Comparative Mitogenomic Analysis of Two Cuckoo Bees (Apoidea: Anthophila: Megachilidae) with Phylogenetic Implications

Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea and Anthophila) are distributed worldwide and considered the primary pollinators of angiosperm. Megachilidae is one of the largest families of Anthophila. In this study, two complete mitogenomes of cuckoo bees in Megachilidae, namely Coelioxys fenestrata and Euaspis polynesia, were amplified and sequenced, with a length of 17,004 bp (C. fenestrata) and 17,682 bp (E. polynesia). The obtained results show that 37 mitogenomic genes and one putative control region were conserved within Hymenoptera. Truncated stop codon T was found in the cox3 gene of E. polynesia. The secondary structure of small (rrnS) and large (rrnL) rRNA subunits contained three domains (28 helices) and five domains (44 helices) conserved within Hymenoptera, respectively. Compared with ancestral gene order, gene rearrangement events included local inversion and gene shuffling. In order to reveal the phylogenetic position of cuckoo bees, we performed phylogenetic analysis. The results supported that all families of Anthophila were monophyletic, the tribe-level relationship of Megachilidae was Osmiini + (Anthidiini + Megachilini) and Coelioxys fenestrata was clustered to the Megachile genus, which was more closely related to Megachile sculpturalis and Megachile strupigera than Euaspis polynesia.

From immune to olfactory expression: neofunctionalization of formyl peptide receptors

Variations in gene expression patterns represent a powerful source of evolutionary innovation. In a rodent living about 70 million years ago, a genomic accident led an immune formyl peptide receptor (FPR) gene to hijack a vomeronasal receptor regulatory sequence. This gene shuffling event forced an immune pathogen sensor to transition into an olfactory chemoreceptor, which thus moved from sensing the internal world to probing the outside world. We here discuss the evolution of the FPR gene family, the events that led to their neofunctionalization in the vomeronasal organ and the functions of immune and vomeronasal FPRs.

Synthetic Biology: Approaches, Opportunities, Applications and Challenges

Synthetic biology (SynBio) is a very vast field of research that produces new biological parts, appliances, and systems. It is the application of engineering principles to design and construct new bio-based biologicals, devices and systems that exhibit functions not present in nature or to redesign the existing systems to perform specific tasks. Synthetic biology varies from other disciplines including system biology, biotechnology and genetic engineering. For instance, while system biology focuses on obtaining a quantitative understanding of the naturally existing biology systems, the synthetic biology focuses on engineering, designing, and synthesis of new novel biological functions utilizing the biological information drawn from systems biology analysis. SB utilizes computer algorithms to alter genetic sequence before synthesizing them in the laboratory. Moreover, SB employed gene shuffling and refactoring tools that may alter thousands of genetic elements of an organism at once. In the present article, we aim to discuss the basic approaches of synthetic biology. Furthermore, the application of synthetic biology on biomedical science, drug discovery development, bioenergy and agriculture will also be discussed. Finally the challenges facing the researchers in the field of synthetic biology such as those technical, ethical and safety will be also highlighted.

Mobilization of Pack-CACTA transposons in Arabidopsis reveals the mechanism of gene shuffling

Pack-TYPE transposons are a unique class of potentially mobile non-autonomous elements that can capture, merge and relocate fragments of chromosomal DNA. It has been postulated that their activity accelerates the evolution of host genes. However, this important presumption is based only on the sequences of currently inactive Pack-TYPE transposons and the acquisition of chromosomal DNA has not been recorded in real time. We have now for the first time witnessed the mobilization of novel Pack-TYPE elements related to the CACTA transposon family over several plant generations. Remarkably, these elements tend to insert into genes as closely spaced direct repeats and they frequently undergo incomplete excisions, resulting in the deletion of one of the end sequences. These properties constitute a mechanism of efficient acquisition of genic DNA residing between neighbouring Pack-TYPE transposons and its subsequent mobilization. Our work documents crucial steps in the formation in vivo of novel Pack-TYPE transposons and thus the mechanism of gene shuffling mediated by this type of mobile element.