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PubMed2025

Comparison of phylogenetic metrics of transmission in symptomatic and asymptomatic tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Understanding drivers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) transmission remains a critical challenge in high-burden settings. Tuberculosis control efforts traditionally target symptomatic individuals, yet the role of asymptomatic cases in sustaining transmission is increasing recognized. METHODS: We conducted a genomic and epidemiological analysis of Mtb isolates collected in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, between 2008 and 2024. From 2017 to 2022, active case finding was performed in three of the state's largest prisons, whereby sputum was collected from individuals irrespective of symptoms and tested by GeneXpert and culture. We evaluated several metrics of recent transmission from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, including phylogenetic clustering, Time-scaled Haplotype Density (THD), Local Branching Index (LBI), and transmission probabilities inferred using the Bayesian Reconstruction and Evolutionary Analysis of Transmission Histories (BREATH). FINDINGS: We sequenced 2,362 Mtb strains, of which 3.5% (115/2,362) were resistant to at least one drug, and 0.6% (16/2,362) were multi-drug resistant. Most strains were lineage 4, and 78.2% of all isolates were part of a genomic cluster. Among 2,362 individuals with tuberculosis, 1,137 were incarcerated at the time of diagnosis. Among these, 505 were identified through active case finding: 277 had symptomatic disease and 228 had asymptomatic tuberculosis. There was no significant difference in phylogenetic clustering proportion (77% vs. 85%; p= 0.816), THD (median 0.50 vs. 0.39; p = 0.120), or LBI (median 0.00863 vs. 0.00871; p = 0.086) between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Bayesian transmission trees revealed no significant difference in the number of secondary infections inferred from symptomatic compared with asymptomatic individuals (p = 0.56). These findings were consistent across genomic clusters and robust to model assumptions. INTERPRETATION: We identified no differences in transmission from symptomatic compared with asymptomatic individuals, using several genomic measures of transmission, underscoring the substantial contribution that asymptomatic tuberculosis makes to transmission at the population level.

Asymptomatic↗
PubMed2025

Transcriptome-wide analysis reveals sequence selection to avoid mRNA aggregation in E. coli.

The stability of RNA base pairing and its limited four-letter code create an intrinsic potential for promiscuous RNA-RNA interactions. In vitro, such interactions drive RNA to self-assemble into aggregates. This raises a fundamental unanswered question: within a confined cellular volume at physiological mRNA abundances, how much aggregation would arise from sequence-encoded chemistry alone? Here, we establish this baseline with large-scale kinetic simulations of the E. coli transcriptome. Our simulations reveal that sequence-encoded base-pairing energetics is sufficient to generate a dynamic network of large aggregates, organized by long, multivalent mRNA hubs. Strikingly, evolutionary analysis shows that native E. coli sequences exhibit clear signatures of selection to counteract this propensity: they fold more stably, minimize unstructured regions, and form weaker intermolecular contacts than dinucleotide-preserving controls. These findings demonstrate that maintaining transcriptome solubility has been a significant, previously unrecognized constraint shaping genome evolution, and provide a new lens to interpret cellular RNA management.

Biological Sciences (Biophysics and Computational ↗
PubMed2025

Coronavirus Cryptic Landscape and Draft Genome of a Novel CoV Clade Related to MERS From Bats Circulating in Northeastern Brazil.

We identified seven distinct coronaviruses (CoVs) in bats from Brazil, classified into 229E-related (Alpha-CoV), Nobecovirus, Sarbecovirus, and Merbecovirus (Beta-CoV), including one closely related to MERS-like CoV with 82.8% genome coverage. To accomplish this, we screened 423 oral and rectal swabs from 16 different bat species using molecular assays, RNA sequencing, and evolutionary analysis. Notably, gaps in the spike-encoding gene led us to design new primers and perform Sanger sequencing, which revealed high similarities to MERS-related (MERSr) CoV strains found in humans and camels. Additionally, we identified key residues in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein, suggesting potential interactions with DPP4, the receptor for MERSr-CoV. Our analyses also revealed evidence of recombination involving our laboratory-produced sequences. These findings highlight the extensive genetic diversity of CoVs, the presence of novel viral lineages, and the occurrence of recombination events among bat CoVs circulating in Brazil, underscoring the critical role bats play as reservoirs for emerging viruses and emphasizing the necessity of ongoing surveillance to monitor the public health risks associated with CoV spillover events.

Chiroptera↗
PubMed1992

Sequence and secondary structure comparisons of ITS rDNA in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae).

Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, and the ITS2 of six related species, A. simpsoni, A. albopictus, A. vexans, A. triseriatus, Haemagogus mesodentatus, and Psorophora ferox are reported. Intraspecific variation in A. aegypti ITS1 is 1.07% among four clones from three individuals, and in the ITS2 is 1.17% among 15 clones from four individuals. In A. simpsoni, intraspecific ITS2 variation is 0.46% among 10 clones from a single individual. Alignment of the ITS2 sequence of the seven species reveals several homologous domains. Secondary structure predictions for the ITS2 region indicate that these domains base pair to form a core region central to several stem features. The sequence outside the ITS2 homologous domains tends to be GC-rich and characteristically slippage generated; these areas preserve or add to the stem length of the predicted secondary structures. These ITS2 intraspacer variable regions resemble previously described expansion segments of the 28S gene region. Evolutionary analysis of the ITS2 of these species, using both sequence and secondary structure information, leads to the prediction of divergence in the mosquito tribe Aedini that is not clearly reflected in current taxonomic designations.

Aedes↗
PubMed2026

Comparison of phylogenetic metrics of transmission between symptomatic and asymptomatic tuberculosis in individuals who were incarcerated in Brazil in 2008-24: a retrospective genomic epidemiology study.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis control efforts have traditionally targeted symptomatic individuals; however, the role of asymptomatic cases in sustaining transmission is increasingly recognised. We aimed to quantify the contribution of asymptomatic tuberculosis to recent transmission using genomic and epidemiological data from a high-transmission setting. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective genomic epidemiology study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates collected in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, between Aug 25, 2008, and March 19, 2024. Available isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing. Demographic, clinical, incarceration history, and laboratory metadata were obtained from surveillance records. From Jan 1, 2017, to March 19, 2024, active case finding was conducted in the state's three largest prisons (all male-only facilities), during which sputum samples were collected from individuals irrespective of symptoms and tested using GeneXpert and culture. Comparisons of transmission between individuals with and without symptoms were restricted to individuals who were incarcerated and were identified through active case finding and for whom high-quality, M tuberculosis lineage 4 genomes were available. Metrics of recent transmission included phylogenetic clustering, time-scaled haplotype density (THD), local branching index (LBI), and transmission probabilities inferred using Bayesian Reconstruction and Evolutionary Analysis of Transmission Histories. FINDINGS: 4448 tuberculosis cases were notified in Mato Grosso do Sul in 2008-24. After excluding cases for which M tuberculosis isolates were not available or had low sequencing quality, who had contaminated cultures or mixed infection, or who were infected with non-lineage 4 M tuberculosis, we included 2362 lineage 4 M tuberculosis isolates with high-quality genome sequences. 1849 (78·3%) of 2362 isolates were part of a genomic cluster. Among 2362 individuals with tuberculosis, 1137 (48·1%) were incarcerated at diagnosis. Of these individuals, 505 were identified through active case finding in three male-only prisons. The median age was 30 years (IQR 25-37); 304 (60·2%) had mixed ethnicity, 90 (17·8%) were White, 56 (11·1%) were Black, 13 (2·6%) were Indigenous, and six (1·2%) were Asian. 277 (54·9%) had symptomatic disease and 228 (45·1%) had asymptomatic tuberculosis. There were no significant differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in phylogenetic clustering (213 [76·9%] of 277 vs 195 [85·5%] of 228; p=0·37), THD (median 0·39 [IQR 0·06-0·62] vs 0·50 [0·09-0·65]; p=0·12), or LBI (0·00863 [0·00810-0·00988] vs 0·00871 [0·00829-0·01020]; p=0·088). Bayesian transmission trees showed no significant difference in the number of secondary infections inferred from symptomatic compared with asymptomatic individuals (p=0·56). These findings were consistent across genomic clusters and robust to model assumptions. INTERPRETATION: We identified no differences in transmission between individuals who were symptomatic and those who were asymptomatic using multiple genomic measures. In this high-transmission setting, where systematic screening is implemented, our findings indicate that asymptomatic tuberculosis substantially contributes to tuberculosis transmission at the population level. These results suggest that symptom-based case detection alone is likely to be insufficient to interrupt transmission and highlight the importance of expanded screening strategies in high-risk populations. FUNDING: US National Institutes of Health and the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq).

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Genomic and functional characterization of sugar transporters reveals potential roles in sugar accumulation in a modern sugarcane cultivar.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a globally important sugar crop whose productivity depends on efficient sugar transport from source to sink organs. However, systematic identification and functional characterization of sugar transporters (STs) in sugarcane cultivars remain limited. Here, we identified 190 non-redundant ST genes in sugarcane cultivar Guitang 42 (GT42) and phylogenetically classified them into nine groups within the Monosaccharide Transporter (MST), Sucrose Transporter (SUT), and Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEET) families. Comparative evolutionary analysis revealed significant lineage-specific expansions in the PMT, STP subfamilies, and SWEET families compared to diploid and wild relatives, likely driven by polyploidization and intensive selection for sugar yield. Transcriptomic profiling across tissues and internode elongation stages demonstrated marked tissue-specific and developmental expression patterns. Yeast complementation assays confirmed the transport activity of candidate MSTs, SUTs and SWEETs, with confocal microscopy verifying their distinct subcellular localization at the plasma membrane, tonoplast, or endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, transient overexpression of several candidate transporters (ScSWEET4-T2, ScSWEET15, and ScTST4-T1) in Nicotiana benthamiana modulated soluble sugar accumulation, and their expression in sugarcane protoplasts activated key sugar-responsive marker genes (ScGPT2 and ScWIP4). Together, our study establishes a systematic genomic framework and identifies candidate functional transporters that govern sugar partitioning and storage, providing valuable genetic targets for molecular breeding and quality enhancement in sugarcane.

Functional characterization↗
PubMed1992

Unification of the ferritin family of proteins.

Ferritin is the iron-storage protein of eukaryotic organisms. The nucleotide sequence encoding Azotobacter vinelandii bacterioferritin, a hemoprotein, was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals a high degree of identity with Escherichia coli bacterioferritin and a striking similarity to eukaryotic ferritins. Moreover, derivation of a global alignment shows that virtually all key residues specifying the unique structural motifs of eukaryotic ferritin are conserved or conservatively substituted in the A. vinelandii sequence. The alignment suggests specific methionine residues as heme-binding ligands in bacterioferritins. The overall sequence similarity with conservation of key structural residues implies that all ferritins form a unified family of proteins. The results implicate ferritins as proteins potentially common to all aerobic organisms and as such useful in taxonomic classification, evolutionary analysis, and environmental monitoring.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1979

An ethological view of human adolescence.

In modern times the essential "normality" of adolescence has been acknowledged. With its pan-cultural and functional perspective, ethology is in a position to elaborate a description of normal human adolescence. Ethologists attempt to elucidate four interrelated aspects of a given behavior: its survival function, evolution, development, and elicitation by internal and external factors. The basic research strategy is two-fold: to identify biologically based, or evolved, behaviors (chiefly by controlling for the effects of experience and seeing if a core of evolved behavior remains); and to discover their functions by isolating the necessary and sufficient ecological conditions for their evolution. Applying this evolutionary analysis to human adolescence, we find that two developments seem to be basic: reproductive maturation and gaining independence from parents. The remainder of the article is an interpretation of various behavioral, morphological, and cultural data in accordance with these two developmental functions. Puberty seems to be timed so as to promote these functions most effectively. Pubertal changes parallel somatic growth and are delayed by poor nutrition, disease, and psychological stress--patterns consistent with functional considerations. The influence of natural selection on the sequencing of pubertal events is also emphasized. The role of pubertal hormones in altering behavior as well as morphology is illustrated. The adolescent gains independence from his parents by means of maturation and sex differentiation. Males become specialized for vigorous exertion, and females for work near the settlement--although considerable overlap in morphological and behavioral tendencies exists between the sexes. Various examples of sex differentiation demonstrates how morphological, behavioral, and cultural factors complement each other. Adolescent initiation rites help channel boys and girls into appropriate adult roles, teach respect for one's culture, and favor the fittest individuals. Hopi rites of passage are described as an example. Reproductive maturation likewise involves adaptive morphological and behavioral changes that are reinforced by cultural mores. Males rely on intimidation more than females, in order to dominate other males and attract females; contrariwise, females employ an endearment strategy more than males do. Many sex differences in human reproductive behavior can be explained with reference to man's parental behavior pattern. These include the male's greater aggressiveness, the preponderance of polygyny over polyandry, and differences in the antecedents of jealousy. Lastly, the need for an ethological understanding of adolescence is underscored as promising to offer a useful perspective on the problems of U.S. youth.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2025

The landscape of structural variation in pediatric cancer.

Structural variants (SVs) account for over 60% of the driver variants in pediatric cancer, and in many cases act as the cancer initiating event. To study SVs from a pan-cancer perspective, we analyzed 1,616 pediatric cancer genomes in 16 major cancer types of hematological malignancies (n = 908), brain tumors (n = 183), and solid tumors (n = 525) and compared their profiles to those of 2,203 adult cancers. The SV burden varied ~100-fold across pediatric cancer types and demonstrated an 8- to 16-fold reduction compared to adult brain and solid tumors but was comparable in pediatric versus adult hematological malignancies. Recurrent SV hotspots occurred uniquely in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs) in proximity to RAG-mediated recombination signal sequences (RSS) and disrupted multiple immune-related loci as well as 69 genes, which often involved cryptic RSS sites. By contrast, such hotspots affected only immune-related loci but not driver genes in adult lymphoid cancers. Eight SV signatures extracted from the cohort had varying distributions across cancer types, with clustered translocations reflecting templated insertions in osteosarcoma, and medium-sized deletions (10 kb to 1 Mb) enriched in cancers with RAG-mediated deletions. Intra-patient evolutionary analysis in 13 patients with multiple spatiotemporally distinct samples revealed that RAG-mediated recombination in leukemia and complex rearrangements in solid tumors occurred both early in disease initiation and continuously during later diversification, contributing to clonal heterogeneity. Finally, we found that both driver genes and fragile sites were the two genomic regions most frequently disrupted by SVs. The unique and diverse SV landscapes that emerged from this comprehensive analysis expand the scope of RSS-mediated mutagenesis in pediatric ALL and will be a valuable resource for guiding future functional studies and the design of clinical genomic testing in pediatric cancer.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2025

Comparative Genomics of Sex-Determination-Related Genes Reveals Shared Evolutionary Patterns Between Bivalves and Mammals, but Not Fruit Flies.

The molecular basis of sex determination (SD), while being extensively studied in model organisms, remains poorly understood in many animal groups. Bivalves, a diverse class of molluscs with a variety of reproductive modes, represent an ideal yet challenging clade for investigating SD and the evolution of sexual systems. However, the absence of a comprehensive framework has limited progress in this field, particularly regarding the study of sex-determination-related genes (SRGs). In this study, we performed a genome-wide sequence evolutionary analysis of the Dmrt, Sox and Fox gene families in more than 40 bivalve species. For the first time, we provide an extensive and phylogenetically aware dataset of these SRGs, and we find support for the hypothesis that Dmrt-1L and Sox-H may act as primary sex-determining genes by showing their high levels of sequence diversity within the bivalve genomic context. To validate our findings, we studied the same gene families in two well-characterised systems, mammals and fruit flies (genus Drosophila). In the former, we found that the male sex-determining gene Sry exhibits a pattern of amino acid sequence diversity similar to that of Dmrt-1L and Sox-H in bivalves, consistent with its role as master SD regulator. In contrast, no such pattern was observed among genes of the fruit fly SD cascade, which is controlled by a chromosomic mechanism. Overall, our findings highlight similarities in the sequence evolution of some mammal and bivalve SRGs, possibly driven by a comparable architecture of SD cascades. This work underscores once again the importance of employing a comparative approach when investigating understudied and non-model systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A second gene for the African green monkey poliovirus receptor that has no putative N-glycosylation site in the functional N-terminal immunoglobulin-like domain.

Using cDNA of the human poliovirus receptor (PVR) as a probe, two types of cDNA clones of the monkey homologs were isolated from a cDNA library prepared from an African green monkey kidney cell line. Either type of cDNA clone rendered mouse L cells permissive for poliovirus infection. Homologies of the amino acid sequences deduced from these cDNA sequences with that of human PVR were 90.2 and 86.4%, respectively. These two monkey PVRs were found to be encoded in two different loci of the genome. Evolutionary analysis suggested that duplication of the PVR gene in the monkey genome had occurred after the species differentiation between humans and monkeys. The NH2-terminal immunoglobulin-like domain, domain 1, of the second monkey PVR, which lacks a putative N-glycosylation site, mediated poliovirus infection. In addition, a human PVR mutant without N-glycosylation sites in domain 1 also promoted viral infection. These results suggest that domain 1 of the monkey receptor also harbors the binding site for poliovirus and that sugar moieties possibly attached to this domain of human PVR are dispensable for the virus-receptor interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2026

Identification of a novel HIV-1 circulating recombinant form (CRF209_cpx) and its descendant unique recombinant form (URF) CRF209_cpx/B among MSM in Guangdong, southern China.

BACKGROUND: The epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) continues to pose a significant global health challenge, with increasing genetic diversity. The co-circulation of multiple subtypes among the local population facilitates the emergence of unique or circulating recombinant forms (URFs or CRFs). In China, the predominant strains include CRF07_BC, CRF01_AE, CRF55_01B, and subtype B. This study characterizes a novel CRF209_cpx and its descendant recombinant CRF209_cpx/B among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Guangdong, southern China. METHODS: Individuals infected with URFs with similar genetic characteristics were recruited during routine surveillance of pretreatment drug resistance. Near full-length genomes (NFLGs) were amplified with two overlapping fragments using a serial dilution nested PCR approach after reverse transcription. We used SimPlot and IQ-TREE softwares to conduct recombination analyses and phylogenetic inferences. Time-scaled maximum clade credibility (MCC) phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using BEAST software to estimate evolutionary origins. Genotypic drug resistance mutations were interpreted via the Stanford HIV Database, and coreceptor usage was predicted using geno2pheno coreceptor 2.5 and the HIVcoPRED tool. RESULTS: Four NFLG sequences were obtained and identified as a novel CRF209_cpx, generated by recombination among CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC and subtype B. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that all the parental segments clustered with lineages prevalent among MSM in China. Bayesian evolutionary analysis estimated that the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of CRF209_cpx to have evolved between 2011 and 2013. The fifth strain was identified as a URF recombined from nascent CRF209_cpx and B. No transmitted drug resistance mutation was detected in these five sequences. The four CRF209_cpx sequences primarily utilized the CXCR4 coreceptor, while the URF exhibited R5/X4 dual tropism. CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of the complex CRF209_cpx and novel URF of CRF209_cpx/B highlights the active HIV-1 epidemic within the MSM population in Guangdong, underscoring the necessity for enhanced molecular surveillance and precise public health intervention in this key population.

HIV-1↗
PubMed1992

The Myb DNA-binding domain is highly conserved in Dictyostelium discoideum.

The c-myb proto-oncogene encodes a protein that is highly conserved among birds and mammals. The amino-terminal domain of c-Myb contains three imperfect tandem repeats of approximately 50 amino acids each. This domain is required for DNA binding and has also been conserved to varying degrees in invertebrates, plants and yeast. Given that myb-related genes appear to control cellular differentiation in a variety of eucaryotic systems, the presence of a myb gene in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum might provide a tractable system for studying the role of myb in differentiation. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers encoding regions that are highly conserved in the vertebrate and Drosophila Myb DNA-binding domains were used to amplify a related domain from Dictyostelium genomic DNA, which was then used to isolate a genomic clone. The putative DNA-binding domain of Dictyostelium Myb is as closely related to vertebrate c-Myb as is Drosophila Myb (65% identity), whereas the known Myb-related proteins of plants and yeast are more distantly related. The conserved domain of Dictyostelium Myb is capable of binding to the same DNA sequence as the vertebrate and Drosophila Myb proteins. The remainder of the deduced amino acid sequence of Dictyostelium Myb shows no homology to the divergent domains of the known animal, plant and yeast Myb-related proteins. Evolutionary analysis implies that the duplications that generated the repeats of the Myb DNA-binding domain began prior to the divergence of animals, plants, cellular slime molds and yeast.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2025

Evolutionary and Functional Analysis of Caspase-8 and ASC Interactions to Drive Lytic Cell Death, PANoptosis.

Caspases are evolutionarily conserved proteins essential for driving cell death in development and host defense. Caspase-8, a key member of the caspase family, is implicated in nonlytic apoptosis, as well as lytic forms of cell death. Recently, caspase-8 has been identified as an integral component of PANoptosomes, multiprotein complexes formed in response to innate immune sensor activation. Several innate immune sensors can nucleate caspase-8-containing PANoptosome complexes to drive inflammatory lytic cell death, PANoptosis. However, how the evolutionarily conserved and diverse functions of caspase-8 drive PANoptosis remains unclear. To address this, we performed evolutionary, sequence, structural, and functional analyses to decode caspase-8's complex-forming abilities and its interaction with the PANoptosome adaptor ASC. Our study distinguished distinct subgroups within the death domain superfamily based on their evolutionary and functional relationships, identified homotypic traits among subfamily members, and captured key events in caspase evolution. We also identified critical residues defining the heterotypic interaction between caspase-8's death effector domain and ASC's pyrin domain, validated through cross-species analyses, dynamic simulations, and in vitro experiments. Overall, our study elucidated recent evolutionary adaptations of caspase-8 that allowed it to interact with ASC, improving our understanding of critical molecular associations in PANoptosome complex formation and the underlying PANoptotic responses in host defense and inflammation. These findings have implications for understanding mammalian immune responses and developing new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases.

Caspase 8↗
PubMed2026

Functional Prediction of Epitranscriptome.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most prevalent and well-studied RNA modifications, playing a pivotal role in many biological processes. With the recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies, tens of thousands of m6A sites have been reported. However, not all m6A sites are important or functionally significant, highlighting the need to distinguish biologically relevant m6As from non-functional or technically artefactual ones. Here, we describe ConsRM, which is a web-based resource that was designed to evaluate the importance of m6As from an evolutionary perspective. It introduced a novel scoring framework for quantifying the conservation degree of m6As in humans. Its web interface includes a database of 177998 distinct human m6A sites along with their calculated conservation score, and allows users to analyze their own data via the web server. ConsRM is freely accessible at: http://180.208.58.19/conservation/browser.html .

Humans↗
PubMed2026

MaizeGDB Phylostrata Tool: exploring evolutionary origins of maize proteins.

MOTIVATION: Phylostratigraphic analysis identifies the evolutionary origins and level of conservation of proteins, facilitating research in evolutionary biology and comparative genomics. RESULTS: We developed the MaizeGDB Phylostrata Tool, a custom web application that enables users to explore the evolutionary origins of proteins in maize (Zea mays), a globally important crop and model organism. This tool features interactive visualizations and detailed gene pages incorporating subcellular localization, Gene Ontology (GO) terms, and links to resources for homologs, facilitating comparison of gene functions across evolutionary time. The tool also provides downloadable links for full-proteome phylostratigraphic results for 26 maize inbreds (B73 and the NAM founders). From these, we identified genome- and subgenome-wide trends, finding that more conserved proteins tended to be longer and more highly expressed. Finally, we provide code including updates to the "phylostratr" R package to make it more robust against taxonomic updates, as well as example scripts for phylostratigraphic analysis and web tool development for researchers and curators of other species. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The MaizeGDB Phylostrata Tool is freely available at https://phylostrata.maizegdb.org. Scripts used for the analysis and web tool are available at https://github.com/LTibbs/PhylostrataWebtool.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2025

Genome-wide identification and analysis of paclobutrazol-resistance gene family in cotton and the positive role of GhPRE3 in salt stress and drought stress resistance.

Compared with other transcription factors, much less studies have been performed on paclobutrazol-resistance (PRE), a subgroup of the extensive bHLH transcription factor gene family, and the research in cotton was also limited. By utilizing the PRE genes and their conserved domains identified in Arabidopsis, a total of 23, 22, 11, and 12 PRE genes were identified from two major cultivated cotton species and their two ancestors, respectively. The cotton PRE gene family was categorized into three subgroups based on evolutionary tree analysis. Motif and intron analyses indicated that the PRE gene has remained highly conserved throughout evolution. Collinearity analysis indicated that gene duplication, particularly through fragment replication, has significantly contributed to the expansion of the cotton PRE family. An exploration of the conserved elements within the PRE gene family uncovered numerous elements associated with plant stress resistance. Additionally, cotton transcriptome and qRT-PCR analysis showed that PRE genes were associated with a variety of abiotic stresses, including salt, drought, and cold treatments. Subcellular localization experiments indicated that the GhPRE3 gene is associated with membrane proteins. Finally, we selected the GhPRE3 gene for a VIGS experiment, which revealed that under salt stress and drought stress conditions, the wilting of leaves in the GhPRE3-silenced plants was significantly more severe than that observed in the control group, with T-AOC levels notably lower and MDA levels significantly higher. Overexpression of GhPRE3 enhanced seed germination and root development in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana under salt stress and drought stresses. This suggests that GhPRE3 plays a positive regulatory role in cotton tolerance to salt and drought stressed, providing a reference for molecular genetic breeding of cotton with salt and drought tolerance.

Gossypium↗