scholarly journals Horizontal Transfer and Gene Loss Shaped the Evolution of Alpha-Amylases in Bilaterians

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 709-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Desiderato ◽  
Marcos Barbeitos ◽  
Clément Gilbert ◽  
Jean-Luc Da Lage
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Gene Loss ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Ancestral Gene ◽  
Unicellular Eukaryotes ◽  
Horizontal Transfers ◽  
Alpha Amylases

The subfamily GH13_1 of alpha-amylases is typical of Fungi, but it is also found in some unicellular eukaryotes (e.g., Amoebozoa, choanoflagellates) and non-bilaterian Metazoa. Since a previous study in 2007, GH13_1 amylases were considered ancestral to the Unikonts, including animals, except Bilateria, such that it was thought to have been lost in the ancestor of this clade. The only alpha-amylases known to be present in Bilateria so far belong to the GH13_15 and 24 subfamilies (commonly called bilaterian alpha-amylases) and were likely acquired by horizontal transfer from a proteobacterium. The taxonomic scope of Eukaryota genomes in databases has been greatly increased ever since 2007. We have surveyed GH13_1 sequences in recent data from ca. 1600 bilaterian species, 60 non-bilaterian animals and also in unicellular eukaryotes. As expected, we found a number of those sequences in non-bilaterians: Anthozoa (Cnidaria) and in sponges, confirming the previous observations, but none in jellyfishes and in Ctenophora. Our main and unexpected finding is that such fungal (also called Dictyo-type) amylases were also consistently retrieved in several bilaterian phyla: hemichordates (deuterostomes), brachiopods and related phyla, some molluscs and some annelids (protostomes). We discuss evolutionary hypotheses possibly explaining the scattered distribution of GH13_1 across bilaterians, namely, the retention of the ancestral gene in those phyla only and/or horizontal transfers from non-bilaterian donors.

scholarly journals Horizontal transfer and gene loss shaped the evolution of alpha-amylases in bilaterians

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Desiderato ◽  
Marcos Barbeitos ◽  
Clément Gilbert ◽  
Jean-Luc Da Lage
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Gene Loss ◽  
Unexpected Finding ◽  
Ancestral Gene ◽  
Unicellular Eukaryotes ◽  
Horizontal Transfers ◽  
Alpha Amylases

AbstractThe subfamily GH13_1 of alpha-amylases is typical of Fungi, but it is also found in some unicellular eukaryotes (e.g. Amoebozoa, choanoflagellates) and non-bilaterian Metazoa. Since a previous study in 2007, GH13_1 amylases were considered ancestral to the Unikonts, including animals, except Bilateria, such that it was thought to have been lost in the ancestor of this clade. The only alpha-amylases known to be present in Bilateria so far belong to the GH13_15 and 24 subfamilies (commonly called bilaterian alpha-amylases) and were likely acquired by horizontal transfer from a proteobacterium. The taxonomic scope of Eukaryota genomes in databases has been greatly increased ever since 2007. We have surveyed GH13_1 sequences in recent data from ca. 1600 bilaterian species, 60 non-bilaterian animals and also in unicellular eukaryotes. As expected, we found a number of those sequences in non-bilaterians: Anthozoa (Cnidaria) and in sponges, confirming the previous observations, but none in jellyfishes and in Ctenophora. Our main and unexpected finding is that such fungal (also called Dictyo-type) amylases were also consistently retrieved in several bilaterian phyla: hemichordates (deuterostomes), brachiopods and related phyla, some molluscs and some annelids (protostomes). We discuss evolutionary hypotheses possibly explaining the scattered distribution of GH13_1 across bilaterians, namely, the retention of the ancestral gene in those phyla only and/or horizontal transfers from non-bilaterian donors.

scholarly journals Unusual phyletic distribution of peptidases as a tool for identifying potential drug targets

2006 ◽  
Vol 401 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil D. Rawlings
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Ancestral Gene ◽  
Biochemical Journal ◽  
Horizontal Transfers ◽  
Potential Drug Targets ◽  
Phyletic Distribution

Eukaryote homologues of carboxypeptidases Taq have been discovered by Niemirowicz et al. in the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. This is surprising, because the peptidase family was thought to be restricted to bacteria and archaea. In this issue of the Biochemical Journal, the authors propose that the Trypanosoma carboxypeptidases are potential drug targets for treatment of the disease. The authors also propose that the presence of the genes in the zooflagellates can be explained by a horizontal transfer of an ancestral gene from a prokaryote. Because peptidases are popular drug targets, identifying parasite or pathogen peptidases that have no homologues in their hosts would be a method to select the most promising targets. To understand how unusual this phyletic distribution is among the 183 families of peptidases, several other examples of horizontal transfers are presented, as well as some unusual losses of peptidase genes.

scholarly journals Mosquito genomes are frequently invaded by transposable elements through horizontal transfer

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e1008946
Author(s):  
Elverson Soares de Melo ◽  
Gabriel Luz Wallau
Keyword(s):  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Wuchereria Bancrofti ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Eukaryotic Species ◽  
Horizontal Spread ◽  
Horizontal Transfers

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements that parasitize basically all eukaryotic species genomes. Due to their complexity, an in-depth TE characterization is only available for a handful of model organisms. In the present study, we performed a de novo and homology-based characterization of TEs in the genomes of 24 mosquito species and investigated their mode of inheritance. More than 40% of the genome of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus is composed of TEs, while it varied substantially among Anopheles species (0.13%–19.55%). Class I TEs are the most abundant among mosquitoes and at least 24 TE superfamilies were found. Interestingly, TEs have been extensively exchanged by horizontal transfer (172 TE families of 16 different superfamilies) among mosquitoes in the last 30 million years. Horizontally transferred TEs represents around 7% of the genome in Aedes species and a small fraction in Anopheles genomes. Most of these horizontally transferred TEs are from the three ubiquitous LTR superfamilies: Gypsy, Bel-Pao and Copia. Searching more than 32,000 genomes, we also uncovered transfers between mosquitoes and two different Phyla—Cnidaria and Nematoda—and two subphyla—Chelicerata and Crustacea, identifying a vector, the worm Wuchereria bancrofti, that enabled the horizontal spread of a Tc1-mariner element among various Anopheles species. These data also allowed us to reconstruct the horizontal transfer network of this TE involving more than 40 species. In summary, our results suggest that TEs are frequently exchanged by horizontal transfers among mosquitoes, influencing mosquito's genome size and variability.

scholarly journals Clustered Genes Related to Sulfate Respiration in Uncultured Prokaryotes Support the Theory of Their Concomitant Horizontal Transfer

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (20) ◽  
pp. 7126-7137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Mussmann ◽  
Michael Richter ◽  
Thierry Lombardot ◽  
Anke Meyerdierks ◽  
Jan Kuever ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sulfate Reduction ◽  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Dissimilatory Sulfate Reduction ◽  
Prosthetic Group ◽  
Sulfate Reducing ◽  
Dissimilatory Sulfite Reductase ◽  
Sulfur Intermediates ◽  
Horizontal Transfers

ABSTRACT The dissimilatory reduction of sulfate is an ancient metabolic process central to today's biogeochemical cycling of sulfur and carbon in marine sediments. Until now its polyphyletic distribution was most parsimoniously explained by multiple horizontal transfers of single genes rather than by a not-yet-identified “metabolic island.” Here we provide evidence that the horizontal transfer of a gene cluster may indeed be responsible for the patchy distribution of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes (SRP) in the phylogenetic tree. We isolated three DNA fragments (32 to 41 kb) from uncultured, closely related SRP from DNA directly extracted from two distinct marine sediments. Fosmid ws39f7, and partially also fosmids ws7f8 and hr42c9, harbored a core set of essential genes for the dissimilatory reduction of sulfate, including enzymes for the reduction of sulfur intermediates and synthesis of the prosthetic group of the dissimilatory sulfite reductase. Genome comparisons suggest that encoded membrane proteins universally present among SRP are critical for electron transfer to cytoplasmic enzymes. In addition, novel, conserved hypothetical proteins that are likely involved in dissimilatory sulfate reduction were identified. Based on comparative genomics and previously published experimental evidence, a more comprehensive model of dissimilatory sulfate reduction is presented. The observed clustering of genes involved in dissimilatory sulfate reduction has not been previously found. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that genes responsible for dissimilatory sulfate reduction were concomitantly transferred in a single event among prokaryotes. The acquisition of an optimized gene set would enormously facilitate a successful implementation of a novel pathway.

scholarly journals Transposable elements are constantly exchanged by horizontal transfer reshaping mosquito genomes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elverson Soares de Melo ◽  
Gabriel da Luz Wallau
Keyword(s):  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Genome Size ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Wuchereria Bancrofti ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Horizontal Spread ◽  
Horizontal Transfers

AbstractTransposable elements (TEs) are a set of mobile elements within a genome. Due to their complexity, an in-depth TE characterization is only available for a handful of model organisms. In the present study, we performed a de novo and homology-based characterization of TEs in the genomes of 24 mosquito species and investigated their mode of inheritance. More than 40% of the genome of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus is composed of TEs, varying substantially among Anopheles species (0.13%–19.55%). Class I TEs are the most abundant among mosquitoes and at least 24 TE superfamilies were found. Interestingly, TEs have been continuously exchanged by horizontal transfer (212 TE families of 18 different superfamilies) among mosquitoes since 30 million years ago, representing around 6% of the genome in Aedes genomes and a small fraction in Anopheles genomes. Most of these horizontally transferred TEs are from the three ubiquitous LTR superfamilies: Gypsy, Bel-Pao and Copia. Searching more 32,000 genomes, we also uncover transfers between mosquitoes and two different Phyla—Cnidaria and Nematoda—and two subphyla—Chelicerata and Crustacea, identifying a vector, the worm Wuchereria bancrofti, that enabled the horizontal spread of a Tc1-mariner element of irritans subfamily among various Anopheles species. These data also allowed us to reconstruct the horizontal transfer network of this TE involving more than 40 species. In summary, our results suggest that TEs are constantly exchanged by common phenomena of horizontal transfers among mosquitoes, influencing genome variation and contributing to genome size expansion.Author SummaryMost eukaryotes have DNA fragments inside their genome that can multiply by inserting themselves in other regions of the genome, generating variability. These fragments are called Transposable Elements (TEs). Since they are a constituent part of the eukaryote genomes, these pieces of DNA are usually inherited vertically by the offspring. To avoid damage to the genome caused by the replication and insertion of TEs, organisms usually control them, leading to their inactivation. However, TEs sometimes get out of control and invade other species through a horizontal transfer mechanism. This dynamic is not known in mosquitoes, a group of organisms that acts as vectors of many human diseases. We collected mosquito genomes available in public databases and characterized the whole content of TEs. Using a statistic supported method, we investigate TE relations among mosquitoes and discover that horizontal transfers of transposons are common and occurred in the last 30 million years among these species. Although not as common as transfers among closely related species, transposon transfer to distant species also occur. We also identify a parasite, a filarial worm, that may have facilitated the transfer of TE to many mosquitoes. Together, horizontally transferred TEs contribute to increasing mosquito genome size and variation.

scholarly journals High frequency of horizontal transfer in Jockey families (LINE order) of drosophilids

Mobile DNA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabella L. Tambones ◽  
Annabelle Haudry ◽  
Maryanna C. Simão ◽  
Claudia M. A. Carareto
Keyword(s):  
Transposable Element ◽  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Long Terminal Repeat Retrotransposons ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Line Elements ◽  
Horizontal Transfers

Abstract Background The use of large-scale genomic analyses has resulted in an improvement of transposable element sampling and a significant increase in the number of reported HTT (horizontal transfer of transposable elements) events by expanding the sampling of transposable element sequences in general and of specific families of these elements in particular, which were previously poorly sampled. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of HTT events in a group of elements that, until recently, were uncommon among the HTT records in Drosophila – the Jockey elements, members of the LINE (long interspersed nuclear element) order of non-LTR (long terminal repeat) retrotransposons. The sequences of 111 Jockey families deposited in Repbase that met the criteria of the analysis were used to identify Jockey sequences in 48 genomes of Drosophilidae (genus Drosophila, subgenus Sophophora: melanogaster, obscura and willistoni groups; subgenus Drosophila: immigrans, melanica, repleta, robusta, virilis and grimshawi groups; subgenus Dorsilopha: busckii group; genus/subgenus Zaprionus and genus Scaptodrosophila). Results Phylogenetic analyses revealed 72 Jockey families in 41 genomes. Combined analyses revealed 15 potential HTT events between species belonging to different genera and species groups of Drosophilidae, providing evidence for the flow of genetic material favoured by the spatio-temporal sharing of these species present in the Palaeartic or Afrotropical region. Conclusions Our results provide phylogenetic, biogeographic and temporal evidence of horizontal transfers of the Jockey elements, increase the number of rare records of HTT in specific families of LINE elements, increase the number of known occurrences of these events, and enable a broad understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of these elements and the host species.

scholarly journals Parallel evolution of trehalose production machinery in anhydrobiotic animals via recurrent gene loss and horizontal transfer

Open Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 200413
Author(s):  
Yuichiro Hara ◽  
Reira Shibahara ◽  
Koyuki Kondo ◽  
Wataru Abe ◽  
Takekazu Kunieda
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Transfer ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Gene Loss ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Parallel Evolution ◽  
Bdelloid Rotifers ◽  
History Of ◽  
Trehalose Biosynthesis ◽  
The Many ◽  
Trehalose Synthesis

Trehalose is a versatile non-reducing sugar. In some animal groups possessing its intrinsic production machinery, it is used as a potent protectant against environmental stresses, as well as blood sugar. However, the trehalose biosynthesis genes remain unidentified in the large majority of metazoan phyla, including vertebrates. To uncover the evolutionary history of trehalose production machinery in metazoans, we scrutinized the available genome resources and identified bifunctional trehalose-6-phosphate synthase-trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPS–TPP) genes in various taxa. The scan included our newly sequenced genome assembly of a desiccation-tolerant tardigrade Paramacrobiotus sp. TYO, revealing that this species retains TPS–TPP genes activated upon desiccation. Phylogenetic analyses identified a monophyletic group of the many of the metazoan TPS–TPP genes, namely ‘pan-metazoan’ genes, that were acquired in the early ancestors of metazoans. Furthermore, coordination of our results with the previous horizontal gene transfer studies illuminated that the two tardigrade lineages, nematodes and bdelloid rotifers, all of which include desiccation-tolerant species, independently acquired the TPS–TPP homologues via horizontal transfer accompanied with loss of the ‘pan-metazoan’ genes. Our results indicate that the parallel evolution of trehalose synthesis via recurrent loss and horizontal transfer of the biosynthesis genes resulted in the acquisition and/or augmentation of anhydrobiotic lives in animals.

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