EVOLUTION OF RIBOSOMAL DNA: FIFTY MILLION YEARS OF RECORDED HISTORY IN THE FROG GENUS RANA

Ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers are highly divergent in the phytopathogenic ascomycete Fusarium sambucinum (Gibberella pulicaris)

Variation within the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8s ribosomal DNA gene of the heterothallic phytopathogenic filamentous fungus, Fusarium sambucinum (teleomorph = Gibberella pulicaris), was examined in 86 strains from diverse geographical locations by PCR amplification and direct sequencing in order to measure intraspecific divergence within the ITS region. Sequence analysis revealed three ITS types (A, B, C), within which divergence was extremely low (0-2.3%). Surprisingly, the level of intraspecific divergence observed between ITS types, A----B = 14.3%, A----C = 15%, and B----C = 4.6%, is much greater than that reported for any other species. The degree to which transition/transversions and insertion/deletions make up the pattern of ITS sequence evolution both within and between types was analyzed. The sequences of the ITS types exhibit a C-T transition bias together with a GC insertion/deletion bias. In comparison, the genic flanking sequences, including the 5.8s rDNA gene and 5' end of the 28s large nuclear rDNA, are highly conserved. By the criteria of mating and DNA-DNA hybridization, all the strains examined represent a single species. Discordance between the ITS sequence data and other molecular and genetic data on F. sambucinum is discussed.

Evidence for biased gene conversion in concerted evolution of ribosomal DNA

Concerted evolution is the production and maintenance of homogeneity within repeated families of DNA. Two mechanisms--unequal crossing over and biased gene conversion--have been the principal explanations of concerted evolution. Concerted evolution of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) arrays is thought to be largely the result of unequal crossing over. However, concerted evolution of rDNA in parthenogenetic lizards of hybrid origin is strongly biased toward one of two parental sequences, which is consistent with biased gene conversion as the operative mechanism. The apparent gene conversions are independent of initial genome dosage and result in homogenization of rDNA arrays across all nucleolar organizer regions.

Differentiation of restriction sites in ribosomal DNA in the genus Apodemus

Southern blot analysis of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from seven species of Apodemus was carried out in order to examine the genetic relationships between the species. Analysis of heterogeneity in rDNA spacers in A. sylvaticus, A. flavicollis, A. semotus, A. agrarius, A. argenteus, A. speciosus, and A. peninsulae, using 13 different restriction enzymes and cloned mouse rDNA probes, revealed that the families of rDNA in these species can be characterized by restriction maps which show the major constituents of rDNA repeating units (repetypes). Based on differences in the arrangement of restriction sites, sequence divergence among the different major repetypes was estimated. Among the seven species of Apodemus examined, the major repetypes of A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus were the most closely related, having only 1.0% sequence divergence. These repetypes and those of the remaining five species differ substantially from one another, with 4.3-8.5% divergence.