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Hörandl E. Apomixis and the paradox of sex in plants. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 134:1-18. [PMID: 38497809 PMCID: PMC11161571 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The predominance of sex in eukaryotes, despite the high costs of meiosis and mating, remains an evolutionary enigma. Many theories have been proposed, none of them being conclusive on its own, and they are, in part, not well applicable to land plants. Sexual reproduction is obligate in embryophytes for the great majority of species. SCOPE This review compares the main forms of sexual and asexual reproduction in ferns and angiosperms, based on the generation cycling of sporophyte and gametophyte (leaving vegetative propagation aside). The benefits of sexual reproduction for maintenance of genomic integrity in comparison to asexuality are discussed in the light of developmental, evolutionary, genetic and phylogenetic studies. CONCLUSIONS Asexual reproduction represents modifications of the sexual pathway, with various forms of facultative sexuality. For sexual land plants, meiosis provides direct DNA repair mechanisms for oxidative damage in reproductive tissues. The ploidy alternations of meiosis-syngamy cycles and prolonged multicellular stages in the haploid phase in the gametophytes provide a high efficiency of purifying selection against recessive deleterious mutations. Asexual lineages might buffer effects of such mutations via polyploidy and can purge the mutational load via facultative sexuality. The role of organelle-nuclear genome compatibility for maintenance of genome integrity is not well understood. In plants in general, the costs of mating are low because of predominant hermaphroditism. Phylogenetic patterns in the archaeplastid clade suggest that high frequencies of sexuality in land plants are concomitant with a stepwise increase of intrinsic and extrinsic stress factors. Furthermore, expansion of genome size in land plants would increase the potential mutational load. Sexual reproduction appears to be essential for keeping long-term genomic integrity, and only rare combinations of extrinsic and intrinsic factors allow for shifts to asexuality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Hörandl
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with herbarium), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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2
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Uruén C, Fernandez A, Arnal JL, Del Pozo M, Amoribieta MC, de Blas I, Jurado P, Calvo JH, Gottschalk M, González-Vázquez LD, Arenas M, Marín CM, Arenas J. Genomic and phenotypic analysis of invasive Streptococcus suis isolated in Spain reveals genetic diversification and associated virulence traits. Vet Res 2024; 55:11. [PMID: 38268053 PMCID: PMC10807230 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01267-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen that causes a major health problem in the pig production industry worldwide. Spain is one of the largest pig producers in the world. This work aimed to investigate the genetic and phenotypic features of invasive S. suis isolates recovered in Spain. A panel of 156 clinical isolates recovered from 13 Autonomous Communities, representing the major pig producers, were analysed. MLST and serotyping analysis revealed that most isolates (61.6%) were assigned to ST1 (26.3%), ST123 (18.6%), ST29 (9.6%), and ST3 (7.1%). Interestingly, 34 new STs were identified, indicating the emergence of novel genetic lineages. Serotypes 9 (27.6%) and 1 (21.8%) prevailed, followed by serotypes 7 (12.8%) and 2 (12.2%). Analysis of 13 virulence-associated genes showed significant associations between ST, serotype, virulence patterns, and clinical features, evidencing particular virulence traits associated with genetic clusters. The pangenome was generated, and the core genome was distributed in 7 Bayesian groups where each group included a variable set of over- and under-represented genes of different categories. The study provides comprehensive data and knowledge to improve the design of new vaccines, antimicrobial treatments, and bacterial typing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Uruén
- Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-Center of Research and Technology of Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Fernandez
- Exopol. Veterinary Diagnostic and Autogenous Vaccine Laboratory, San Mateo de Gállego, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Luis Arnal
- Exopol. Veterinary Diagnostic and Autogenous Vaccine Laboratory, San Mateo de Gállego, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | | | - Ignacio de Blas
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-Center of Research and Technology of Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Paula Jurado
- Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-Center of Research and Technology of Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jorge Hugo Calvo
- Department of Animal Science, Center of Research and Technology of Aragón CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
- ARAID, Saragossa, Spain
| | - Marcelo Gottschalk
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Production Animals and Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | | | - Miguel Arenas
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
- CINBIO, Vigo, Spain
| | - Clara M Marín
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-Center of Research and Technology of Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Science, Center of Research and Technology of Aragón CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jesús Arenas
- Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-Center of Research and Technology of Aragón (CITA), Zaragoza, Spain.
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3
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Uruén C, Gimeno J, Sanz M, Fraile L, Marín CM, Arenas J. Invasive Streptococcus suis isolated in Spain contain a highly promiscuous and dynamic resistome. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 13:1329632. [PMID: 38317790 PMCID: PMC10839070 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1329632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Streptococcus suis is a major pathogen for swine and human. Here we aimed to know the rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in invasive S. suis isolates recovered along Spain between 2016 - 2021 and elucidate their genetic origin. Methods Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for 116 isolates of different genetic backgrounds and geographic origins against 18 antibiotics of 9 families. The association between AMR and genotypes and the origin of the isolates were statistically analyzed using Pearson´s chi-square test and the likelihood ratio. The antimicrobial resistant genes were identified by whole genome sequencing analysis and PCR screenings. Results High AMR rates (>80%) were detected for tetracyclines, spectinomycin, lincosamides, and marbofloxacin, medium (20-40%) for sulphonamides/trimethoprim, tiamulin, penicillin G, and enrofloxacin, and low (< 20%) for florfenicol, and four additional β-lactams. The occurrence of multidrug resistance was observed in 90% of isolates. For certain antibiotics (penicillin G, enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin, tilmicosin, and erythromycin), AMR was significantly associated with particular sequence types (STs), geographic regions, age of pigs, and time course. Whole genome sequencing comparisons and PCR screenings identified 23 AMR genes, of which 19 were previously reported in S. suis (aph(3')-IIIa, sat4, aadE, spw, aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'')-Ia, fexA, optrA, erm(B), mef(A/E), mrs(D), mph(C), lnu(B), lsa(E), vga(F), tet(M), tet(O), tet(O/W/32/O), tet(W)), and 4 were novel (aph(2'')-IIIa, apmA, erm(47), tet(T)). These AMR genes explained the AMR to spectinomycin, macrolides, lincosamides, tiamulin, and tetracyclines. Several genes were located on mobile genetic elements which showed a variable organization and composition. As AMR gene homologs were identified in many human and animal pathogens, the resistome of S. suis has a different phylogenetic origin. Moreover, AMR to penicillin G, fluoroquinolones, and trimethoprim related to mutations in genes coding for target enzymes (pbp1a, pbp2b, pbp2x, mraY, gyrA, parC, and dhfr). Bioinformatic analysis estimated traits of recombination on target genes, also indicative of gene transfer events. Conclusions Our work evidences that S. suis is a major contributor to AMR dissemination across veterinary and human pathogens. Therefore, control of AMR in S. suis should be considered from a One Health approach in regions with high pig production to properly tackle the issue of antimicrobial drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Uruén
- Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jorge Gimeno
- Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marina Sanz
- Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Fraile
- Department of Animal Science, ETSEA, University of Lleida-Agrotecno, Lleida, Spain
| | - Clara M. Marín
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Animal Production and Health, CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jesús Arenas
- Unit of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute Agrofood of Aragón-IA2, University of Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
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Riaz Z, Hussain M, Parveen S, Sultana M, Saeed S, Ishaque U, Faiz Z, Tayyab M. In Silico Analysis: Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization and Evolutionary Adaptations of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) Gene Family in Homo sapiens. Mol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s12033-023-00944-3. [PMID: 37914865 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00944-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
We systematically analyzed BMP gene family in H. sapiens to elucidate genetic structure, phylogenetic relationships, adaptive evolution and tissue-specific expression pattern. Total of 13 BMPs genes were identified in the H. sapiens genome. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are composed of a variable number of exons ranging from 2 to 21. They exhibit a molecular weight ranging from 31,081.81 to 82,899.61 Da. These proteins possess hydrophilic characteristics, display thermostability, and exhibit a pH range from acidic to basic. We identified four segmental and two tandem duplication events in BMP gene family of H. sapiens. All of the vertebrate species that were studied show the presence of BMPs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8A, and 15, however only Homo sapiens demonstrated the presence of BMP9 and BMP11. The pathway and process enrichment analysis of BMPs genes showed that these were considerably enriched in positive regulation of pathway-restricted SMAD protein phosphorylation (92%) and cartilage development (77%) biological processes. These genes exhibited positive selection signals that were shown to be conserved across vertebrate lineages. The results showed that BMP2/3/5/6/8a/15 proteins underwent adaptive selection at many amino acid locations and increased positive selection was detected in TGF-β propeptide and TGF-β super family domains which were involved in dorso-ventral patterning, limb bud development. More over the expression pattern of BMP genes revealed that BMP1 and BMP5; BMP4 and BMP6 exhibited substantially identical expression patterns in all tissues while BMP10, BMP15, and BMP3 showed tissue-specific expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Riaz
- Department of Zoology, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hussain
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Shakeela Parveen
- Department of Zoology, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan.
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
| | - Mehwish Sultana
- Department of Zoology, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Saba Saeed
- Department of Zoology, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
- Institue of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Urwah Ishaque
- Department of Zoology, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Zunaira Faiz
- Department of Zoology, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tayyab
- Department of Zoology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
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Wang Y, Xu Y, Liao F, Li T, Li X, Wu B, Hong SB, Xu K, Zang Y, Zheng W. Genome-wide identification of GH9 gene family and the assessment of its role during fruit abscission zone formation in Vaccinium ashei. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 42:1589-1609. [PMID: 37474780 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03049-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE The genomic location and stage-specific expression pattern of GH9 genes reveal their critical roles during fruit abscission zone formation in Vaccinium ashei. Glycosyl hydrolase family 9 (GH9) cellulases play a crucial role in both cellulose synthesis and hydrolysis during plant growth and development. Despite this importance, there is currently no study on the involvement of GH9-encoding genes, specifically VaGH9s, in abscission zone formation of rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei). In this study, we identified a total of 61 VaGH9s in the genome, which can be classified into 3 subclasses based on conserved motifs and domains, gene structures, and phylogenetic analyses. Our synteny analysis revealed that VaGH9s are more closely related to the GH9s of Populus L. than to those of Arabidopsis, Vitis vinifera, and Citrus sinensis. In silico structural analysis predicted that most of VaGH9s are hydrophilic, and localized in cell membrane and/or cell wall, and the variable sets of cis-acting regulatory elements and functional diversity with four categories of stress response, hormone regulation, growth and development, and transcription factor-related elements are present in the promoter sequence of VaGH9s genes. Transcriptomic analysis showed that there were 22 differentially expressed VaGH9s in fruit abscission zone tissue at the veraison stage, and the expression of VaGH9B2 and VaGH9C10 was continuously increased during fruit maturation, which were in parallel with the increasing levels of cellulase activity and oxidative stress indicators, suggesting that they are involved in the separation stage of fruit abscission in Vaccinium ashei. Our work identified 22 VaGH9s potentially involved in different stages of fruit abscission and would aid further investigation into the molecular regulation of abscission in rabbiteye blueberries fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yue Xu
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fangfang Liao
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ting Li
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaolong Li
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Boping Wu
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Seung-Beom Hong
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, TX, 77058-1098, USA
| | - Kai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunxiang Zang
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weiwei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China.
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6
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Wang X, Zhang Z, Shi C, Wang Y, Zhou T, Lin A. Clinical prospects and research strategies of long non-coding RNA encoding micropeptides. Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2023; 52:397-405. [PMID: 37643974 PMCID: PMC10495248 DOI: 10.3724/zdxbyxb-2023-0128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) which are usually thought to have no protein coding ability, are widely involved in cell proliferation, signal transduction and other biological activities. However, recent studies have suggested that short open reading frames (sORFs) of some lncRNAs can encode small functional peptides (micropeptides). These micropeptides appear to play important roles in calcium homeostasis, embryonic development and tumorigenesis, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. Currently, bioinformatic tools as well as experimental methods such as ribosome mapping and in vitro translation are applied to predict the coding potential of lncRNAs. Furthermore, mass spectrometry, specific antibodies and epitope tags are used for validating the expression of micropeptides. Here, we review the physiological and pathological functions of recently identified micropeptides as well as research strategies for predicting the coding potential of lncRNAs to facilitate the further research of lncRNA encoded micropeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Zhen Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chengyu Shi
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Tianhua Zhou
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou 310058, China.
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Center for RNA Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Jinhua 322000, Zhejiang Province, China.
- Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Aifu Lin
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou 310058, China.
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Center for RNA Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Jinhua 322000, Zhejiang Province, China.
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7
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Del Amparo R, Arenas M. Influence of substitution model selection on protein phylogenetic tree reconstruction. Gene 2023; 865:147336. [PMID: 36871672 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Probabilistic phylogenetic tree reconstruction is traditionally performed under a best-fitting substitution model of molecular evolution previously selected according to diverse statistical criteria. Interestingly, some recent studies proposed that this procedure is unnecessary for phylogenetic tree reconstruction leading to a debate in the field. In contrast to DNA sequences, phylogenetic tree reconstruction from protein sequences is traditionally based on empirical exchangeability matrices that can differ among taxonomic groups and protein families. Considering this aspect, here we investigated the influence of selecting a substitution model of protein evolution on phylogenetic tree reconstruction by the analyses of real and simulated data. We found that phylogenetic tree reconstructions based on a selected best-fitting substitution model of protein evolution are the most accurate, in terms of topology and branch lengths, compared with those derived from substitution models with amino acid replacement matrices far from the selected best-fitting model, especially when the data has large genetic diversity. Indeed, we found that substitution models with similar amino acid replacement matrices produce similar reconstructed phylogenetic trees, suggesting the use of substitution models as similar as possible to a selected best-fitting model when the latter cannot be used. Therefore, we recommend the use of the traditional protocol of selection among substitution models of evolution for protein phylogenetic tree reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Del Amparo
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain; Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
| | - Miguel Arenas
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain; Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain; Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), 36310 Vigo, Spain.
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8
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González-Vázquez LD, Arenas M. Molecular Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:407. [PMID: 36833334 PMCID: PMC9956206 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) produced diverse molecular variants during its recent expansion in humans that caused different transmissibility and severity of the associated disease as well as resistance to monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal sera, among other treatments. In order to understand the causes and consequences of the observed SARS-CoV-2 molecular diversity, a variety of recent studies investigated the molecular evolution of this virus during its expansion in humans. In general, this virus evolves with a moderate rate of evolution, in the order of 10-3-10-4 substitutions per site and per year, which presents continuous fluctuations over time. Despite its origin being frequently associated with recombination events between related coronaviruses, little evidence of recombination was detected, and it was mostly located in the spike coding region. Molecular adaptation is heterogeneous among SARS-CoV-2 genes. Although most of the genes evolved under purifying selection, several genes showed genetic signatures of diversifying selection, including a number of positively selected sites that affect proteins relevant for the virus replication. Here, we review current knowledge about the molecular evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, including the emergence and establishment of variants of concern. We also clarify relationships between the nomenclatures of SARS-CoV-2 lineages. We conclude that the molecular evolution of this virus should be monitored over time for predicting relevant phenotypic consequences and designing future efficient treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Daniel González-Vázquez
- Biomedical Research Center (CINBIO), University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Miguel Arenas
- Biomedical Research Center (CINBIO), University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), 36310 Vigo, Spain
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9
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Moreira F, Arenas M, Videira A, Pereira F. Evolution of TOP1 and TOP1MT Topoisomerases in Chordata. J Mol Evol 2023; 91:192-203. [PMID: 36651963 PMCID: PMC10081982 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-022-10091-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Type IB topoisomerases relax the torsional stress associated with DNA metabolism in the nucleus and mitochondria and constitute important molecular targets of anticancer drugs. Vertebrates stand out among eukaryotes by having two Type IB topoisomerases acting specifically in the nucleus (TOP1) and mitochondria (TOP1MT). Despite their major importance, the origin and evolution of these paralogues remain unknown. Here, we examine the molecular evolutionary processes acting on both TOP1 and TOP1MT in Chordata, taking advantage of the increasing number of available genome sequences. We found that both TOP1 and TOP1MT evolved under strong purifying selection, as expected considering their essential biological functions. Critical active sites, including those associated with resistance to anticancer agents, were found particularly conserved. However, TOP1MT presented a higher rate of molecular evolution than TOP1, possibly related with its specialized activity on the mitochondrial genome and a less critical role in cells. We could place the duplication event that originated the TOP1 and TOP1MT paralogues early in the radiation of vertebrates, most likely associated with the first round of vertebrate tetraploidization (1R). Moreover, our data suggest that cyclostomes present a specialized mitochondrial Type IB topoisomerase. Interestingly, we identified two missense mutations replacing amino acids in the Linker region of TOP1MT in Neanderthals, which appears as a rare event when comparing the genome of both species. In conclusion, TOP1 and TOP1MT differ in their rates of evolution, and their evolutionary histories allowed us to better understand the evolution of chordates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Moreira
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos S/N 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Arenas
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Arnaldo Videira
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipe Pereira
- IDENTIFICA Genetic Testing, Rua Simão Bolívar 259 3º Dir Tras, 4470-214, Maia, Portugal.
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
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10
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Adaptive Evolution of the OAS Gene Family Provides New Insights into the Antiviral Ability of Laurasiatherian Mammals. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13020209. [PMID: 36670749 PMCID: PMC9854896 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Many mammals risk damage from virus invasion due to frequent environmental changes. The oligoadenylate synthesis (OAS) gene family, which is an important component of the immune system, provides an essential response to the antiviral activities of interferons by regulating immune signal pathways. However, little is known about the evolutionary characteristics of OASs in Laurasiatherian mammals. Here, we examined the evolution of the OAS genes in 64 mammals to explore the accompanying molecular mechanisms of the antiviral ability of Laurasiatherian mammals living in different environments. We found that OAS2 and OAS3 were found to be pseudogenes in Odontoceti species. This may be related to the fact that they live in water. Some Antilopinae, Caprinae, and Cervidae species lacked the OASL gene, which may be related to their habitats being at higher altitudes. The OASs had a high number of positive selection sites in Cetartiodactyla, which drove the expression of strong antiviral ability. The OAS gene family evolved in Laurasiatherian mammals at different rates and was highly correlated with the species' antiviral ability. The gene evolution rate in Cetartiodactyla was significantly higher than that in the other orders. Compared to other species of the Carnivora family, the higher selection pressure on the OAS gene and the absence of positive selection sites in Canidae may be responsible for its weak resistance to rabies virus. The OAS gene family was relatively conserved during evolution. Conserved genes are able to provide better maintenance of gene function. The rate of gene evolution and the number of positively selected sites combine to influence the resistance of a species to viruses. The positive selection sites demonstrate the adaptive evolution of the OAS gene family to the environment. Adaptive evolution combined with conserved gene function improves resistance to viruses. Our findings offer insights into the molecular and functional evolution of the antiviral ability of Laurasian mammals.
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11
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Del Amparo R, González-Vázquez LD, Rodríguez-Moure L, Bastolla U, Arenas M. Consequences of Genetic Recombination on Protein Folding Stability. J Mol Evol 2023; 91:33-45. [PMID: 36463317 PMCID: PMC9849154 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-022-10080-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Genetic recombination is a common evolutionary mechanism that produces molecular diversity. However, its consequences on protein folding stability have not attracted the same attention as in the case of point mutations. Here, we studied the effects of homologous recombination on the computationally predicted protein folding stability for several protein families, finding less detrimental effects than we previously expected. Although recombination can affect multiple protein sites, we found that the fraction of recombined proteins that are eliminated by negative selection because of insufficient stability is not significantly larger than the corresponding fraction of proteins produced by mutation events. Indeed, although recombination disrupts epistatic interactions, the mean stability of recombinant proteins is not lower than that of their parents. On the other hand, the difference of stability between recombined proteins is amplified with respect to the parents, promoting phenotypic diversity. As a result, at least one third of recombined proteins present stability between those of their parents, and a substantial fraction have higher or lower stability than those of both parents. As expected, we found that parents with similar sequences tend to produce recombined proteins with stability close to that of the parents. Finally, the simulation of protein evolution along the ancestral recombination graph with empirical substitution models commonly used in phylogenetics, which ignore constraints on protein folding stability, showed that recombination favors the decrease of folding stability, supporting the convenience of adopting structurally constrained models when possible for inferences of protein evolutionary histories with recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Del Amparo
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain ,Departamento de Bioquímica, Genética e Inmunología, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Luis Daniel González-Vázquez
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain ,Departamento de Bioquímica, Genética e Inmunología, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Laura Rodríguez-Moure
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain ,Departamento de Bioquímica, Genética e Inmunología, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Ugo Bastolla
- Centre for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Arenas
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain ,Departamento de Bioquímica, Genética e Inmunología, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain ,Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), 36310 Vigo, Spain
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12
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Paetzold C, Barke BH, Hörandl E. Evolution of Transcriptomes in Early-Generation Hybrids of the Apomictic Ranunculus auricomus Complex ( Ranunculaceae). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213881. [PMID: 36430360 PMCID: PMC9697309 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybridisation in plants may cause a shift from sexual to asexual seed formation (apomixis). Indeed, natural apomictic plants are usually hybrids, but it is still unclear how hybridisation could trigger the shift to apomixis. The genome evolution of older apomictic lineages is influenced by diverse processes such as polyploidy, mutation accumulation, and allelic sequence divergence. To disentangle the effects of hybridisation from these other factors, we analysed the transcriptomes of flowering buds from artificially produced, diploid F2 hybrids of the Ranunculus auricomus complex. The hybrids exhibited unreduced embryo sac formation (apospory) as one important component of apomixis, whereas their parental species were sexual. We revealed 2915 annotated single-copy genes that were mostly under purifying selection according to dN/dS ratios. However, pairwise comparisons revealed, after rigorous filtering, 79 genes under diversifying selection between hybrids and parents, whereby gene annotation assigned ten of them to reproductive processes. Four genes belong to the meiosis-sporogenesis phase (ASY1, APC1, MSP1, and XRI1) and represent, according to literature records, candidate genes for apospory. We conclude that hybridisation could combine novel (or existing) mutations in key developmental genes in certain hybrid lineages, and establish (together with altered gene expression profiles, as observed in other studies) a heritable regulatory mechanism for aposporous development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Paetzold
- Department of Botany and Molecular Evolution, Senckenberg Research Institute, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Birthe H. Barke
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), University of Goettingen, 37073 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Elvira Hörandl
- Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants (with Herbarium), University of Goettingen, 37073 Goettingen, Germany
- Correspondence:
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13
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Wang J, Hsu KC, Chen YH, Zhao J, Tang WQ, Liu D, Yang JQ, Lin HD. Phylogeography of Tridentiger bifasciatus (Gobiidae) in the Northwestern Pacific. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.935251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The shimofuri goby (Tridentiger bifasciatus) is native to marine, brackish, and fresh waters along the coasts of the northwest Pacific. Our study examined the population genetic structure, diversity, and demography of T. bifasciatus in the China Seas, including the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, using the sequences of mitochondrial DNA [mtDNA cytochrome b (cyt b) gene and d-loop region] and nuclear DNA [nuDNA ryanodine receptor 3 (Ryr3) gene]. The mtDNA dataset revealed a significant population differentiation, but the nuDNA dataset displayed the absence of genetic differentiation. The discordance between these two datasets was accounted for by population admixture, selection, and incomplete lineage sorting. Although the mtDNA and nuDNA displayed a discordant population structure, these genetic markers revealed the same population history: (1) the populations retreated into two refugia during glaciations and (2) the populations declined recently. Our study revealed that after glaciations, the re-flooding in Taiwan Strait did not shape the migrations of the southern lineage from the South China Sea to the East China Sea, and displayed that two mtDNA lineages have diverged before they migrated southward during glaciations. These results offer important resources for the further study of conservation genetics.
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14
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Moreira F, Arenas M, Videira A, Pereira F. Evolutionary History of TOPIIA Topoisomerases in Animals. J Mol Evol 2022; 90:149-165. [PMID: 35165762 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-022-10048-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
TOPIIA topoisomerases are required for the regulation of DNA topology by DNA cleavage and re-ligation and are important targets of antibiotic and anticancer agents. Humans possess two TOPIIA paralogue genes (TOP2A and TOP2B) with high sequence and structural similarity but distinct cellular functions. Despite their functional and clinical relevance, the evolutionary history of TOPIIA is still poorly understood. Here we show that TOPIIA is highly conserved in Metazoa. We also found that TOPIIA paralogues from jawed and jawless vertebrates had different origins related with tetraploidization events. After duplication, TOP2B evolved under a stronger purifying selection than TOP2A, perhaps promoted by the more specialized role of TOP2B in postmitotic cells. We also detected genetic signatures of positive selection in the highly variable C-terminal domain (CTD), possibly associated with adaptation to cellular interactions. By comparing TOPIIA from modern and archaic humans, we found two amino acid substitutions in the TOP2A CTD, suggesting that TOP2A may have contributed to the evolution of present-day humans, as proposed for other cell cycle-related genes. Finally, we identified six residues conferring resistance to chemotherapy differing between TOP2A and TOP2B. These six residues could be targets for the development of TOP2A-specific inhibitors that would avoid the side effects caused by inhibiting TOP2B. Altogether, our findings clarify the origin, diversification and selection pressures governing the evolution of animal TOPIIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Moreira
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Arenas
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
- CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
- Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Arnaldo Videira
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipe Pereira
- IDENTIFICA Genetic Testing, Rua Simão Bolívar 259 3º Dir Tras, 4470-214, Maia, Portugal.
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
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15
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Duarte MA, Fernandes CR, Heckel G, da Luz Mathias M, Bastos-Silveira C. Variation and Selection in the Putative Sperm-Binding Region of ZP3 in Muroid Rodents: A Comparison between Cricetids and Murines. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12091450. [PMID: 34573431 PMCID: PMC8469249 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 (ZP3) is considered a primary sperm receptor of the oocyte and is hypothesized to be involved in reproductive isolation. We investigated patterns of diversity and selection in the putative sperm-binding region (pSBR) of mouse ZP3 across Cricetidae and Murinae, two hyperdiverse taxonomic groups within muroid rodents. In murines, the pSBR is fairly conserved, in particular the serine-rich stretch containing the glycosylation sites proposed as essential for sperm binding. In contrast, cricetid amino acid sequences of the pSBR were much more variable and the serine-rich motif, typical of murines, was generally substantially modified. Overall, our results suggest a general lack of species specificity of the pSBR across the two muroid families. We document statistical evidence of positive selection acting on exons 6 and 7 of ZP3 and identified several amino acid sites that are likely targets of selection, with most positively selected sites falling within or adjacent to the pSBR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Alexandra Duarte
- Champalimaud Centre for the Uknown, Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal
- Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politécnica, 58, Lisboa, 1250-102 Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Centro de Estudos de Ambiente e Mar, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Carlos Rodríguez Fernandes
- cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.R.F.); (C.B.-S.)
- Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gerald Heckel
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland;
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Quartier Sorge-Batiment Amphipole, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maria da Luz Mathias
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Centro de Estudos de Ambiente e Mar, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Cristiane Bastos-Silveira
- cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.R.F.); (C.B.-S.)
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16
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Arenas M. ProteinEvolverABC: coestimation of recombination and substitution rates in protein sequences by approximate Bayesian computation. Bioinformatics 2021; 38:58-64. [PMID: 34450622 PMCID: PMC8696103 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION The evolutionary processes of mutation and recombination, upon which selection operates, are fundamental to understand the observed molecular diversity. Unlike nucleotide sequences, the estimation of the recombination rate in protein sequences has been little explored, neither implemented in evolutionary frameworks, despite protein sequencing methods are largely used. RESULTS In order to accommodate this need, here I present a computational framework, called ProteinEvolverABC, to jointly estimate recombination and substitution rates from alignments of protein sequences. The framework implements the approximate Bayesian computation approach, with and without regression adjustments and includes a variety of substitution models of protein evolution, demographics and longitudinal sampling. It also implements several nuisance parameters such as heterogeneous amino acid frequencies and rate of change among sites and, proportion of invariable sites. The framework produces accurate coestimation of recombination and substitution rates under diverse evolutionary scenarios. As illustrative examples of usage, I applied it to several viral protein families, including coronaviruses, showing heterogeneous substitution and recombination rates. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION ProteinEvolverABC is freely available from https://github.com/miguelarenas/proteinevolverabc, includes a graphical user interface for helping the specification of the input settings, extensive documentation and ready-to-use examples. Conveniently, the simulations can run in parallel on multicore machines. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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17
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Moreira F, Arenas M, Videira A, Pereira F. Molecular Evolution of DNA Topoisomerase III Beta (TOP3B) in Metazoa. J Mol Evol 2021; 89:384-395. [PMID: 33999213 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-10011-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase III beta (TOP3B) is unique by operating on both DNA and RNA substrates to regulate gene expression and genomic stability. Mutations in human TOP3B are linked to neurodevelopmental and cognitive disorders, highlighting its relevance for human health. Despite the emerging importance of TOP3B, its precise cellular functions and evolutionary history remain poorly understood. Here, we show that TOP3B is conserved across main metazoan groups and evolved under strong purifying selection. Subdomain IV was identified as the most conserved TOP3B region, in agreement with its role in providing the structural foundation of the protein. On the contrary, subdomain II is the less conserved, possibly because it is the most structurally flexible region of all TOP3B regions. Interestingly, TOP3B residue at position 472, previously associated with schizophrenia, is highly variable across animals, suggesting a more specific role in humans and related species. Finally, we show that all TOP3B CXXC zinc finger motifs previously identified at the protein C-terminal region are retained across metazoans. We also found that the two major methylation sites known to regulate TOP3B activity are located in the most conserved region of the C-terminal arginine-glycine-glycine (RGG) box, suggesting that a similar regulatory mechanism may operate throughout animals. Overall, our results provide a better understanding of the evolution and functional roles of TOP3B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Moreira
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel Arenas
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain.,Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CINBIO), Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain.,Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Arnaldo Videira
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipe Pereira
- IDENTIFICA Genetic Testing, Rua Simão Bolívar 259 3º Dir Tras, 4470-214, Maia, Portugal. .,Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
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