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Extracellular oxidative systems of the lignin-degrading Basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

The US Department of Energy has assembled a high quality draft genome of Phanerochaete chrysosporium, a white rot Basidiomycete capable of completely degrading all major components of plant cell walls including cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Hundreds of sequences are predicted to encode extracellular enzymes including an impressive number of oxidative enzymes potentially involved in lignocellulose degradation. Herein, we summarize the number, organization, and expression of genes encoding peroxidases, copper radical oxidases, FAD-dependent oxidases, and multicopper oxidases. Possibly relevant to extracellular oxidative systems are genes involved in posttranslational processes and a large number of hypothetical proteins.

Lignin↗

Molecular cloning of a putative Ciona intestinalis cionin receptor, a new member of the CCK/gastrin receptor family.

Cionin, a peptide showing similarities with cholecystokinin and gastrin has been shown to be expressed in the gut and neural ganglion of the protochordate Ciona intestinalis. The present report describes the cloning of a putative cionin receptor (CioR), a new member of the CCK/gastrin family from the gastrointestinal tract of C. intestinalis. mRNA from the stomach of C. intestinalis was isolated using a modified RNA extraction procedure and, subsequently, reverse-transcribed into single-stranded cDNA by means of rapid amplification of 5'- and 3'-cDNA ends (RACE-PCR), followed by full-length PCR amplification. The cloned full-length PCR amplicons contained a short upstream open-reading frame (uORF) coding for a putative 16 amino acid long peptide, followed by a long open reading frame encoding a 526 amino acid putative CioR protein. At the amino acid level, the putative CioR protein shared 35-40% homology with cloned mammalian, chicken, and Xenopus laevis CCK receptors. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the chicken and X. laevis CCK receptors are orthologues of the mammalian CCK2 receptors whereas CioR protein forms a clade with vertebrate cholecystokinin receptors. Moreover, we found that the CioR cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences were found to correspond to the annotated CCK/gastrin-like receptor gene on Scaffold 117 (C. intestinalis draft genome project, Joint Genome Institute database; http://www.jgi.doe.gov).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

On the origins of the adaptive immune system: novel insights from invertebrates and cold-blooded vertebrates.

When and how adaptive immunity emerged is one of the fundamental questions in immunology. Accumulated evidence suggests that the key components of adaptive immunity, rearranging receptor genes and the MHC, are unique to jawed vertebrates. Recent studies in protochordates, in particular, the draft genome sequence of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis, are providing important clues for understanding the origin of antigen receptors and the MHC. We discuss a group of newly identified protochordate genes along with some cold-blooded vertebrate genes, the ancestors of which might have provided key elements of antigen receptors. The organization of the proto-MHCs in protochordates provides convincing evidence that the MHC regions of jawed vertebrates emerged as a result of two rounds of chromosomal duplication.

Animals↗

Optimization of RNA isolation from the archaebacterium Methanosarcina barkeri and validation for oligonucleotide microarray analysis.

The recent completion of a draft genome sequence for Methanosarcina barkeri has allowed the application of various high throughput post-genomics technologies, such as nucleic acid microarrays and mass spectrometry of proteins to detect global changes in transcription and translation that occur in response to experimental treatments. However, due to the production of a thick heteropolysaccharide outer layer, M. barkeri usually grows in large aggregates of cells rather than as individual, planktonic cells. Complete disruption of these aggregates and lysis of the released cells presents technical difficulties in ensuring the isolation of intact RNA from the entire population of cells. Initial attempts at isolating RNA from M. barkeri using several standard extraction protocols gave incomplete lysis of cells and resulted in low yields of poor quality RNA. In this study, we tested several chemical and mechanical disruption modifications of standard RNA extraction methods to optimize the extraction efficiency and minimize the number of unlysed cells remaining after extraction. As a further test of the quality of the resulting RNAs, their performance in replicate microarray analyses were determined. The results showed that inclusion of a liquid nitrogen grinding step prior to Trizol extraction, combined with moderate bead beating, yielded the most complete cell lysis, the highest yield of RNA and the most reproducible microarray results for M. barkeri. From these results it is clear that the methods used to isolate RNA can have a significant impact on the variability, trend and, presumably, the accuracy of microarray data. In addition, functional analysis of the microarray results obtained with RNA from the optimized protocol showed that, as expected, the genes involved in methanogenesis were among the most highly expressed genes in M. barkeri.

Gene Expression↗

Role of defense/stress-related marker genes, proteins and secondary metabolites in defining rice self-defense mechanisms.

Rice, a first cereal crop whose draft genome sequence from two subspecies (japonica-type cv. Nipponbare and indica-type 93-11) was available in 2002, along with its almost complete genome sequence in 2005, has drawn the attention of researchers worldwide because of its immense impact on human existence. One of the most critical research areas in rice is to discern the self-defense mechanism(s), an innate property of all living organisms. The last few decades have seen scattered research into rice responses to diverse environmental stimuli and stress factors. Our understanding on rice self-defense mechanism has increased considerably with accelerated research during recent years mainly due to identification and characterization of several defense/stress-related components, genes, proteins and secondary metabolites. As these identified components have been used to study the defense/stress pathways, their compilation in this review will undoubtedly help rice (and others) researchers to effectively use them as a potential marker for better understanding, and ultimately, in defining rice (and plant) self-defense response pathways.

Gene Expression Regulation, Plant↗

A limited role for balancing selection.

Balancing selection has been shown to act on several genes in short-term evolutionary contexts, but it is not known whether this force is responsible for maintaining a significant number of long-term polymorphisms. We aligned 7628 chimpanzee virtual transcripts and 5524 chimp ESTs to the 4x chimp draft genome assembly and identified polymorphisms in chimpanzee that also occurred in the human single nucleotide polymorphism database (dbSNP). Our analysis suggests that the incidence of ancestral polymorphism is low or absent and that balancing selection on the time-scale of chimpanzee-human divergence has not been a significant force in human evolution.

Animals↗

Complete nucleotide sequence of a P2 family lysogenic bacteriophage, varphiMhaA1-PHL101, from Mannheimia haemolytica serotype A1.

The 34,525 nucleotide sequence of a double-stranded DNA bacteriophage (phiMhaA1-PHL101) from Mannheimia haemolytica serotype A1 has been determined. The phage encodes 50 open reading frames. Twenty-three of the proteins are similar to proteins of the P2 family of phages. Other protein sequences are most similar to possible prophage sequences from the draft genome of Histophilus somni 2336. Fourteen open reading frames encode proteins with no known homolog. The P2 orthologues are collinear in phiMhaA1-PHL101, with the exception of the phage tail protein gene T, which maps in a unique location between the S and V genes. The phage ORFs can be arranged into 17 possible transcriptional units and many of the genes are predicted to be translationally coupled. Southern blot analysis revealed phiMhaA1-PHL101 sequences in other A1 isolates as well as in serotype A5, A6, A9, and A12 strains of M. haemolytica, but not in the related organisms, Mannheimia glucosida or Pasteurella trehalosi.

Bacteriophages↗

The sarcomeric myosin heavy chain gene family in the dog: analysis of isoform diversity and comparison with other mammalian species.

Sarcomeric myosin heavy chains (MyHC) are the major contractile proteins of cardiac and skeletal muscles and belong to class II MyHC. In this study the sequences of nine sarcomeric MyHC isoforms were obtained by combining assembled contigs of the dog genome draft available in the NCBI database. With this information available the dog becomes the second species, after human, for which the sequences of all members of the sarcomeric MyHC gene family are identified. The newly determined sequences of canine MyHC isoforms were aligned with their orthologs in mammals, forming a set of 38 isoforms, to search for the molecular features that determine the structural and functional specificity of each type of isoform. In this way the structural motifs that allow identification of each isoform and are likely determinants of functional properties were identified in six specific regions (surface loop 1, loop 2, loop 3, converter, MLC binding region, and S2 proximal segment).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutation analyses of the NFAT1 gene in chondrosarcomas and enchondromas.

Mice lacking nuclear factor of activated T cell 1 (NFAT1) showed an abnormal proliferation of chondrocytes in articular cartilage and formed an extraosseous cartilaginous mass resembling a neoplastic lesion, suggesting that the NFAT1 gene is a tumor suppressor gene in cartilaginous neoplasms. Here we performed mutation analyses of the NFAT1 gene in human cartilaginous tumors including 30 chondrosarcomas and 15 enchondromas. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed the expression of the NFAT1 gene in 15/15 chondrosarcomas and 12/13 enchondromas. To find subtle alterations, the genomic structure of the NFAT1 gene was determined using human genome draft sequences, and a mutation analysis was performed using the exon-by-exon PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism method. Two heterozygous missense mutations, A1557T (His446Leu) and C2859T (Pro880Leu), were found in eight tumor samples, but the same mutation was also present in the constitutional cells of corresponding patients. The incidence of the mutant alleles in the patient and control groups showed no significant difference, suggesting that these mutations are rare single nucleotide polymorphisms unrelated with tumorigenesis. These results suggest that the NFAT1 gene is not likely to be a tumor suppressor gene in human cartilaginous tumors.

Adolescent↗

Kirrel2, a novel immunoglobulin superfamily gene expressed primarily in beta cells of the pancreatic islets.

A novel immunoglobulin superfamily (Igsf) protein gene was discovered by computational analysis of human draft genomic DNA, and multiple cDNA clones were obtained. The protein encoded by this gene contains five Ig domains, one transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain. It has significant similarity with several known Igsf proteins, including Drosophila RST (irregular chiasm C-roughest) protein and mammalian KIRREL (kin of irregular chiasm C-roughest), NEPH1, and NPHS1 (nephrin) proteins. All these proteins have multiple Ig domains, possess properties of cell adhesion molecules, and play important roles in organ development. RT-PCR and Northern blot results indicate this gene is predominantly expressed in pancreas, and public sequence databases indicate there is also expression in the nervous system. We have named this gene Kirrel2 (kin of irregular chiasm-like 2), to reflect its similarity to irregular chiasm C-roughest and Kirrel. Four splice forms of Kirrel2 were observed, including two that we cloned from pancreas mRNA as well as two GenBank entries, one from the brain and one from a retinoblastoma cell line. A partial cDNA clone of the mouse orthologue was obtained by RT-PCR from mouse brain, and the inferred protein sequence has 85% sequence identity to the human protein. Immunohistochemical staining results indicate that the KIRREL2 protein is conserved from rodents to primates, and it is highly expressed in pancreatic islets. RT-PCR results on mouse pancreatic cell lines indicate that expression in the pancreas is restricted to beta cells. Thus, KIRREL2 protein is a beta-cell-expressed Ig domain protein and may be involved in pancreas development or beta cell function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Rhodococcus folensis sp. nov., an orange-red-pigmented bacterium from mining soil.

Mining-impacted environments represent chemically complex ecosystems that may harbor metabolically versatile and pigment-producing microorganisms. During a survey of pigment-producing bacteria from abandoned mining soil in Trabzon, Türkiye, a red-pigmented strain, designated FMA22T, was isolated and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. 16 S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed the strain within the genus Rhodococcus, showing the highest similarity to R. corynebacterioides DSM 20,151T (99.57%), R. kroppenstedtii DSM 44908ᵀ (99.06%) and R. trifolii T8T (98.96%). The strain was Gram-stain-positive, aerobic and non-motile, and grew at 4-40 °C. Polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, phosphatidylcholine, five unidentified glycolipids, four unidentified lipids, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified phosphoglycolipid; MK-8(H2) was the major respiratory quinone. Major fatty acids were C18:1 ω9c, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c/C16:1 ω6c) and C16:0. ANI and dDDH values with the closest relatives were below 76.8% and 20.5%, respectively. The draft genome (4.23 Mb; 67.2 mol% G + C; 4,106 CDSs) harbors a terpene-associated carotenoid cluster containing crtB, crtI and crtY. The orange-red pigment (λmax = 475 nm) showed antioxidant activity (DPPH SC₅₀ = 5.38 mg mL⁻¹; FRAP = 4.34 µmol TE g⁻¹) and weak but measurable HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 22 mg mL⁻¹). These data support the proposal of Rhodococcus folensis sp. nov., with FMA22ᵀ (= LMG 34144ᵀ = DSM 120048ᵀ) as the type strain.

Soil Microbiology↗

Sequence information can be obtained from single DNA molecules.

The completion of the human genome draft has taken several years and is only the beginning of a period in which large amounts of DNA and RNA sequence information will be required from many individuals and species. Conventional sequencing technology has limitations in cost, speed, and sensitivity, with the result that the demand for sequence information far outstrips current capacity. There have been several proposals to address these issues by developing the ability to sequence single DNA molecules, but none have been experimentally demonstrated. Here we report the use of DNA polymerase to obtain sequence information from single DNA molecules by using fluorescence microscopy. We monitored repeated incorporation of fluorescently labeled nucleotides into individual DNA strands with single base resolution, allowing the determination of sequence fingerprints up to 5 bp in length. These experiments show that one can study the activity of DNA polymerase at the single molecule level with single base resolution and a high degree of parallelization, thus providing the foundation for a practical single molecule sequencing technology.

Base Sequence↗

Ciona intestinalis Hox gene cluster: Its dispersed structure and residual colinear expression in development.

Ascidians, belonging to the subphylum Urochordata, the earliest branch from the lineage to the vertebrates, exhibit a prototypical morphogenesis of chordates in the larval development, although they subsequently metamorphose into adults with a unique body structure. Recent draft genome analysis of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis has identified 9 Hox genes, which, however, have been located on five scaffolds. Similarly, expression patterns of Ciona Hox genes are largely unknown, although some data have been available for a few Hox member genes. Thus, the cluster structure and colinearity of Hox genes are still an enigma in C. intestinalis. To address these issues, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization and whole-mount in situ hybridization techniques and examined the genomic organization and spatiotemporal expression of all Hox as well as extended Hox member genes (Evx and Mox) of C. intestinalis. We found that seven of nine Ciona Hox genes are located on a single chromosome with some ordering exceptions, and the other genes, including Evx and Mox, are located on three other chromosomes. Some Ciona Hox genes, if not all, exhibited spatially coordinated expression within the larval central nervous system and the gut of the juvenile. In light of these observations, we suggest that the cluster organization and colinearity of the Hox genes are under dispersing and disintegrating conditions in C. intestinalis.

Animals↗

Identification of anthrax toxin genes in a Bacillus cereus associated with an illness resembling inhalation anthrax.

Bacillus anthracis is the etiologic agent of anthrax, an acute fatal disease among mammals. It was thought to differ from Bacillus cereus, an opportunistic pathogen and cause of food poisoning, by the presence of plasmids pXO1 and pXO2, which encode the lethal toxin complex and the poly-gamma-d-glutamic acid capsule, respectively. This work describes a non-B. anthracis isolate that possesses the anthrax toxin genes and is capable of causing a severe inhalation anthrax-like illness. Although initial phenotypic and 16S rRNA analysis identified this isolate as B. cereus, the rapid generation and analysis of a high-coverage draft genome sequence revealed the presence of a circular plasmid, named pBCXO1, with 99.6% similarity with the B. anthracis toxin-encoding plasmid, pXO1. Although homologues of the pXO2 encoded capsule genes were not found, a polysaccharide capsule cluster is encoded on a second, previously unidentified plasmid, pBC218. A/J mice challenged with B. cereus G9241 confirmed the virulence of this strain. These findings represent an example of how genomics could rapidly assist public health experts responding not only to clearly identified select agents but also to novel agents with similar pathogenic potentials. In this study, we combined a public health approach with genome analysis to provide insight into the correlation of phenotypic characteristics and their genetic basis.

Animals↗

Dramatic variation of the vomeronasal pheromone receptor gene repertoire among five orders of placental and marsupial mammals.

Pheromones are chemicals emitted and sensed by conspecifics to elicit social and sexual responses and are perceived in terrestrial vertebrates primarily by the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Pheromone receptors in the mammalian VNO are encoded by the V1R and V2R gene superfamilies. The V1R superfamily contains 187 and 102 putatively functional genes in the mouse and rat, respectively. To investigate whether this large repertoire size is typical among mammals with functional VNOs, we here describe the V1R repertoires of dog, cow, and opossum based on their draft genome sequences. The dog and cow have only 8 and 32 intact V1R genes, respectively. Thus, the intact V1R repertoire size varies by at least 23-fold among placental mammals with functional VNOs. To our knowledge, this size ratio represents the greatest among-species variation in gene family size of all mammalian gene families. Phylogenetic analysis of placental V1R genes suggests multiple losses of ancestral genes in carnivores and artiodactyls and gains of many new genes by gene duplication in rodents, manifesting massive gene births and deaths. We also identify 49 intact opossum V1R genes and discover independent expansions of the repertoire in placentals and marsupials. We further show a concordance between the V1R repertoire size and the complexity of VNO morphology, suggesting that the latter could indicate the sophistication of pheromone communications within species. In sum, our results demonstrate tremendous diversity and rapid evolution of mammalian V1R gene inventories and caution the generalization of VNO biology from rodents to all mammals.

Animals↗

The evolution of vertebrate Toll-like receptors.

The complete sequences of Takifugu Toll-like receptor (TLR) loci and gene predictions from many draft genomes enable comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis. Strong selective pressure for recognition of and response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns has maintained a largely unchanging TLR recognition in all vertebrates. There are six major families of vertebrate TLRs. This repertoire is distinct from that of invertebrates. TLRs within a family recognize a general class of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Most vertebrates have exactly one gene ortholog for each TLR family. The family including TLR1 has more species-specific adaptations than other families. A major family including TLR11 is represented in humans only by a pseudogene. Coincidental evolution plays a minor role in TLR evolution. The sequencing phase of this study produced finished genomic sequences for the 12 Takifugu rubripes TLRs. In addition, we have produced >70 gene models, including sequences from the opossum, chicken, frog, dog, sea urchin, and sea squirt.

Animals↗

A novel two-pore domain K+ channel, TRESK, is localized in the spinal cord.

To find a novel human ion channel gene we have executed an extensive search by using a human genome draft sequencing data base. Here we report a novel two-pore domain K+ channel, TRESK (TWIK-related spinal cord K+ channel). TRESK is coded by 385 amino acids and shows low homology (19%) with previously characterized two-pore domain K+ channels. However, the most similar channel is TREK-2 (two-pore domain K+ channel), and TRESK also has two pore-forming domains and four transmembrane domains that are evolutionarily conserved in the two-pore domain K+ channel family. Moreover, we confirmed that TRESK is expressed in the spinal cord. Electrophysiological analysis demonstrated that TRESK induced outward rectification and functioned as a background K+ channel. Pharmacological analysis showed TRESK to be inhibited by previously reported K+ channel inhibitors Ba2+, propafenone, glyburide, lidocaine, quinine, quinidine, and triethanolamine. Functional analysis demonstrated TRESK to be inhibited by unsaturated free fatty acids such as arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. TRESK is also sensitive to extreme changes in extracellular and intracellular pH. These results indicate that TRESK is a novel two-pore domain K+ channel that may set the resting membrane potential of cells in the spinal cord.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A millennial myosin census.

The past decade has seen a remarkable explosion in our knowledge of the size and diversity of the myosin superfamily. Since these actin-based motors are candidates to provide the molecular basis for many cellular movements, it is essential that motility researchers be aware of the complete set of myosins in a given organism. The availability of cDNA and/or draft genomic sequences from humans, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Arabidopsis thaliana, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Dictyostelium discoideum has allowed us to tentatively define and compare the sets of myosin genes in these organisms. This analysis has also led to the identification of several putative myosin genes that may be of general interest. In humans, for example, we find a total of 40 known or predicted myosin genes including two new myosins-I, three new class II (conventional) myosins, a second member of the class III/ninaC myosins, a gene similar to the class XV deafness myosin, and a novel myosin sharing at most 33% identity with other members of the superfamily. These myosins are in addition to the recently discovered class XVI myosin with N-terminal ankyrin repeats and two human genes with similarity to the class XVIII PDZ-myosin from mouse. We briefly describe these newly recognized myosins and extend our previous phylogenetic analysis of the myosin superfamily to include a comparison of the complete or nearly complete inventories of myosin genes from several experimentally important organisms.

Animals↗