ◽  
John R. Spear ◽  
Alicia B. Berger ◽  
J. Kirk Harris ◽  
Daniel N. Frank ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT To determine the eucaryotic diversity of the hypersaline Guerrero Negro microbial mat, we amplified 18S rRNA genes from DNA extracted from this mat and constructed and analyzed clone libraries. The extent of eucaryotic diversity detected was remarkably low, only 15 species among 890 clones analyzed. Six eucaryotic kingdoms were represented, as well as a novel cluster of sequences. Nematode sequences dominated the clone libraries.


2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. 5935-5942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Lefranc ◽  
Aurélie Thénot ◽  
Cécile Lepère ◽  
Didier Debroas

ABSTRACT Small eukaryotes, cells with a diameter of less than 5 μm, are fundamental components of lacustrine planktonic systems. In this study, small-eukaryote diversity was determined by sequencing cloned 18S rRNA genes in three libraries from lakes of differing trophic status in the Massif Central, France: the oligotrophic Lake Godivelle, the oligomesotrophic Lake Pavin, and the eutrophic Lake Aydat. This analysis shows that the least diversified library was in the eutrophic lake (12 operational taxonomic units [OTUs]) and the most diversified was in the oligomesotrophic lake (26 OTUs). Certain groups were present in at least two ecosystems, while the others were specific to one lake on the sampling date. Cryptophyta, Chrysophyceae, and the strictly heterotrophic eukaryotes, Ciliophora and fungi, were identified in the three libraries. Among the small eukaryotes found only in two lakes, Choanoflagellida and environmental sequences (LKM11) were not detected in the eutrophic system whereas Cercozoa were confined to the oligomesotrophic and eutrophic lakes. Three OTUs, linked to the Perkinsozoa, were detected only in the Aydat library, where they represented 60% of the clones of the library. Chlorophyta and Haptophyta lineages were represented by a single clone and were present only in Godivelle and Pavin, respectively. Of the 127 clones studied, classical pigmented organisms (autotrophs and mixotrophs) represented only a low proportion regardless of the library's origin. This study shows that the small-eukaryote community composition may differ as a function of trophic status; certain lineages could be detected only in a single ecosystem.


1999 ◽  
Vol 54 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 156-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Voss ◽  
Kambiz Taraz ◽  
Herbert Budzikiewicz

From the strain 51W of Pseudomonas fluorescens living under extreme conditions at the Schirmacher Oasis (Antarctica) a pyoverdin was obtained. Its structure was elucidated by chemical degradation and spectroscopic methods. The NMR data of the pyoverdin and of its Ga(III) complex were compared. Appreciable influences of the metal on the chemical shifts of the atoms at its binding sites were observed. Thus the structural elements involved in the complexation can be identified and coinciding signals of amino acids occurring more than once in the peptide chain can be separated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-184
Author(s):  
P. F. Barradas ◽  
A. R. Flores ◽  
T. L. Mateus ◽  
F. Carvalho ◽  
F. Gärtner ◽  
...  

SummaryCrenosoma striatum is a host-specifi c metastrongiloid nematode causing respiratory tract disease in hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). Since few studies have reported C. striatum in hedgehogs and little genetic data is available concerning this lungworm, this study aimed to determine the occurrence of C. striatum in a population sample of hedgehogs from Portugal, additionally providing morphological, histological and molecular data. From 2017 to 2018 a survey of infection was carried out in 11 necropsied hedgehogs. Worms were extracted from fresh lung tissues and microscopically evaluated. Molecular characterization of partial mitochondrial (12S rRNA) and nuclear (18S rRNA) genes was performed. The presence of lungworms in pulmonary tissues of five hedgehogs (45.5%) was detected. Morphological and histopathological analyses evidenced adult forms of nematodes consistent with C. striatum. Molecular characterization of 18S rRNA genes confirmed the classifi cation as C. striatum. Also, novel genetic data characterizing the mitochondrial (12S rRNA) gene of C. striatum is presented.This is the first report of C. striatum infection in hedgehogs of Portugal. The findings here reported provide new insights regarding the geographic distribution and the molecular identification of this lungworm species.


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