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Lovero D, Porcelli D, Giordano L, Lo Giudice C, Picardi E, Pesole G, Pignataro E, Palazzo A, Marsano RM. Structural and Comparative Analyses of Insects Suggest the Presence of an Ultra-Conserved Regulatory Element of the Genes Encoding Vacuolar-Type ATPase Subunits and Assembly Factors. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1127. [PMID: 37627011 PMCID: PMC10452791 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Gene and genome comparison represent an invaluable tool to identify evolutionarily conserved sequences with possible functional significance. In this work, we have analyzed orthologous genes encoding subunits and assembly factors of the V-ATPase complex, an important enzymatic complex of the vacuolar and lysosomal compartments of the eukaryotic cell with storage and recycling functions, respectively, as well as the main pump in the plasma membrane that energizes the epithelial transport in insects. This study involves 70 insect species belonging to eight insect orders. We highlighted the conservation of a short sequence in the genes encoding subunits of the V-ATPase complex and their assembly factors analyzed with respect to their exon-intron organization of those genes. This study offers the possibility to study ultra-conserved regulatory elements under an evolutionary perspective, with the aim of expanding our knowledge on the regulation of complex gene networks at the basis of organellar biogenesis and cellular organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenica Lovero
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università Degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.L.); (D.P.); (E.P.); (G.P.); (E.P.); (A.P.)
- MASMEC Biomed S.p.A., Via Delle Violette 14, 70026 Modugno, Italy
| | - Damiano Porcelli
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università Degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.L.); (D.P.); (E.P.); (G.P.); (E.P.); (A.P.)
- METALABS S.R.L., Corso A. De Gasperi 381/1, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Luca Giordano
- Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Justus-Liebig-University, Aulweg 130, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Claudio Lo Giudice
- Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche (ITB), Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Via Giovanni Amendola, 122, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Ernesto Picardi
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università Degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.L.); (D.P.); (E.P.); (G.P.); (E.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Graziano Pesole
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università Degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.L.); (D.P.); (E.P.); (G.P.); (E.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Eugenia Pignataro
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università Degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.L.); (D.P.); (E.P.); (G.P.); (E.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Antonio Palazzo
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università Degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.L.); (D.P.); (E.P.); (G.P.); (E.P.); (A.P.)
| | - René Massimiliano Marsano
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze Biotecnologie e Ambiente, Università Degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.L.); (D.P.); (E.P.); (G.P.); (E.P.); (A.P.)
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Zhan LL, Ding Z, Qian YH, Zeng QT. Convergent Intron Loss of MRP1 in Drosophila and Mosquito Species. J Hered 2011; 103:147-51. [DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esr095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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Kölsch G, Pedersen BV. Molecular phylogeny of reed beetles (Col., Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae): the signature of ecological specialization and geographical isolation. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2008; 48:936-52. [PMID: 18672382 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2008.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2007] [Revised: 05/06/2008] [Accepted: 05/27/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The Donaciinae consist of approximately 165 species predominantly occurring in the northern hemisphere. We analysed mitochondrial and nuclear DNA (COI, EF-1alpha) of 46 species to investigate their phylogeny and to discuss general topics in the context of insect herbivory (generalists versus specialists, ecological speciation). Phylogenetic reconstructions from various methodical approaches yielded very similar results. Clades corresponding to the traditional tribes/genera were recovered. Within the genus Donacia, species groups with characteristic host plant preference were identified. Estimated divergence times are discussed on the background of geological events. The origin of the Donaciinae is dated to 75-100 million years before present, after which they quickly diversified into the main groups. An initial split of those groups occurred in the Palaeocene. In the Eocene and Oligocene, major lineages specialized on certain host plants, where they radiated in the Miocene. This radiation was enforced by geographic isolation brought about by the final separation of America and Europe, after which there arose continental lineages within three larger species groups. In their evolution based on ecological specialization with a recently superimposed geographic isolation, the Donaciinae follow a pattern of specialists arising from generalists. Host plant shifts show that such a specialization is not necessarily an 'evolutionary dead-end'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Kölsch
- University of Hamburg, Zoological Institute, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany.
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Abstract
Mechanisms for loss and gain of introns are elusive. Reported here is a new pattern of intron loss which features a random loss of a single intron in a multiple-intron gene with its neighboring introns remained, which process is defined as intron exclusion. Intron exclusion is reminiscent of removal of a limited stretch of non-homologous sequence in a homologous recombination (HR) triggered by a double strand break (DSB), and therefore lends further evidence for a theory of intron loss through HR between a cDNA and its genomic intron-containing locus. Thus, a model for intron loss is formulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejin Hu
- Pharmacology Department, University of Pittsburgh, W1301, BST, 200 Lothrop Street, PA 15213, USA.
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Qiu H, Xia T, Chen X, Zhao X, Gan L, Feng S, Lei T, Yang Z. Cloning, comparative characterization of porcine SCAP gene, and identification of its two splice variants. Mol Genet Genomics 2006; 276:187-96. [PMID: 16705418 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-006-0134-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2005] [Accepted: 04/21/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Sterol responsive element binding protein (SREBP) cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) is the key regulator of activation of SREBPs, which stimulate most enzymes in cholesterol and lipid synthesis. In order to investigate the molecular basis of lipid metabolism in the pig, a unique model for fat deposition, we isolated and characterized the porcine SCAP. The 4,096-bp full-length porcine SCAP cDNA contains an open reading frame of 3,840 bp. The predicted SCAP protein consists of 1,280 amino acids of 55-92% identity with its vertebrate counterparts. The porcine SCAP gene consists of at least 19 exons and 18 introns, which span over 13 kb of the genome. The porcine SCAP gene was mapped to chromosome 13q21-22 using a porcine-rodent somatic cell hybrid panel. Comparison of SCAP genomic structures from various species revealed intron losses in porcine, Tetraodon and fugu SCAP, and intron gains in cow and chicken SCAP. Moreover, we isolated two novel splicing SCAP variants with 193-bp (variant 2) in-frame deletion from testis and a variant with 291-bp (variant 3) in-frame deletion from liver and muscle, which may affect the function of the porcine SCAP. In conclusion, the intron gains and losses appear to have contributed to the shape of the modern SCAP family. The splice variants detected, first to be reported in any species, may be involved in the particulars of the fat metabolism in the pig. Our data lay foundation for further study of SCAP function in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Qiu
- Lab of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
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