scholarly journals Mitochondrial Fostering: The Mitochondrial Genome May Play a Role in Plant Orphan Gene Evolution

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth O’Conner ◽  
Ling Li

Plant mitochondrial genomes exhibit unique evolutionary patterns. They have a high rearrangement but low mutation rate, and a large size. Based on massive mitochondrial DNA transfers to the nucleus as well as the mitochondrial unique evolutionary traits, we propose a “Mitochondrial Fostering” theory where the organelle genome plays an integral role in the arrival and development of orphan genes (genes with no homologs in other lineages). Two approaches were used to test this theory: (1) bioinformatic analysis of nuclear mitochondrial DNA (Numts: mitochondrial originating DNA that migrated to the nucleus) at the genome level, and (2) bioinformatic analysis of particular orphan sequences present in both the mitochondrial genome and the nuclear genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. One study example is given about one orphan sequence that codes for two unique orphan genes: one in the mitochondrial genome and another one in the nuclear genome. DNA alignments show regions of this A. thaliana orphan sequence exist scattered throughout other land plant mitochondrial genomes. This is consistent with the high recombination rates of mitochondrial genomes in land plants. This may also enable the creation of novel coding sequences within the orphan loci, which can then be transferred to the nuclear genome and become exposed to new evolutionary pressures. Our study also reveals a high correlation between the amount of mitochondrial DNA transferred to the nuclear genome and the number of orphan genes in land plants. All the data suggests the mitochondrial genome may play a role in nuclear orphan gene evolution in land plants.

Author(s):  
Seth O’Conner ◽  
Ling Li

AbstractPlant mitochondrial genomes exhibit odd evolutionary patterns. They have a high rearrangement but low mutation rate, and a large size. Based on massive mitochondrial DNA transfers to the nucleus as well as the mitochondrial unique evolutionary traits, we propose a “Mitochondrial Fostering” theory where the organelle genome plays an integral role in the arrival and development of orphan genes (genes with no homologues in other lineages). Two approaches were used to test this theory: 1) bioinformatic analysis of nuclear mitochondrial DNA (Numts: mitochondrial originating DNA that has migrated to the nucleus) at the genome level, and 2) bioinformatic analysis of particular orphan sequences present in both the mitochondrial genome and the nuclear genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. One study example is given about one orphan sequence that codes for two unique orphan genes: one in the mitochondrial genome and another one in the nuclear genome. DNA alignments show regions of this A. thaliana orphan sequence exist scattered throughout other land plant mitochondrial genomes. This is consistent with the high recombination rates of mitochondrial genomes in land plants. This may also enable the creation of novel coding sequences within the orphan loci, which can then be transferred to the nuclear genome and become exposed to new evolutionary pressures. Our study also reveals a high correlation between mitochondrial DNA rate transferred to the nuclear genome and number of orphan genes in land plants. All the data suggests the mitochondrial genome may play a role in nuclear orphan gene evolution in land plants.


Genetics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Atlan ◽  
D Couvet

Abstract Molecular evolution of the plant mitochondrial genome involves rearrangements due to the presence of highly recombining repeated sequences. As a result, this genome is composed of a set of molecules of various sizes that generate each other through recombination. The model presented simulates the evolution of various frequencies of the different types of molecules over successive cell cycles. It considers the mitochondrial genome as a population of circular molecules evolving through recombination, replication and random segregation. The model parameters are the rates of recombination of each sequence, the frequency of each type of recombination, the replication rates of the circles and the total amount of mitochondrial DNA per cell. This model demonstrates that high recombination rates lead to rapid deletions of sequences in the absence of selection. The frequency of deletion is dependent on the simulated reproductive mechanism. The conditions leading to reversible or irreversible rearrangements were also investigated.


Open Biology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 180267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Klucnika ◽  
Hansong Ma

The mitochondrial genome is an evolutionarily persistent and cooperative component of metazoan cells that contributes to energy production and many other cellular processes. Despite sharing the same host as the nuclear genome, the multi-copy mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) follows very different rules of replication and transmission, which translate into differences in the patterns of selection. On one hand, mtDNA is dependent on the host for its transmission, so selections would favour genomes that boost organismal fitness. On the other hand, genetic heterogeneity within an individual allows different mitochondrial genomes to compete for transmission. This intra-organismal competition could select for the best replicator, which does not necessarily give the fittest organisms, resulting in mito-nuclear conflict. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms and opposing forces governing mtDNA transmission and selection in bilaterians, and what the implications of these are for mtDNA evolution and mitochondrial replacement therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4594
Author(s):  
Andrea Stoccoro ◽  
Fabio Coppedè

Epigenetic modifications of the nuclear genome, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA post-transcriptional regulation, are increasingly being involved in the pathogenesis of several human diseases. Recent evidence suggests that also epigenetic modifications of the mitochondrial genome could contribute to the etiology of human diseases. In particular, altered methylation and hydroxymethylation levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been found in animal models and in human tissues from patients affected by cancer, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, environmental factors, as well as nuclear DNA genetic variants, have been found to impair mtDNA methylation patterns. Some authors failed to find DNA methylation marks in the mitochondrial genome, suggesting that it is unlikely that this epigenetic modification plays any role in the control of the mitochondrial function. On the other hand, several other studies successfully identified the presence of mtDNA methylation, particularly in the mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop) region, relating it to changes in both mtDNA gene transcription and mitochondrial replication. Overall, investigations performed until now suggest that methylation and hydroxymethylation marks are present in the mtDNA genome, albeit at lower levels compared to those detectable in nuclear DNA, potentially contributing to the mitochondria impairment underlying several human diseases.


Author(s):  
М.В. Голубенко ◽  
Р.Р. Салахов ◽  
Т.В. Шумакова ◽  
С.В. Буйкин ◽  
О.А. Макеева ◽  
...  

Митохондриальный геном кодирует жизненно важные белки субъединиц дыхательной цепи и характеризуется высоким уровнем полиморфизма в популяциях человека. Однако работы по поиску генов предрасположенности к многофакторным заболеваниям, в том числе сердечно-сосудистым, часто ограничиваются анализом ядерного генома. В то же время показано, что отдельные генотипы мтДНК могут отличаться более высокой или низкой эффективностью окислительного фосфорилирования. Выявлены ассоциации популяционного полиморфизма мтДНК с сердечно-сосудистыми заболеваниями. Согласно результатам наших исследований, а также опубликованных другими авторами результатам ассоциативных и функциональных исследований, можно говорить о том, что эффект полиморфизма мтДНК проявляется чаще не в предрасположенности к сердечно-сосудистым заболеваниям в целом, а в риске развития осложнений и коморбидных фенотипов в пределах синтропии сердечно-сосудистого континуума. Mitochondrial genome, encoding respiratory chain subunits, is characterized by high polymorphism level in human populations. In most studies for susceptibility genes for common diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, the analysis is limited to the nuclear genome. It was shown that particular mtDNA genotypes may differ by oxidative phosphorylation efficiency. Some associations of mtDNA polymorphisms with cardiovascular diseases have been found. According to our results and published data, we suggest that mtDNA effect on cardiovascular system does not manifest in predisposition to cardiovascular diseases themselves but rather in risk of complications and comorbidities in the cardiovascular continuum.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Kowal ◽  
Angelika Tkaczyk ◽  
Mariusz Pierzchała ◽  
Adam Bownik ◽  
Brygida Ślaska

Abstract Background: This is the first study in which the Daphnia magna (D. magna) nuclear genome deposited in the GenBank data-base was analyzed for pseudogene sequences of mitochondrial origin. The first complete information about the genome of D. magna was published by Lee et al. in 2019. To date, there is no information about pseudogenes localized in the genome of D. magna . The aim of the present study was to identify NUMTs, their length, homology, and location for potential use in evolutionary studies and to check whether their occurrence causes co-amplification during mitochondrial genome analyses.Results: Bioinformatic analysis showed 1909 fragments of the mitochondrial genome of D. magna , of which 1630 fragments were located in ten linkage groups (LG) of the nuclear genome (nDNA). The most frequently occurring fragments of the mtDNA sequence in the nuclear genome included ND2 (115), ND3 (113), and TRNA-CYS (110)). However, the highest number of NUMTs was observed for the D-loop (147). 253 fragments showed 100% homology (from 16 to 46 bp) with mtDNA gene sequences. The sequence homology for TRNA-MET was 100% for all 6 NUMTs (from 16 to 18 bp). The overall length of NUMTs in the nDNA was 44.391 bp (from 16 to 182 bp), which accounted for 0.042% of the entire genome.Conclusions: The best-matched NUMTs covering more than 90% of the mtDNA gene sequence have been identified for the TRNA-ARG (95%), TRNA-GLU (97%), and TRNA-THR (95%) genes, and they may be included in the functional nuclear tRNA genes. Using the product of total DNA isolation in mtDNA studies, coamplification of nDNA fragments is unlikely in the case of amplification of the whole tRNA genes as well as fragments of other genes and the D-loop with a length exceeding 200 bp. It was observed that TRNA-MET fragments had the highest level of sequence homology, which means that they could be evolutionarily the youngest. The lowest degree of homology was found in the pseudogene derived from the mtDNA D-loop sequence. It may probably be the oldest element of mitochondrial DNA incorporated into the nuclear genome; however, further analysis is necessary.


The mitochondrial genomes of higher plants are among the largest and most complex organelle genomes described. They are generally multicircular or partly linear; in some species, extrachromosomal plasmids are present. It is proposed that inter- and intramolecular homologous recombination can account for the diversity of the observed genome organizations. The ability of mitochondria to fuse establishes a panmictic mitochondrial DNA population which is in recombinational equilibrium. It is suggested that this suppresses the base mutation rate, and unequal partitioning of the cytoplasm during cell division can lead to the rapid evolution of mitochondrial genome structure. This contrasts with the observed rates of base-sequence and genome evolution in chloroplasts. This difference can be accounted for solely by the inability of chloroplasts to fuse, thereby preventing chloroplast genome panmixis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (33) ◽  
pp. 10154-10161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrik Björkholm ◽  
Ajith Harish ◽  
Erik Hagström ◽  
Andreas M. Ernst ◽  
Siv G. E. Andersson

Mitochondria are energy-producing organelles in eukaryotic cells considered to be of bacterial origin. The mitochondrial genome has evolved under selection for minimization of gene content, yet it is not known why not all mitochondrial genes have been transferred to the nuclear genome. Here, we predict that hydrophobic membrane proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genomes would be recognized by the signal recognition particle and targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum if they were nuclear-encoded and translated in the cytoplasm. Expression of the mitochondrially encoded proteins Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, Apocytochrome b, and ATP synthase subunit 6 in the cytoplasm of HeLa cells confirms export to the endoplasmic reticulum. To examine the extent to which the mitochondrial proteome is driven by selective constraints within the eukaryotic cell, we investigated the occurrence of mitochondrial protein domains in bacteria and eukaryotes. The accessory protein domains of the oxidative phosphorylation system are unique to mitochondria, indicating the evolution of new protein folds. Most of the identified domains in the accessory proteins of the ribosome are also found in eukaryotic proteins of other functions and locations. Overall, one-third of the protein domains identified in mitochondrial proteins are only rarely found in bacteria. We conclude that the mitochondrial genome has been maintained to ensure the correct localization of highly hydrophobic membrane proteins. Taken together, the results suggest that selective constraints on the eukaryotic cell have played a major role in modulating the evolution of the mitochondrial genome and proteome.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Lin Hsieh

ABSTRACT The mitochondrial genome, which consists of 16,569 bp of DNA with a cytosine-rich light (L) strand and a heavy (H) strand, exists as a multicopy closed circular genome within the mitochondrial matrix. The machinery for replication of the mammalian mitochondrial genome is distinct from that for replication of the nuclear genome. Three models have been proposed for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication, and one of the key differences among them is whether extensive single-stranded regions exist on the H strand. Here, three different methods that can detect single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) are utilized to identify the presence, location, and abundance of ssDNA on mtDNA. Importantly, none of these newly described methods involve the complication of prior mtDNA fractionation. The H strand was found to have extensive single-stranded regions with a profile consistent with the strand displacement model of mtDNA replication, whereas single strandedness was predominantly absent on the L strand. These findings are consistent with the in vivo occupancy of mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein reported previously and provide strong new qualitative and quantitative evidence for the asymmetric strand displacement model of mtDNA replication.


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