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Sequence organization of variant mouse 4.5 S RNA genes and pseudogenes.

The rodent 4.5 S RNA is an RNA polymerase III product with a sequence related to the Alu family of interspersed repeated DNA. A previous study identified a tandem array of 4.2-kb repeating units that contain the 4.5 S RNA coding sequence as well as many short repetitive sequences. To understand the genomic organization of this gene family, we have isolated and characterized 4.5 S RNA sequences that are part of the tandem array as well as identified members that are not part of the array. One variant 4.5 S RNA gene family member exhibits length polymorphisms in its minisatellite sites relative to the single previously reported gene. The 4.5 S RNA sequences that are not part of the tandem array possess many of the features of processed pseudogenes and are found adjacent to other interspersed repeated elements. These findings suggest that the mouse 4.5 S RNA can behave as a retroposon, resulting in the accumulation of 4.5 S RNA-like elements at many sites in the genome.

Animals↗

Nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid characterization of the marine chromophyte Olisthodiscus luteus.

Nuclear DNA of the marine chromophytic alga Olisthodiscus luteus was analyzed in this study. Reassociation kinetics analysis has shown that 440-nucleotide DNA fragments from the genome of this alga contain 4% foldback, 58% repetitive, and 34% single-copy sequences. Precise analysis using isolated single-copy DNA revealed that Olisthodiscus has a large haploid DNA content of 1.66 x 10(-12) g/cell. For determination of the organization of single-copy and repetitive sequences within this genome, DNA fragments 3000 nucleotides in length were reassociated to C0t= 100 M . s. At this low C0t value 89% of the DNA bound to hydroxylapatite, suggesting that single-copy and repetitive elements are interspersed. The lengths of the duplexed repetitive DNA on these 3000-nucleotide fragments were measured by electron microscopy after digestion with S1 nuclease which removed the unreassociated single-copy DNA regions. Of these repetitive sequences, 68% were shorter than 1200 nucleotide pairs in length and had a modal length of 350 nucleotide pairs. A minor class of longer (to 4000 nucleotide pairs) repetitive sequences was also observed.

Cell Nucleus↗

Characterization of interrelated sequence motifs in four satellite DNAs and their distribution in the genome of the mollusc Donax trunculus.

A family of four satellite DNAs has been characterized in the genome of the bivalve mollusc, Donax trunculus. All share HindIII sites, a similar monomer length of about 160 base pairs (bp), and the related oligonucleotide motifs GGTCA and GGGTTA, repeated six to 15 times within the repetitive units. The motif GGTCA is common to all members of the satellite family. It is present in three of them in both orientations, interspersed within nonrepetitive DNA sequences. The hexanucleotide GGGTTA appears to be the main building element of one of the satellites forming a prominent subrepeat structure in conjunction with the 5-bp motif. The former has been also found in perfect tandem repeats in a junction region adjacent to the proper satellite sequence. Southern analysis has revealed that (GGGTTA)n and/or related sequences are abundant and widely distributed in the D. trunculus genome. The distribution observed is consistent with the concurrence of the scattering of short sequence motifs throughout the genome and the spread of longer DNA segments, with concomitant formation of satellite monomer repeats. Both kinds of dispersion may have contributed to the observed complex arrangement of the HindIII satellite DNA family in Donax.

Animals↗

Repetitive sequences that shape the human transcriptome.

Only a small portion of the total RNA transcribed in human cells becomes mature mRNA and constitutes the human transcriptome, which is context-dependent and varies with development, physiology and pathology. A small fraction of different repetitive sequences, which make up more than half of the human genome, is retained in mature transcripts and shapes their function. Among them are short interspersed elements (SINEs), of which Alu sequences are most frequent, and simple sequence repeats, which come in many varieties. In this review, we have focused on the structural and functional role of Alu elements and trinucleotide repeats in transcripts.

Alu Elements↗

Molecular organization of large fragments in the maize B chromosome: indication of a novel repeat.

The supernumerary B chromosome has no apparent effects on plant growth, and its molecular makeup is difficult to unravel, due to its high homology to the normal complement, which prevents conventional cloning. This difficulty was overcome previously by microdissecting the B chromosome under the microscope to result in 19 B clones, one of which is B specific and highly repetitive, dispersing over one-third of the B long arm and most regions of the centromeric knob. To gain insights into the molecular structure of the B chromosome, this sequence was used to screen a genomic library constructed from W22 carrying 16 B's. Five clones (>10 kb each) were isolated, and all were repetitive, showing homology with A chromosomes in Southern and FISH analyses. Two of them were further characterized and sequenced. Each is composed of several restriction fragments with variable degrees of repetitiveness. Some of these are B specific and others have variable degrees of homology with the A chromosomes. The order of each characteristic group is not contiguous; they intersperse within those of other groups. Sequence analysis reveals that their sequences ( approximately 26 kb) have no homology with any published gene other than sequences of transposable elements (retrotransposons and MITEs) and the B as well as the A centromeres. We uncovered a 1.6-kb CL-repeat sequence, seven units of which were present in the two clones in defective forms. Those repeats mostly arrange in tandem array in the B chromosome. Moreover, we detected transposition of a retrotransposon and a MITE element involved in the genesis of these two sequences.

Base Sequence↗

Fractionation of the sequence organization of human DNA by preparative HgCl2/Cs2SO4 density gradients.

Human DNA has been fractionated on preparative HgCl2/Cs2SO4 density gradients. Repetitious sequences are found in DNA components of all base compositions but the (G + C)-rich sequences are enriched for repetitive sequences in (A + T)-rich components are tandemly arranged; those in (G + C)-rich components tend to be interspersed with single copy sequences. It is concluded that the interspersed repetitious sequences have high (G + C) compositions.

Base Sequence↗

DNA sequence organization and transcription of the chicken genome.

A new approach has been used to examine DNA sequence organization in the chicken genome. The interspersion pattern was determined by studying the fraction of labelled DNA fragments of different lengths that hybridized to an excess of short chicken repeated DNA sequences. The results indicate that chicken DNA has a pattern of sequence organization quite different than the standard 'Xenopus' or 'Drosophila' patterns. Two classes of unique sequences are found. One, 34% of the genome, consists of unique sequences approx. 4 kb long interspersed with repeated sequences. The second, non-interspersed fraction, 38% of the genome, consists of unique sequences found in long tracts, a minimum of approx. 22 kb in length. In an attempt to determine whether a relationship exists between DNA sequence organization and the distribution of structural genes we have isolated chicken DNA sequences belonging to different interspersion classes and tested each for the presence of structural genes by hybridization to excess poly(A)+ mRNA. Sequences complementary to poly(A)+ mRNA can be found with approximately the same frequency in both the non-interspersed fraction of the genome and a repeat-contiguous fraction enriched for interspersed sequences.

Animals↗

Ancient lineages of non-LTR retrotransposons in the primitive eukaryote, Giardia lamblia.

Mobile elements that use reverse transcriptase to make new copies of themselves are found in all major lineages of eukaryotes. The non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons have been suggested to be the oldest of these eukaryotic elements. Phylogenetic analysis of non-LTR elements suggests that they have predominantly undergone vertical transmission, as opposed to the frequent horizontal transmissions found for other mobile elements. One prediction of this vertical model of inheritance is that the oldest lineages of eukaryotes should exclusively harbor the oldest lineages of non-LTR retrotransposons. Here we characterize the non-LTR retrotransposons present in one of the most primitive eukaryotes, the diplomonad Giardia lamblia. Two families of elements were detected in the WB isolate of G. lamblia currently being used for the genome sequencing project. These elements are clearly distinct from all other previously described non-LTR lineages. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that these Genie elements (for Giardia early non-LTR insertion element) are among the oldest known lineages of non-LTR elements consistent with strict vertical descent. Genie elements encode a single open reading frame with a carboxyl terminal endonuclease domain. Genie 1 is site specific, as seven to eight copies are present in a single tandem array of a 771-bp repeat near the telomere of one chromosome. The function of this repeat is not known. One additional, highly divergent, element within the Genie 1 lineage is not located in this tandem array but is near a second telomere. Four different telomere addition sites could be identified within or near the Genie elements on each of these chromosomes. The second lineage of non-LTR elements, Genie 2, is composed of about 10 degenerate copies. Genie 2 elements do not appear to be site specific in their insertion. An unusual aspect of Genie 2 is that all copies contain inverted repeats up to 172 bp in length.

Animals↗

Genomic structure of the rat and mouse histamine N-methyltransferase gene.

Northern blotting analysis revealed different tissue distribution patterns of HMT mRNA between mice and rats. In the mouse, mRNA expression was detected in the brain, kidney and liver. In the rat, there was an extremely high mRNA signal only in the kidney. We isolated and characterized the rat and mouse histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT) genes from genomic DNA libraries. The rat HMT gene consists of 6 exons and 5 introns. The mouse HMT gene structure was similar to that of the rat, but had one additional exon 5' upstream from the exon containing a start codon, resulting in seven exons. Several long interspersed repetitive elements were located in the 5' flanking region of the rat and mouse HMT gene. Despite high sequence conservation of the regions around exon 6 and the 3' flanking region, the 5' flanking region had little similarity between the rat and mouse. Marked sequence similarities between rat and mouse introns were present near splice sites and outside the junction residues, suggesting the evolutionary relationship between the structural features of the rat and mouse HMT genes. This observation may explain the species difference of the tissue expression pattern of HMT mRNA.

Animals↗

Several aspects of total genomic DNA transcription in a HeLa cell extract.

Several aspects of total genomic DNA transcription in a HeLa cell extract were described. (1) By using in vitro transcripts from total genomic DNA as probes, we elucidated several structures of short interspersed elements which are transcribed by RNA polymerase III (designated as Pol III/SINEs. (2) To know whether the repetitive sequence we cloned and sequenced comprises a major or minor family, we developed in vitro run-off transcription assay of total genomic DNA. (3) Unlike in vitro transcription of total genomic DNA from vertebrates, major in vitro transcripts from macronuclear total DNA of Tetrahymena were found to be tRNA themselves.

Animals↗

Construction of a yeast artificial chromosome library of tomato and identification of cloned segments linked to two disease resistance loci.

We have constructed a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library of tomato for chromosome walking that contains the equivalent of three haploid genomes (22,000 clones). The source of high molecular weight DNA was leaf protoplasts from the tomato cultivars VFNT cherry and Rio Grande-PtoR, which together contain loci encoding resistance to six pathogens of tomato. Approximately 11,000 YACs have been screened with RFLP markers that cosegregate with Tm-2a and Pto - loci conferring resistance to tobacco mosaic virus and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, respectively. Five YACs were identified that hybridized to the markers and are therefore starting points for chromosome walks to these genes. A subset of the library was characterized for the presence of various repetitive sequences and YACs were identified that carried TGRI, a repeat clustered near the telomeres of most tomato chromosomes, TGRII, an interspersed repeat, and TGRIII, a repeat that occurs primarily at centromeric sites. Evaluation of the library for organellar sequences revealed that approximately 10% of the clones contain chloroplast sequences. Many of these YAC clones appear to contain the entire 155 kb tomato chloroplast genome. The tomato cultivars used in the library construction, in addition to carrying various disease resistance genes, also contain the wild-type alleles corresponding to most recessive mutations that have been mapped by classical linkage analysis. Thus, in addition to its utility for physical mapping and genome studies, this library should be useful for chromosome walking to genes corresponding to virtually any phenotype that can be scored in a segregating population.

Chloroplasts↗

The spider monkey psi eta-globin gene and surrounding sequences: recent or ancient insertions of LINEs and SINEs?

A phylogenetic comparison of the psi eta-globin DNA sequence of the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) to orthologous sequences from other primates provides evidence for an evolutionarily recent (less than 17 million years ago (MYA] insertion of a truncated L1 LINE (long interspersed repetitive element). An Alu SINE (short interspersed element), found 3 kb downstream of the poly(A) addition site, arose less than 40 MYA subsequent to the divergence of platyrrhinies (New World monkeys) from catarrhines (humans, apes, and Old World monkeys). Another Alu element, which appears in the catarrhines 588 bp upstream from the psi eta gene, is absent in Ateles, thus placing its possible time of insertion between 20 and 40 MYA. Alignment of the Ateles psi eta sequence with orthologous hominoid sequences (M. M. Miyamoto, J. L. Slightom, and M. Goodman, 1987, Science 238: 369-373) provides unequivocal evidence against the view (J. H. Schwartz, 1987, "The Red Ape: Orang-utans and Human Origins," Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA) that the orangutan forms a monophyletic group with human. Furthermore, a critical analysis of potential sources of homoplasy (i.e., parallel evolution) reaffirms a Homo-Pan monophyletic clade (Miyamoto et al., 1987). Reconstruction of primate psi eta sequence phylogeny suggests Ateles and Aotus shared a common ancestor only 16 +/- 1.5 MYA. Finally, the results show a mutation rate of 1.7 +/- 0.2 x 10(-9) mutations site-1 year-1 during the evolution of the Ateles psi eta-globin region since the divergence of catarrhines from platyrrhinies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The rat clofibrate-inducible CYP4A gene subfamily. I. Complete intron and exon sequence of the CYP4A1 and CYP4A2 genes, unique exon organization, and identification of a conserved 19-bp upstream element.

The P450 CYP4A1 and CYP4A2 genes were isolated from a rat genomic library constructed in the vector lambda EMBL3 and their complete sequences were determined. The CYP4A1 and CYP4A2 genes spanned 14,144 and 10,576 bp and contained 13 and 12 exons, respectively. The CYP4A1 gene contained an additional intron that splits the exon corresponding to exon 12 of the CYP4A2 gene, resulting in a noncoding 13th exon in CYP4A1. The exon numbers of these genes were distinct among known P450 genes, and yet several intron-exon junctions along the P450 amino acid coding region were conserved with P450 genes in the CYP2, CYP11, and CYP21 gene families. On the basis of these data, the number of exons in the putative ancestral P450 gene was estimated. The evolutionary implications of this finding are discussed. No consensus TATA sequence was found upstream of either gene's transcription start site. Comparison of the CYP4A1 and CYP4A2 promoters with other genes that lack TATA boxes did not reveal any strong consensus sequence in their immediate upstream regions. However, a conserved 19-bp sequence was located at the positions of 42 and 48 bp upstream from the CYP4A1 and CYP4A2 genes' start sites, respectively. The CYP4A2 gene also contained two 378-bp direct repeats upstream from the start site; these repeats are derived from portions of the long interspersed middle repetitive element present in high copy numbers in the rat genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequences of the swine 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21) and a portion of the opposite-strand overlapping gene of unknown function previously described in human.

We sequenced a 4.8 kb BamHI swine genomic fragment comprising the entire 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21) and its 5' and 3' flanking segments. The CYP21 coding sequence spanned 3050 bp and as in other species, comprised 10 exons separated by the corresponding introns. The deduced protein corresponded to 492 amino acid residues, 8 of which differed from a previously sequenced swine CYP21 enzyme. The 5' flanking region displayed several putative cis-acting elements which may be involved in either constitutive or cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) dependent transcriptional expression. We also characterized within the 5' region a 139 bp repetitive element of the short interspersed nucleotide element (SINE) family located on the opposite strand. In addition, we characterized the last five exons of a human-like opposite strand gene (OSG/X) located in the swine at the 3' end of CYP21. The sequenced part of this OSG/X displayed a very strong homology with its human counterpart.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characteristics of two salmonid repetitive DNA families in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

DNA sequence and genomic location of two repetitive DNA families in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were investigated to develop molecular markers for chromosome identification. DNA fragments with sequences similar to the tandem and interspersed elements described in other salmonids were isolated. One clone showed differential hybridization to 12 pairs of chromosomes and should be a useful marker for physical mapping.

Animals↗

Cloning and characterization of the white and topaz eye color genes from the sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina.

Clones carrying the white and topaz eye color genes have been isolated from genomic DNA libraries of the blowfly Lucilia cuprina using cloned DNA from the homologous white and scarlet genes, respectively, of Drosophila melanogaster as probes. On the basis of hybridization studies using adjacent restriction fragments, homologous fragments were found to be colinear between the genes from the two species. The nucleotide sequence of a short region of the white gene of L. cuprina has been determined, and the homology to the corresponding region of D. melanogaster is 72%; at the derived amino acid level the homology is greater (84%) due to a marked difference in codon usage between the species. A major difference in genome organization between the two species is that whereas the DNA encompassing the D. melanogaster genes is free of repeated sequences, that encompassing their L. cuprina counterparts contains substantial amounts of repeated sequences. This suggests that the genome of L. cuprina is organized on the short period interspersion pattern. Repeated sequence DNA elements, which appear generally to be short (less than 1 kb) and which vary in repetitive frequency in the genome from greater than 10(4) copies to less than 10(2) copies, are found in at least two different locations in the clones carrying these genes. One type of repeat structure, found by sequencing, consists of tandemly repeating short sequences. Restriction site and restriction fragment length polymorphisms involving both the white and topaz gene regions are found within and between populations of L. cuprina.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The gene encoding DNA polymerase alpha from Plasmodium falciparum.

The gene encoding DNA polymerase alpha from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has been sequenced and characterised. The deduced amino acid sequence possesses the seven sequence motifs which characterise eukaryotic replicative DNA polymerases (I-VII) and four of five motifs (A-E) identified in alpha DNA polymerases. The predicted protein also contains sequences which are reminiscent of Plasmodium proteins but absent from other DNA polymerases. These include four blocks of additional amino acids interspersed with the conserved motifs of the DNA polymerases, four asparagine rich sequences and a novel carboxy-terminal extension. Repetitive sequences similar to those found in other malarial proteins are also present. cDNA-directed PCR was used to establish the presence of these features in the approximately 7kb mRNA. The coding sequence contains a single intron. The gene for DNAPol alpha is located on chromosome 4 and is transcribed in both asexual and sexual erythrocytic stages of the parasite.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genomes were forged by massive bombardments with retroelements and retrosequences.

Retroposition is an efficient route to move coding regions around the genome 'in search' of novel regulatory elements and to shotgun regulatory elements into the genome 'in search' of new target genes. The templates for such retrogenes are mRNAs, and for regulatory retronuons (nuon = any definable nucleic acid sequence) usually small non-mRNAs (snmRNAs). An example in support of the 'master gene' model for SINEs (short interspersed repetitive elements) is provided with neuronal BC1 RNA. Furthermore, an alternative explanation of LINE (long interspersed repetitive elements) involvement in the generation of SINEs is given. I will also argue that the status of transposable elements with respect to the host resembles more symbiosis than parasitiasis and that host defense is often lenient as if even to 'tolerate or support' retronuons. Finally the paradox of evolution's lack of foresight and the future exaptive use of retronuons is being dealt with by referring to W.F. Doolittle's 'Hierarchical Approaches to Genome Evolution'.

Animals↗