The 5S ribosomal RNA of Euglena gracilis cytoplasmic ribosomes is closely homologous to the 5S RNA of the trypanosomatid protozoa

Complete modification maps for the cytosolic small and large subunit rRNAs of Euglena gracilis: functional and evolutionary implications of contrasting patterns between the two rRNA components

In the protist Euglena gracilis, the cytosolic small subunit (SSU) rRNA is a single, covalently continuous species typical of most eukaryotes; in contrast, the large subunit (LSU) rRNA is naturally fragmented, comprising 14 separate RNA molecules instead of the bipartite (28S+5.8S) eukaryotic LSU rRNA typically seen. We present extensively revised secondary structure models of the E. gracilis SSU and LSU rRNAs and have mapped the positions of all of the modified nucleosides in these rRNAs (88 in SSU rRNA and 262 in LSU rRNA, with only 3 LSU rRNA modifications incompletely characterized). The relative proportions of ribose-methylated nucleosides and pseudouridine (∼60% and ∼35%, respectively) are closely similar in the two rRNAs; however, whereas the Euglena SSU rRNA has about the same absolute number of modifications as its human counterpart, the Euglena LSU rRNA has twice as many modifications as the corresponding human LSU rRNA. The increased levels of rRNA fragmentation and modification in E. gracilis LSU rRNA are correlated with a 3-fold increase in the level of mispairing in helical regions compared to the human LSU rRNA. In contrast, no comparable increase in mispairing is seen in helical regions of the SSU rRNA compared to its homologs in other eukaryotes. In view of the reported effects of both ribose-methylated nucleoside and pseudouridine residues on RNA structure, these correlations lead us to suggest that increased modification in the LSU rRNA may play a role in stabilizing a 'looser' structure promoted by elevated helical mispairing and a high degree of fragmentation.

Diplonema spp. possess spliced leader RNA genes similar to the Kinetoplastida

The phylogenetic placement of the genus Diplonema in relation to fellow phylum members Euglena and Trypanosoma has been uncertain. The spliced leader RNA gene, present in the euglenids and kinetoplastids in distinct forms, was a potential target for resolving this question. The first indication supporting a closer relationship to the kinetoplastids was the recognition of potential spliced leader RNA exon sequences in the genomic DNA of two Diplonema isolates. Examination of total cell RNA revealed transcripts in the anticipated size range at approximately 120 and 130 nt. Specific PCR amplification of a spliced leader RNA gene repeat was performed. The hallmark features of the kinetoplastid-type spliced leader RNA, specifically the 39-nt exon, splice-donor site, Sm-binding site and poly-T tract and the potential to form the requisite stem-loop structures, were found. Diplonema spp. are different from the kinetoplastids by virtue of C residues at positions 4 and 18 in the exon. While the intergenic spacer regions varied in size, each contained the complete sequence or remnants of a 5S ribosomal RNA gene. Possession of a functional spliced leader RNA gene of the kinetoplastid variety in Diplonema supports a closer evolutionary relationship with this group than with the euglenids.

RNA: RNA interactions in the large subunit ribosomal RNA of Euglena gracilis

In Euglena gracilis, the cytoplasmic large subunit (LSU) rRNA is composed of 14 discrete small RNA species that must somehow interact in the functional ribosome. We have isolated native complexes of Euglena rRNA and show here that the largest of these complexes contains eight of the 14 LSU rRNA species. Several of these small rRNA species are able to associate in vitro to reform an isolated domain of LSU rRNA structure.

In Euglena, spliced-leader RNA (SL-RNA) and 5S rRNA genes are tandemly repeated

In Euglena gracilis, a 26 nucleotide leader sequence (spliced leader sequence = SL) is transferred by trans-splicing to the 5' end of a vast majority of cytoplasmic mRNAs (8). The SL originates from the 5' extremity of a family of closely related snRNAs (SL-RNAs) which are about 100 nucleotide long. In this paper we present the nucleotide sequences of two SL-RNA genes, confirming the sequences previously established by sequencing purified SL-RNAs. Although some SL-RNA genes are dispersed throughout the genome, we show that the majority of SL-RNA genes are located on 0.6 kb repeated units which also encode the cytoplasmic 5S rRNA. We estimate that the copy number of these repeated units is about 300 per haploid genome. The association of SL-RNA and 5S rRNA genes in tandemly repeated units is also found in nematodes but paradoxically does not exist in trypanosomes which are phylogenically much closer to Euglena. We also show that a high number of sequences analogous to the 26 nucleotide SL are dispersed throughout the genome and are not associated with SL-RNAs.

Bodo caudatus medRNA and 5S rRNA genes: tandem arrangement and phylogenetic analyses

The Bodo caudatus mini-exon-derived RNA gene repeat has been isolated following PCR amplification. The DNA sequence of the mini-exon fits the trypanosomatid mini-exon consensus, supporting inclusion of Bodo in this group. The B. caudatus mini-exon repeat also contains the 5S ribosomal RNA gene, an organization found in the trypanosome T. rangeli and five genera of nematodes. Phylogenetic analysis of both mini-exon-derived RNA gene and 5S gene sequences show that the free-living B. caudatus is more closely related to the monogenetic Crithidia than the digenetic Trypanosoma. Similarity between the Euglena gracilis trans-spliced leader and trypanosomatid mini-exon sequences was also noted during these comparisons.

Sequence analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction of the genes encoding the large and small subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from the chlorophyll b-containing prokaryote Prochlorothrix hollandica

Prochlorophytes similar to Prochloron sp. and Prochlorothrix hollandica have been suggested as possible progenitors of the plastids of green algae and land plants because they are prokaryotic organisms that possess chlorophyll b (chl b). We have sequenced the Prochlorothrix genes encoding the large and small subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase(rubisco), rbcL and rbcS, for comparison with those of other taxa to assess the phylogenetic relationship of this species. Length differences in the large subunit polypeptide among all sequences compared occur primarily at the amino terminus, where numerous short gaps are present, and at the carboxy terminus, where sequences of Alcaligenes eutrophus and non-chlorophyll b algae are several amino acids longer. Some domains in the small subunit polypeptide are conserved among all sequences analyzed, yet in other domains the sequences of different phylogenetic groups exhibit specific structural characteristics. Phylogenetic analyses of rbcL and rbcS using Wagner parsimony analysis of deduced amino acid sequences indicate that Prochlorothrix is more closely related to cyanobacteria than to the green plastid lineage. The molecular phylogenies suggest that plastids originated by at least three separate primary endosymbiotic events, i.e., once each leading to green algae and land plants, to red algae, and to Cyanophora paradoxa. The Prochlorothrix rubisco genes show a strong GC bias, with 68% of the third codon positions being G or C. Factors that may affect the GC content of different genomes are discussed.

Fourteen internal transcribed spacers in the circular ribosomal DNA of Euglena gracilis

Cytoplasmic ribosomes from Euglena gracilis contain 16 rRNA components. These include the typical 5 S, 5.8 S and 19 S rRNAs that are found in other eukaryotes as well as 13 discrete small RNAs that interact to form the equivalent of eukaryotic 25-28 S rRNA (accompanying paper). We have utilized DNA sequencing techniques to establish that genes for all of these RNAs, with the exception of 5 S rRNA, are encoded by the 11,500 base-pair circular rDNA of E. gracilis. We have determined the relative positions of the coding regions for the 19 S rRNA and the 14 components (including 5.8 S rRNA) of the large subunit rRNA, thereby establishing that the genes for each of these rRNAs are separated by internal transcribed spacers. We conclude that sequences corresponding to these spacers are removed post-transcriptionally from a high molecular weight pre-rRNA, resulting in a multiply fragmented large subunit rRNA. Internal transcribed spacers, in positions analogous to some of these additional Euglena rDNA spacers, have been found in the rDNA of other organisms and organelles. This finding supports the view that at least some internal transcribed spacers may have been present at an early stage in the evolution of rRNA genes.

Sequence and evolution of the regions between thr rrn operons in the chloroplast genome of Euglena gracilis bacillaris

The rRNA genes are arranged in three sequential operons preceded by a fourth partial operon. Part or all of a 1462 nucleotide sequence extending from within the 3'-end of the 23S rRNA gene, across the 5S rRNA gene and a presumptive transcription terminator, to within the first structural gene (for 16S rRNA) of the rrn operon was determined for each region between operons. Homologies of the 3'-end of the 23S rRNA gene with the 4.5S rRNA genes of higher plant chloroplasts, and of the 5S rRNA gene with other 5S rRNA genes were examined. The region preceding the 16S rRNA gene, which is expected to contain sites for initiation and regulation of rrn transcription, includes a 305 base-pair sequence with substantial homology with structural genes elsewhere in the chloroplast genome. The homologies suggest that this portion of the leader evolved from copies of parts of the structural genes which had been inserted before the 16S rRNA genes. Thus the chloroplast rrn leader may provide a unique opportunity to study how a regulatory sequence evolved from well-defined structural genes.

Two 5S genes are expressed in chicken somatic cells

Two 5S RNA species were detected in chicken cells. 5S I RNA has the nucleotide sequence of chicken 5S RNA previously published by Brownlee et al. (1) and 5S II RNA differs from it by 10 mutations. The secondary structure of both species is compatible with that proposed for other eukaryotic 5S RNAs. 5S II RNA represents 50-60% of 5S I RNA. Both species were found in total chicken liver and brain and were present in polysomes in the same relative proportions. Only one 5S RNA species could be detected in rat liver and HeLa cells. Chicken is the first vertebrate described so far in which two 5S RNA genes are expressed in somatic cells.

Phylogeny of protozoa deduced from 5S rRNA sequences

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from three protozoa, Bresslaua vorax, Euplotes woodruffi and Chlamydomonas sp. have been determined and aligned together with the sequences of 12 protozoa species including unicellular green algae already reported by the authors and others. Using this alignment, a phylogenic tree of the 15 species of protozoa has been constructed. The tree suggests that the ancestor for protozoa evolved at an early time of eukaryotic evolution giving two major groups of organisms. One group, which shares a common ancestor with vascular plants, contains a unicellular green flagellate (Chlamydomonas) and unicellular green algae. The other group, which shares a common ancestor with the multicellular animals, includes various flagellated protozoa (including Euglena), ciliated protozoa and slime molds. Most of these protozoa appear to have separated from one another at a fairly early period of eukaryotic evolution.

Small-size ribosomal RNA species in Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal RNA was analyzed electrophoresis. On agarose gels, where both large- and small-size species are grossly fractionable, it revealed two bands in the small-size region. These were similar in size to the mammalian 5.8 S and 5 S species. Increased resolution, however, showed these two bands to be composite. The pseudo 5.8 S band contained three, and the pseudo 5 S two, discretely sized molecules. The ribosomal binding of four of these five novel species is apparently dependent on large ribosomal subunit proteins. One species is hydrogen bonded to the beta species of 24 S ribosomal RNA. The five species were estimated to be 261, 217, 197, 141 and 110 nucleotides long.

Consensus structure and evolution of 5S rRNA

A consensus structure model of 5S rRNA presenting all conserved nucleotides in fixed positions has been deduced from the primary and secondary structure of 71 eubacterial, archaebacterial, eukaryotic cytosolic and organellar molecules. Phylogenetically related groups of molecules are characterized by nucleotide deletions in helices III, IV and V, and by potential base pair interactions in helix IV. The group-specific deletions are correlated with the early branching pattern of a dendrogram calculated from nucleotide substitution data: the first major division separates the group of eubacterial and organellar molecules from a second group containing the common ancestors of archaebacterial and eukaryotic/cytosolic molecules. The earliest diverging branch of the eubacterial/organellar group includes molecules from Thermus thermophilus, T. aquaticus, Rhodospirillum rubrum, Paracoccus denitrificans and wheat mitochondria.

Two thraustochytrid 5S ribosomal RNAs

The complete nucleotide sequences of the 5S ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) of two thraustochytrids, Thraustochytrium visurgense and Schizochytrium, aggregatum, are AUGAGCCCUCAUAUCAUGUGGAGUGCACCGGAUCUCAUCCGAACUCCGUAGUUAAGCCACAUAGAGCGCGUC UAGUACUGCCGUAGGGGACUAGGUGGGAAGCACGCGUGGGGCUCAUU and ACAGCCGUUCAUACCACACGGAGA AUACCGGAUCUCGUUCGAACUCCGCAGUCAAGCCGUGUCGGGCGUGCUCAGUACUACCAUAGGGGACUGGGUGGGA AGCGUGCGUGACGGCUGUU, respectively. These sequences are discussed in terms of the apparent unity in secondary structure and strong divergence in primary structure exhibited by protist 5S rRNAs.

Generalized structures of the 5S ribosomal RNAs

The sequences of 5S ribosomal RNAs from a wide-range of organisms have been compared. All sequences fit a generalized 5S RNA secondary structural model. Twenty-three nucleotide positions are found universally, i.e., in 5S RNAs of eukaryotes, prokaryotes, archaebacteria, chloroplasts and mitochondria. One major distinguishing feature between the prokaryotic and eukaryotic 5S RNAs is the number of nucleotide positions between certain universal positions, e.g., prokaryotic 5S RNAs have three positions between the universal positions PuU40 and G44 (using the E. coli numbering system) and eukaryotic 5S RNAs have two. The archaebacterial 5S RNAs appear to resemble the eukaryotic 5S RNAs to varying degrees depending on the species of archaebacteria although all the RNAs conform with the prokaryotic "rule" of chain length between PuU40 and G44. The green plant chloroplast and wheat mitochondrial 5S RNAs appear prokaryotic-like when comparing the number of positions between universal nucleotides. Nucleotide positions common to eukaryotic 5S RNAs have been mapped; in addition, nucleotide sequences, helix lengths and looped-out residues specific to phyla are proposed. Several of the common nucleotides found in the 5S RNAs of metazoan somatic tissue differ in the 5S RNAs of oocytes. These changes may indicate an important functional role of the 5S RNA during oocyte maturation.

Nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from four jellyfishes

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from four jellyfishes, Spirocodon saltatrix, Nemopsis dofleini, Aurelia aurita and Chrysaora quinquecirrha have been determined. The sequences are highly similar to each other. A fairly high similarity was also found between these jellyfishes and a sea anemone, Anthopleura japonica.

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, and two nematodes, Rhabditis tokai and Caenorhabditis elegans

The nucleotide sequences of 5S rRNAs from a rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, and two nematodes, Rhabditis tokai and Caenorhabditis elegans have been determined. The rotifer has two 5S rRNA species that are composed of 120 and 121 nucleotides, respectively. The sequences of these two 5S rRNAs are the same except that the latter has an additional base at its 3'-terminus. The 5S rRNAs from the two nematode species are both 119 nucleotides long. The sequence similarity percents are 79% (Brachionus/Rhabditis), 80% (Brachionus/Caenorhabditis), and 95% (Rhabditis/Caenorhabditis) among these three species. Brachionus revealed the highest similarity to Lingula (89%), but not to the nematodes (79%).

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from a red alga, Porphyra yezoensis

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from Porphyra yezoensis has been determined to be: pACGUACGGCCAUAUCCGAGACACGCGUACCGGAACCCAUUCCGAAUUCCGAAGUCAAGCGUCCGCGAGUUGGGUUAGU - AAUCUGGUGAAAGAUCACAGGCGAACCCCCAAUGCUGUACGUC. This 5S rRNA sequence is most similar to that of Euglena gracilis (63% homology).

Nucleotide sequences of 5S ribosomal RNA from four oomycete and chytrid water molds

The nucleotide sequences of the 5S rRNAs of the oomycete water molds Saprolegnia ferax and Pythium hydnosporum and of the chytrid water molds Blastocladiella simplex and Phlyctochytrium irregulare were determined by chemical and enzymatic partial degradation of 3' and 5' end-labelled molecules, followed by gel sequence analysis. The two oomycete sequences differed in 24 positions and the two chytrid sequences differed in 27 positions. These pairs differed in a mean of 44 positions. The chytrid sequences clearly most resemble the sequence from the zygomycete Phycomyces, while the oomycete sequences appear to be allied with those from protozoa and slime molds.