scholarly journals Structure of the germline genome of Tetrahymena thermophila and relationship to the massively rearranged somatic genome

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen P Hamilton ◽  
Aurélie Kapusta ◽  
Piroska E Huvos ◽  
Shelby L Bidwell ◽  
Nikhat Zafar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Rearrangement ◽  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Chromosome Breakage ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Mobile Dna ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Dna Elimination ◽  
Dna Elements ◽  
History Of ◽  
Somatic Genome

The germline genome of the binucleated ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila undergoes programmed chromosome breakage and massive DNA elimination to generate the somatic genome. Here, we present a complete sequence assembly of the germline genome and analyze multiple features of its structure and its relationship to the somatic genome, shedding light on the mechanisms of genome rearrangement as well as the evolutionary history of this remarkable germline/soma differentiation. Our results strengthen the notion that a complex, dynamic, and ongoing interplay between mobile DNA elements and the host genome have shaped Tetrahymena chromosome structure, locally and globally. Non-standard outcomes of rearrangement events, including the generation of short-lived somatic chromosomes and excision of DNA interrupting protein-coding regions, may represent novel forms of developmental gene regulation. We also compare Tetrahymena’s germline/soma differentiation to that of other characterized ciliates, illustrating the wide diversity of adaptations that have occurred within this phylum.

scholarly journals Two GW Repeat Proteins Interact with Tetrahymena thermophila Argonaute and Promote Genome Rearrangement

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (18) ◽  
pp. 5020-5030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janna Bednenko ◽  
Tomoko Noto ◽  
Leroi V. DeSouza ◽  
K. W. Michael Siu ◽  
Ronald E. Pearlman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Rearrangement ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Nuclear Bodies ◽  
Interacting Proteins ◽  
Heterochromatin Formation ◽  
Dna Elimination ◽  
Somatic Genome ◽  
Argonaute Family

ABSTRACT In conjugating Tetrahymena thermophila, massive DNA elimination occurs upon the development of the new somatic genome from the germ line genome. Small, ∼28-nucleotide scan RNAs (scnRNAs) and Twi1p, an Argonaute family member, mediate H3K27me3 and H3K9me3 histone H3 modifications, which lead to heterochromatin formation and the excision of the heterochromatinized germ line-limited sequences. In our search for new factors involved in developmental DNA rearrangement, we identified two Twi1p-interacting proteins, Wag1p and CnjBp. Both proteins contain GW (glycine and tryptophan) repeats, which are characteristic of several Argonaute-interacting proteins in other organisms. Wag1p and CnjBp colocalize with Twi1p in the parental macronucleus early in conjugation and in the new developing macronucleus during later developmental stages. Around the time DNA elimination occurs, Wag1p forms multiple nuclear bodies in the developing macronuclei that do not colocalize with heterochromatic DNA elimination structures. Analyses of ΔWAG1, ΔCnjB, and double ΔWAG1 ΔCnjB knockout strains revealed that WAG1 and CnjB genes need to be deleted together to inhibit the downregulation of specific scnRNAs, the formation of DNA elimination structures, and DNA excision. Thus, Wag1p and CnjBp are two novel players with overlapping functions in RNA interference-mediated genome rearrangement in Tetrahymena.

scholarly journals Transcribed germline-limited coding sequences in Oxytricha trifallax

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard V. Miller ◽  
Rafik Neme ◽  
Derek M. Clay ◽  
Jananan S. Pathmanathan ◽  
Michael W. Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Genome Rearrangement ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Developmentally Regulated ◽  
Noncoding Dna ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Coding Sequences ◽  
Dna Elimination ◽  
Nuclear Development

AbstractThe germline-soma divide is a fundamental distinction in developmental biology, and different genes are expressed in germline and somatic cells throughout metazoan life cycles. Ciliates, a group of microbial eukaryotes, exhibit germline-somatic nuclear dimorphism within a single cell with two different genomes. The ciliate Oxytricha trifallax undergoes massive RNA-guided DNA elimination and genome rearrangement to produce a new somatic macronucleus (MAC) from a copy of the germline micronucleus (MIC). This process eliminates noncoding DNA sequences that interrupt genes and also deletes hundreds of germline-limited open reading frames (ORFs) that are transcribed during genome rearrangement. Here, we update the set of transcribed germline-limited ORFs (TGLOs) in O. trifallax. We show that TGLOs tend to be expressed during nuclear development and then are absent from the somatic MAC. We also demonstrate that exposure to synthetic RNA can reprogram TGLO retention in the somatic MAC and that TGLO retention leads to transcription outside the normal developmental program. These data suggest that TGLOs represent a group of developmentally regulated protein coding sequences whose gene expression is terminated by DNA elimination.

scholarly journals Complete Chloroplast Genome of Rhipsalis baccifera, the only Cactus with Natural Distribution in the Old World: Genome Rearrangement, Intron Gain and Loss, and Implications for Phylogenetic Studies

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 979
Author(s):  
Millicent Akinyi Oulo ◽  
Jia-Xin Yang ◽  
Xiang Dong ◽  
Vincent Okelo Wanga ◽  
Elijah Mbandi Mkala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Rearrangement ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Old World ◽  
Chloroplast Genomes ◽  
Outgroup Species ◽  
History Of ◽  
Cp Genome ◽  
Future Work

Rhipsalis baccifera is the only cactus that naturally occurs in both the New World and the Old World, and has thus drawn the attention of most researchers. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of R. baccifera is reported here for the first time. The cp genome of R. baccifera has 122, 333 base pairs (bp), with a large single-copy (LSC) region (81,459 bp), SSC (23,531 bp) and two inverted repeat (IR) regions each 8530 bp. The genome contains 110 genes, with 73 protein-coding genes, 31 tRNAs, 4 rRNAs and 2 pseudogenes. Twelve genes have introns, with loss of introns being observed in, rpoc1clpP and rps12 genes. 49 repeat sequences and 62 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were found in the genome. Comparative analysis with eight species of the ACPT (Anacampserotaceae, Cactaceae, Portulacaceae, and Talinaceae) clade of the suborder Portulacineae species, showed that R. baccifera genome has higher number of rearrangements, with a 19 gene inversion in its LSC region representing the most significant structural change in terms of its size. Inversion of the SSC region seems common in subfamily Cactoideae, and another 6 kb gene inversion between rbcL- trnM was observed in R. baccifera and Carnegiea gigantea. The IRs of R. baccifera are contracted. The phylogenetic analysis among 36 complete chloroplast genomes of Caryophyllales species and two outgroup species supported monophyly of the families of the ACPT clade. R. baccifera occupied a basal position of the family Cactaceae clade in the tree. A high number of rearrangements in this cp genome suggests a larger number mutation events in the history of evolution of R. baccifera. These results provide important tools for future work on R. baccifera and in the evolutionary studies of the suborder Portulacineae.

scholarly journals Zygotic Expression of the Double-Stranded RNA Binding Motif Protein Drb2p Is Required for DNA Elimination in the Ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1648-1659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason A. Motl ◽  
Douglas L. Chalker
Keyword(s):  
Rna Binding ◽  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Chromosome Breakage ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dna Elimination ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACTDouble-stranded RNA binding motif (DSRM)-containing proteins play many roles in the regulation of gene transcription and translation, including some with tandem DSRMs that act in small RNA biogenesis. We report the characterization of the genes for double-stranded RNA binding proteins 1 and 2 (DRB1andDRB2), two genes encoding nuclear proteins with tandem DSRMs in the ciliateTetrahymena thermophila.Both proteins are expressed throughout growth and development but exhibit distinct peaks of expression, suggesting different biological roles. In support of this, we show that expression ofDRB2is essential for vegetative growth whileDRB1expression is not. During conjugation, Drb1p and Drb2p localize to distinct nuclear foci. Cells lacking allDRB1copies are able to produce viable progeny, although at a reduced rate relative to wild-type cells. In contrast, cells lacking germ lineDRB2copies, which thus cannot express Drb2p zygotically, fail to produce progeny, arresting late into conjugation. This arrest phenotype is accompanied by a failure to organize the essential DNA rearrangement protein Pdd1p into DNA elimination bodies and execute DNA elimination and chromosome breakage. These results implicate zygotically expressed Drb2p in the maturation of these nuclear structures, which are necessary for reorganization of the somatic genome.

scholarly journals Complete Chloroplast Genome of Fokienia hodginsii (Dunn) Henry et Thomas: Insights into Repeat Regions Variation and Phylogenetic Relationships in Cupressophyta

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingyue Zang ◽  
Qian Su ◽  
Yuhao Weng ◽  
Lu Lu ◽  
Xueyan Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chloroplast Genome ◽  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Genomic Structure ◽  
Gc Content ◽  
Reference Value ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Complete Chloroplast Genome ◽  
History Of

Fokienia hodginsii (Dunn) Henry et Thomas is a relic gymnosperm with broad application value. It is a fit candidate when choosing species for the construction of artificial forests. We determined the complete chloroplast genome sequence of F. hodginsii, which is 129,534 bp in length and encodes 83 protein genes, 33 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, as well as four ribosomal RNA genes. The GC content of the complete sequence and protein coding regions is 34.8% and 36.2%, respectively. We identified 11 tandem repeats, 11 forward repeats, and three palindromic repeats and classified them by size. Following our microsatellite analysis, a total number of 73 simple sequence repeats were detected, preferentially within the intergenic space. Being a member of Cupressophyta, F. hodginsii owns several common characters; the trnR-CCG gene has been deleted, while the trnI-CAU and trnQ-UUG genes have been duplicated. Moreover, the accD gene, which encodes acetyl-CoA carboxylase, contains 771 codons in F. hodginsii, similar to Cryptomeria japonica (L. F.) D. Don, further supporting the diversity of accD and its size expansion in Cupressophyta. Concerning the loss of inverted repeat (IR) regions, the 86-bp sequence with the duplicated trnI-CAU gene is inferred to be the footprint of IR contraction. Phylogenetically, F. hodginsii is placed as a sister taxon to Chamaecyparis hodginsii (Dunn) Rushforth. This work offers meaningful guidance as well as reference value to the breeding research and improvement of F. hodginsii. Moreover, it gives us a better understanding of the genomic structure and evolutionary history of gymnosperms, especially coniferales.

scholarly journals Elimination of Foreign DNA during Somatic Differentiation in Tetrahymena thermophila Shows Position Effect and Is Dosage Dependent

2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifan Liu ◽  
Xiaoyuan Song ◽  
Martin A. Gorovsky ◽  
Kathleen M. Karrer
Keyword(s):  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Position Effect ◽  
Dna Elimination ◽  
Internal Eliminated Sequences ◽  
Somatic Genome ◽  
Foreign Dna

ABSTRACT In the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, approximately 15% of the germ line micronuclear DNA sequences are eliminated during formation of the somatic macronucleus. The vast majority of the internal eliminated sequences (IESs) are repeated in the micronuclear genome, and several of them resemble transposable elements. Thus, it has been suggested that DNA elimination evolved as a means for removing invading DNAs. In the present study, bacterial neo genes introduced into the germ line micronuclei were eliminated from the somatic genome. The efficiency of elimination from two different loci increased dramatically with the copy number of the neo genes in the micronuclei. The timing of neo elimination is similar to that of endogenous IESs, and they both produce bidirectional transcripts of the eliminated element, suggesting that the deletion of neo occurred by the same mechanism as elimination of endogenous IESs. These results indicate that repetition of an element in the micronucleus enhances the efficiency of its elimination from the newly formed somatic genome of Tetrahymena thermophila. The implications of these data in relation to the function and mechanism of IES elimination are discussed.

scholarly journals Transcribed germline-limited coding sequences in Oxytricha trifallax

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard V Miller ◽  
Rafik Neme ◽  
Derek M Clay ◽  
Jananan S Pathmanathan ◽  
Michael W Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Genome Rearrangement ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Developmentally Regulated ◽  
Noncoding Dna ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Coding Sequences ◽  
Dna Elimination ◽  
Nuclear Development

Abstract The germline-soma divide is a fundamental distinction in developmental biology, and different genes are expressed in germline and somatic cells throughout metazoan life cycles. Ciliates, a group of microbial eukaryotes, exhibit germline-somatic nuclear dimorphism within a single cell with two different genomes. The ciliate Oxytricha trifallax undergoes massive RNA-guided DNA elimination and genome rearrangement to produce a new somatic macronucleus (MAC) from a copy of the germline micronucleus (MIC). This process eliminates noncoding DNA sequences that interrupt genes and also deletes hundreds of germline-limited open reading frames (ORFs) that are transcribed during genome rearrangement. Here, we update the set of transcribed germline-limited ORFs (TGLOs) in O. trifallax. We show that TGLOs tend to be expressed during nuclear development and then are absent from the somatic MAC. We also demonstrate that exposure to synthetic RNA can reprogram TGLO retention in the somatic MAC and that TGLO retention leads to transcription outside the normal developmental program. These data suggest that TGLOs represent a group of developmentally regulated protein-coding sequences whose gene expression is terminated by DNA elimination.

scholarly journals Complete Mitochondrial DNA Genome of Nine Species of Sharks and Rays and Their Phylogenetic Placement among Modern Elasmobranchs

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 324
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Kousteni ◽  
Sofia Mazzoleni ◽  
Katerina Vasileiadou ◽  
Michail Rovatsos
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Protein Coding Genes ◽  
Phylogenetic Placement ◽  
Statistical Support ◽  
History Of ◽  
High Statistical Support

Chondrichthyes occupy a key position in the phylogeny of vertebrates. The complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of four species of sharks and five species of rays was obtained by whole genome sequencing (DNA-seq) in the Illumina HiSeq2500 platform. The arrangement and features of the genes in the assembled mitogenomes were identical to those found in vertebrates. Both Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) analyses were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among 172 species (including 163 mitogenomes retrieved from GenBank) based on the concatenated dataset of 13 individual protein coding genes. Both ML and BI analyses did not support the “Hypnosqualea” hypothesis and confirmed the monophyly of sharks and rays. The broad notion in shark phylogeny, namely the division of sharks into Galeomorphii and Squalomorphii and the monophyly of the eight shark orders, was also supported. The phylogenetic placement of all nine species sequenced in this study produced high statistical support values. The present study expands our knowledge on the systematics, genetic differentiation, and conservation genetics of the species studied, and contributes to our understanding of the evolutionary history of Chondrichthyes.

scholarly journals Autonomously Replicating Macronuclear DNA Pieces Are the Physical Basis of Genetic Coassortment Groups in Tetrahymena thermophila

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (3) ◽  
pp. 1119-1125
Author(s):  
Laura Wong ◽  
Lana Klionsky ◽  
Steve Wickert ◽  
Virginia Merriam ◽  
Eduardo Orias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Distribution ◽  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Physical Basis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Phenotypic Assortment ◽  
Somatic Genome

Abstract The macronucleus of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila contains a fragmented somatic genome consisting of several hundred identifiable chromosome pieces. These pieces are generated by site-specific fragmentation of the germline chromosomes and most of them are represented at an average of 45 copies per macronucleus. In the course of successive divisions of an initially heterozygous macronucleus, the random distribution of alleles of loci carried on these copies eventually generates macronuclei that are pure for one allele or the other. This phenomenon is called phenotypic assortment. We have previously reported the existence of loci that assort together (coassort) and hypothesized that these loci reside on the same macronuclear piece. The work reported here provides new, rigorous genetic support for the hypothesis that macronuclear autonomously replicating chromosome pieces are the physical basis of coassortment groups. Thus, coassortment allows the mapping of the somatic genome by purely genetic means. The data also strongly suggest that the random distribution of alleles in the Tetrahymena macronucleus is due to the random distribution of the MAC chromosome pieces that carry them.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document