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Kadibalban AS, Landan G, Dagan T. The extent and characteristics of DNA transfer between plasmids and chromosomes. Curr Biol 2024; 34:3189-3200.e5. [PMID: 38964320 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.030] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Plasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements that reside in prokaryotes. The acquisition of plasmids encoding beneficial traits can facilitate short-term survival in harsh environmental conditions or long-term adaptation of new ecological niches. Due to their ability to transfer between cells, plasmids are considered agents of gene transfer. Nonetheless, the frequency of DNA transfer between plasmids and chromosomes remains understudied. Using a novel approach for detection of homologous loci between genome pairs, we uncover gene sharing with the chromosome in 1,974 (66%) plasmids residing in 1,016 (78%) taxonomically diverse isolates. The majority of homologous loci correspond to mobile elements, which may be duplicated in the host chromosomes in tens of copies. Neighboring shared genes often encode similar functional categories, indicating the transfer of multigene functional units. Rare transfer events of antibiotics resistance genes are observed mainly with mobile elements. The frequent erosion of sequence similarity in homologous regions indicates that the transferred DNA is often devoid of function. DNA transfer between plasmids and chromosomes thus generates genetic variation that is akin to workings of endosymbiotic gene transfer in eukaryotic evolution. Our findings imply that plasmid contribution to gene transfer most often corresponds to transfer of the plasmid entity rather than transfer of protein-coding genes between plasmids and chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Samer Kadibalban
- Institute of General Microbiology, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 11, Kiel 24118, Germany
| | - Giddy Landan
- Institute of General Microbiology, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 11, Kiel 24118, Germany
| | - Tal Dagan
- Institute of General Microbiology, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 11, Kiel 24118, Germany.
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2
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Zhang Z, Zhao J, Li J, Yao J, Wang B, Ma Y, Li N, Wang H, Wang T, Liu B, Gong L. Evolutionary trajectory of organelle-derived nuclear DNAs in the Triticum/Aegilops complex species. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 194:918-935. [PMID: 37847157 PMCID: PMC10828211 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Organelle-derived nuclear DNAs, nuclear plastid DNAs (NUPTs), and nuclear mitochondrial DNAs (NUMTs) have been identified in plants. Most, if not all, genes residing in NUPTs/NUMTs (NUPGs/NUMGs) are known to be inactivated and pseudogenized. However, the role of epigenetic control in silencing NUPGs/NUMGs and the dynamic evolution of NUPTs/NUMTs with respect to organismal phylogeny remain barely explored. Based on the available nuclear and organellar genomic resources of wheat (genus Triticum) and goat grass (genus Aegilops) within Triticum/Aegilops complex species, we investigated the evolutionary fates of NUPTs/NUMTs in terms of their epigenetic silencing and their dynamic occurrence rates in the nuclear diploid genomes and allopolyploid subgenomes. NUPTs and NUMTs possessed similar genomic atlas, including (i) predominantly located in intergenic regions and preferential integration to gene regulation regions and (ii) generating sequence variations in the nuclear genome. Unlike nuclear indigenous genes, the alien NUPGs/NUMGs were associated with repressive epigenetic signals, namely high levels of DNA methylation and low levels of active histone modifications. Phylogenomic analyses suggested that the species-specific and gradual accumulation of NUPTs/NUMTs accompanied the speciation processes. Moreover, based on further pan-genomic analyses, we found significant subgenomic asymmetry in the NUPT/NUMT occurrence, which accumulated during allopolyploid wheat evolution. Our findings provide insight into the dynamic evolutionary fates of organelle-derived nuclear DNA in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Juzuo Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Jinyang Yao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Yiqiao Ma
- Jilin Academy of Vegetable and Flower Science, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Ning Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Laboratory of Plant Epigenetics and Evolution, School of Life Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Tianya Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Bao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Lei Gong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
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3
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Namasivayam S, Sun C, Bah AB, Oberstaller J, Pierre-Louis E, Etheridge RD, Feschotte C, Pritham EJ, Kissinger JC. Massive invasion of organellar DNA drives nuclear genome evolution in Toxoplasma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308569120. [PMID: 37917792 PMCID: PMC10636329 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308569120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protist pathogen that infects up to one third of the human population. This apicomplexan parasite contains three genome sequences: nuclear (65 Mb); plastid organellar, ptDNA (35 kb); and mitochondrial organellar, mtDNA (5.9 kb of non-repetitive sequence). We find that the nuclear genome contains a significant amount of NUMTs (nuclear integrants of mitochondrial DNA) and NUPTs (nuclear integrants of plastid DNA) that are continuously acquired and represent a significant source of intraspecific genetic variation. NUOT (nuclear DNA of organellar origin) accretion has generated 1.6% of the extant T. gondii ME49 nuclear genome-the highest fraction ever reported in any organism. NUOTs are primarily found in organisms that retain the non-homologous end-joining repair pathway. Significant movement of organellar DNA was experimentally captured via amplicon sequencing of a CRISPR-induced double-strand break in non-homologous end-joining repair competent, but not ku80 mutant, Toxoplasma parasites. Comparisons with Neospora caninum, a species that diverged from Toxoplasma ~28 mya, revealed that the movement and fixation of five NUMTs predates the split of the two genera. This unexpected level of NUMT conservation suggests evolutionary constraint for cellular function. Most NUMT insertions reside within (60%) or nearby genes (23% within 1.5 kb), and reporter assays indicate that some NUMTs have the ability to function as cis-regulatory elements modulating gene expression. Together, these findings portray a role for organellar sequence insertion in dynamically shaping the genomic architecture and likely contributing to adaptation and phenotypic changes in this important human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cheng Sun
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX76019
| | - Assiatu B. Bah
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX76019
| | | | - Edwin Pierre-Louis
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA30602
| | - Ronald Drew Etheridge
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA30602
| | - Cedric Feschotte
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX76019
| | - Ellen J. Pritham
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX76019
| | - Jessica C. Kissinger
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Bioinformatics, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA30602
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4
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Chen Y, Guo Y, Xie X, Wang Z, Miao L, Yang Z, Jiao Y, Xie C, Liu J, Hu Z, Xin M, Yao Y, Ni Z, Sun Q, Peng H, Guo W. Pangenome-based trajectories of intracellular gene transfers in Poaceae unveil high cumulation in Triticeae. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 193:578-594. [PMID: 37249052 PMCID: PMC10469385 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular gene transfers (IGTs) between the nucleus and organelles, including plastids and mitochondria, constantly reshape the nuclear genome during evolution. Despite the substantial contribution of IGTs to genome variation, the dynamic trajectories of IGTs at the pangenomic level remain elusive. Here, we developed an approach, IGTminer, that maps the evolutionary trajectories of IGTs using collinearity and gene reannotation across multiple genome assemblies. We applied IGTminer to create a nuclear organellar gene (NOG) map across 67 genomes covering 15 Poaceae species, including important crops. The resulting NOGs were verified by experiments and sequencing data sets. Our analysis revealed that most NOGs were recently transferred and lineage specific and that Triticeae species tended to have more NOGs than other Poaceae species. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) had a higher retention rate of NOGs than maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa), and the retained NOGs were likely involved in photosynthesis and translation pathways. Large numbers of NOG clusters were aggregated in hexaploid wheat during 2 rounds of polyploidization, contributing to the genetic diversity among modern wheat accessions. We implemented an interactive web server to facilitate the exploration of NOGs in Poaceae. In summary, this study provides resources and insights into the roles of IGTs in shaping interspecies and intraspecies genome variation and driving plant genome evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongming Chen
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yiwen Guo
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoming Xie
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zihao Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lingfeng Miao
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhengzhao Yang
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuannian Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chaojie Xie
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhaorong Hu
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mingming Xin
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yingyin Yao
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhongfu Ni
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qixin Sun
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Huiru Peng
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Weilong Guo
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Taniguchi E, Satoh K, Ohkubo M, Ue S, Matsuhira H, Kuroda Y, Kubo T, Kitazaki K. Nuclear DNA segments homologous to mitochondrial DNA are obstacles for detecting heteroplasmy in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285430. [PMID: 37552681 PMCID: PMC10409277 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Heteroplasmy, the coexistence of multiple mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences in a cell, is well documented in plants. Next-generation sequencing technology (NGS) has made it feasible to sequence entire genomes. Thus, NGS has the potential to detect heteroplasmy; however, the methods and pitfalls in heteroplasmy detection have not been fully investigated and identified. One obstacle for heteroplasmy detection is the sequence homology between mitochondrial-, plastid-, and nuclear DNA, of which the influence of nuclear DNA segments homologous to mtDNA (numt) need to be minimized. To detect heteroplasmy, we first excluded nuclear DNA sequences of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) line EL10 from the sugar beet mtDNA sequence. NGS reads were obtained from single plants of sugar beet lines NK-195BRmm-O and NK-291BRmm-O and mapped to the unexcluded mtDNA regions. More than 1000 sites exhibited intra-individual polymorphism as detected by genome browsing analysis. We focused on a 309-bp region where 12 intra-individual polymorphic sites were closely linked to each other. Although the existence of DNA molecules having variant alleles at the 12 sites was confirmed by PCR amplification from NK-195BRmm-O and NK-291BRmm-O, these variants were not always called by six variant-calling programs, suggesting that these programs are inappropriate for intra-individual polymorphism detection. When we changed the nuclear DNA reference, a numt absent from EL10 was found to include the 309-bp region. Genetic segregation of an F2 population from NK-195BRmm-O x NK-291BRmm-O supported the numt origin of the variant alleles. Using four references, we found that numt detection exhibited reference dependency, and extreme polymorphism of numts exists among sugar beet lines. One of the identified numts absent from EL10 is also associated with another intra-individual polymorphic site in NK-195mm-O. Our data suggest that polymorphism among numts is unexpectedly high within sugar beets, leading to confusion about the true degree of heteroplasmy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eigo Taniguchi
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kosuke Satoh
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Megumi Ohkubo
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Sachiyo Ue
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Matsuhira
- Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Memuro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yosuke Kuroda
- Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Memuro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Kubo
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Kitazaki
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
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6
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Namasivayam S, Sun C, Bah AB, Oberstaller J, Pierre-Louis E, Etheridge RD, Feschotte C, Pritham EJ, Kissinger JC. Massive invasion of organellar DNA drives nuclear genome evolution in Toxoplasma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.22.539837. [PMID: 37293002 PMCID: PMC10245829 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.22.539837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protist pathogen that infects up to 1/3 of the human population. This apicomplexan parasite contains three genome sequences: nuclear (63 Mb); plastid organellar, ptDNA (35 kb); and mitochondrial organellar, mtDNA (5.9 kb of non-repetitive sequence). We find that the nuclear genome contains a significant amount of NUMTs (nuclear DNA of mitochondrial origin) and NUPTs (nuclear DNA of plastid origin) that are continuously acquired and represent a significant source of intraspecific genetic variation. NUOT (nuclear DNA of organellar origin) accretion has generated 1.6% of the extant T. gondii ME49 nuclear genome; the highest fraction ever reported in any organism. NUOTs are primarily found in organisms that retain the non-homologous end-joining repair pathway. Significant movement of organellar DNA was experimentally captured via amplicon sequencing of a CRISPR-induced double-strand break in non-homologous end-joining repair competent, but not ku80 mutant, Toxoplasma parasites. Comparisons with Neospora caninum, a species that diverged from Toxoplasma ~28 MY ago, revealed that the movement and fixation of 5 NUMTs predates the split of the two genera. This unexpected level of NUMT conservation suggests evolutionary constraint for cellular function. Most NUMT insertions reside within (60%) or nearby genes (23% within 1.5 kb) and reporter assays indicate that some NUMTs have the ability to function as cis-regulatory elements modulating gene expression. Together these findings portray a role for organellar sequence insertion in dynamically shaping the genomic architecture and likely contributing to adaptation and phenotypic changes in this important human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivaranjani Namasivayam
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Present address: Clinical Microbiome Unit, Laboratory of Host Immunity and Microbiome, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Cheng Sun
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; Present address: College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Assiatu B Bah
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019
| | - Jenna Oberstaller
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Present address: Department of Global Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Edwin Pierre-Louis
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Ronald Drew Etheridge
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Cedric Feschotte
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019; Present address: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2703, USA
| | - Ellen J. Pritham
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019
| | - Jessica C. Kissinger
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Bioinformatics, and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Raval PK, Garg SG, Gould SB. Endosymbiotic selective pressure at the origin of eukaryotic cell biology. eLife 2022; 11:e81033. [PMID: 36355038 PMCID: PMC9648965 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The dichotomy that separates prokaryotic from eukaryotic cells runs deep. The transition from pro- to eukaryote evolution is poorly understood due to a lack of reliable intermediate forms and definitions regarding the nature of the first host that could no longer be considered a prokaryote, the first eukaryotic common ancestor, FECA. The last eukaryotic common ancestor, LECA, was a complex cell that united all traits characterising eukaryotic biology including a mitochondrion. The role of the endosymbiotic organelle in this radical transition towards complex life forms is, however, sometimes questioned. In particular the discovery of the asgard archaea has stimulated discussions regarding the pre-endosymbiotic complexity of FECA. Here we review differences and similarities among models that view eukaryotic traits as isolated coincidental events in asgard archaeal evolution or, on the contrary, as a result of and in response to endosymbiosis. Inspecting eukaryotic traits from the perspective of the endosymbiont uncovers that eukaryotic cell biology can be explained as having evolved as a solution to housing a semi-autonomous organelle and why the addition of another endosymbiont, the plastid, added no extra compartments. Mitochondria provided the selective pressures for the origin (and continued maintenance) of eukaryotic cell complexity. Moreover, they also provided the energetic benefit throughout eukaryogenesis for evolving thousands of gene families unique to eukaryotes. Hence, a synthesis of the current data lets us conclude that traits such as the Golgi apparatus, the nucleus, autophagosomes, and meiosis and sex evolved as a response to the selective pressures an endosymbiont imposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parth K Raval
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfDusseldorfGermany
| | - Sriram G Garg
- Evolutionary Biochemistry Group, Max-Planck Institute for Terrestrial MicrobiologyMarburgGermany
| | - Sven B Gould
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine-University DüsseldorfDusseldorfGermany
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8
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Fields PD, Waneka G, Naish M, Schatz MC, Henderson IR, Sloan DB. Complete sequence of a 641-kb insertion of mitochondrial DNA in the Arabidopsis thaliana nuclear genome. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6572048. [PMID: 35446419 PMCID: PMC9071559 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular transfers of mitochondrial DNA continue to shape nuclear genomes. Chromosome 2 of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana contains one of the largest known nuclear insertions of mitochondrial DNA (numts). Estimated at over 600 kb in size, this numt is larger than the entire Arabidopsis mitochondrial genome. The primary Arabidopsis nuclear reference genome contains less than half of the numt because of its structural complexity and repetitiveness. Recent data sets generated with improved long-read sequencing technologies (PacBio HiFi) provide an opportunity to finally determine the accurate sequence and structure of this numt. We performed a de novo assembly using sequencing data from recent initiatives to span the Arabidopsis centromeres, producing a gap-free sequence of the Chromosome 2 numt, which is 641 kb in length and has 99.933% nucleotide sequence identity with the actual mitochondrial genome. The numt assembly is consistent with the repetitive structure previously predicted from fiber-based fluorescent in situ hybridization. Nanopore sequencing data indicate that the numt has high levels of cytosine methylation, helping to explain its biased spectrum of nucleotide sequence divergence and supporting previous inferences that it is transcriptionally inactive. The original numt insertion appears to have involved multiple mitochondrial DNA copies with alternative structures that subsequently underwent an additional duplication event within the nuclear genome. This work provides insights into numt evolution, addresses one of the last unresolved regions of the Arabidopsis reference genome, and represents a resource for distinguishing between highly similar numt and mitochondrial sequences in studies of transcription, epigenetic modifications, and de novo mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter D Fields
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.,Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gus Waneka
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Matthew Naish
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael C Schatz
- Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ian R Henderson
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daniel B Sloan
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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9
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Tria FDK, Brueckner J, Skejo J, Xavier JC, Kapust N, Knopp M, Wimmer JLE, Nagies FSP, Zimorski V, Gould SB, Garg SG, Martin WF. Gene Duplications Trace Mitochondria to the Onset of Eukaryote Complexity. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:evab055. [PMID: 33739376 PMCID: PMC8175051 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The last eukaryote common ancestor (LECA) possessed mitochondria and all key traits that make eukaryotic cells more complex than their prokaryotic ancestors, yet the timing of mitochondrial acquisition and the role of mitochondria in the origin of eukaryote complexity remain debated. Here, we report evidence from gene duplications in LECA indicating an early origin of mitochondria. Among 163,545 duplications in 24,571 gene trees spanning 150 sequenced eukaryotic genomes, we identify 713 gene duplication events that occurred in LECA. LECA's bacterial-derived genes include numerous mitochondrial functions and were duplicated significantly more often than archaeal-derived and eukaryote-specific genes. The surplus of bacterial-derived duplications in LECA most likely reflects the serial copying of genes from the mitochondrial endosymbiont to the archaeal host's chromosomes. Clustering, phylogenies and likelihood ratio tests for 22.4 million genes from 5,655 prokaryotic and 150 eukaryotic genomes reveal no evidence for lineage-specific gene acquisitions in eukaryotes, except from the plastid in the plant lineage. That finding, and the functions of bacterial genes duplicated in LECA, suggests that the bacterial genes in eukaryotes are acquisitions from the mitochondrion, followed by vertical gene evolution and differential loss across eukaryotic lineages, flanked by concomitant lateral gene transfer among prokaryotes. Overall, the data indicate that recurrent gene transfer via the copying of genes from a resident mitochondrial endosymbiont to archaeal host chromosomes preceded the onset of eukaryotic cellular complexity, favoring mitochondria-early over mitochondria-late hypotheses for eukaryote origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando D K Tria
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julia Brueckner
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Josip Skejo
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
- Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Joana C Xavier
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nils Kapust
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Knopp
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jessica L E Wimmer
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Falk S P Nagies
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Verena Zimorski
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sven B Gould
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sriram G Garg
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - William F Martin
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
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10
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Tracking the Distribution and Burst of Nuclear Mitochondrial DNA Sequences (NUMTs) in Fig Wasp Genomes. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11100680. [PMID: 33036463 PMCID: PMC7600805 DOI: 10.3390/insects11100680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Nuclear mitochondrial DNA sequences (NUMTs), which result from the insertion of exogenous mtDNA into the nuclear genome, are widely distributed in eukaryotes. However, how NUMTs are inserted into the nuclear genome and their post-insertion fates remain a mystery. Previous studies have suggested that Hymenoptera may be a group rich in NUMTs, which will be helpful to study the biological issues of NUMTs. We here select 11 species of fig wasps (Chalcidoidea, Hymenoptera) to analyze the distribution and evolution of NUMTs at the genomic level. The results show that the distributions of NUMTs are species- or lineage-specific. Furthermore, genomic environmental factors such as genome size, the damage-prone regions, and the mode of TE dynamics can determine the insertion and post-insertion fate of NUMTs. Especially because of TEs, the fragmentation and duplication of NUMTs, and thus their burst, are common. This is a relatively comprehensive investigation of the specific distribution of NUMTs and its influencing factors. Our study will help people to understand the evolution of exogenous fragments in the nuclear genome. Abstract Mitochondrial DNA sequences can be transferred into the nuclear genome, giving rise to nuclear mitochondrial DNA sequences (NUMTs). NUMTs have been described in numerous eukaryotes. However, the studies on the distribution of NUMTs and its influencing factors are still inadequate and even controversial. Previous studies have suggested that Hymenoptera may be a group rich in NUMTs, in which we selected 11 species of fig wasps (Chalcidoidea, Hymenoptera) to analyze the distribution and evolution of NUMTs at the genomic level. The results showed that the contents of NUMTs varied greatly in these species, and bursts of NUMTs existed in some species or lineages. Further detailed analyses showed that the large number of NUMTs might be related to the large genomes; NUMTs tended to be inserted into unstable regions of the genomes; and the inserted NUMTs might also be affected by transposable elements (TEs) in the neighbors, leading to fragmentations and duplications, followed by bursts of NUMTs. In summary, our results suggest that a variety of genomic environmental factors can determine the insertion and post-insertion fate of NUMTs, resulting in their species- or lineage-specific distribution patterns, and that studying the evolution of NUMTs can provide good evidence and theoretical basis for exploring the dynamics of exogenous DNA entering into the nuclear genome.
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Zhang GJ, Dong R, Lan LN, Li SF, Gao WJ, Niu HX. Nuclear Integrants of Organellar DNA Contribute to Genome Structure and Evolution in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030707. [PMID: 31973163 PMCID: PMC7037861 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The transfer of genetic material from the mitochondria and plastid to the nucleus gives rise to nuclear integrants of mitochondrial DNA (NUMTs) and nuclear integrants of plastid DNA (NUPTs). This frequently occurring DNA transfer is ongoing and has important evolutionary implications. In this review, based on previous studies and the analysis of NUMT/NUPT insertions of more than 200 sequenced plant genomes, we analyzed and summarized the general features of NUMTs/NUPTs and highlighted the genetic consequence of organellar DNA insertions. The statistics of organellar DNA integrants among various plant genomes revealed that organellar DNA-derived sequence content is positively correlated with the nuclear genome size. After integration, the nuclear organellar DNA could undergo different fates, including elimination, mutation, rearrangement, fragmentation, and proliferation. The integrated organellar DNAs play important roles in increasing genetic diversity, promoting gene and genome evolution, and are involved in sex chromosome evolution in dioecious plants. The integrating mechanisms, involving non-homologous end joining at double-strand breaks were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Jun Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; (G.-J.Z.); (R.D.); (L.-N.L.); (S.-F.L.)
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Ran Dong
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; (G.-J.Z.); (R.D.); (L.-N.L.); (S.-F.L.)
| | - Li-Na Lan
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; (G.-J.Z.); (R.D.); (L.-N.L.); (S.-F.L.)
| | - Shu-Fen Li
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; (G.-J.Z.); (R.D.); (L.-N.L.); (S.-F.L.)
| | - Wu-Jun Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; (G.-J.Z.); (R.D.); (L.-N.L.); (S.-F.L.)
- Correspondence: (W.-J.G.); (H.-X.N.)
| | - Hong-Xing Niu
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; (G.-J.Z.); (R.D.); (L.-N.L.); (S.-F.L.)
- Correspondence: (W.-J.G.); (H.-X.N.)
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