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  • Evolution  (274)
  • Springer  (274)
  • American Chemical Society
  • Springer Nature
  • 1995-1999  (207)
  • 1980-1984  (67)
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  • 1925-1929
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  • 1
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Acta biotheoretica 33 (1984), S. 35-50 
    ISSN: 1572-8358
    Keywords: Evolution ; falsification ; Darwinism ; philosophy of science
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract In this paper we discuss the epistemological positions of evolution theories. A sharp distinction is made between the theory that species evolved from common ancestors along specified lines of descent (here called “the theory of common descent”), and the theories intended as causal explanations of evolution (e.g. Lamarck's and Darwin's theory). The theory of common descent permits a large number of predictions of new results that would be improbable without evolution. For instance, (a) phylogenetic trees have been validated now; (b) the observed order in fossils of new species discovered since Darwin's time could be predicted from the theory of common descent; (c) owing to the theory of common descent, the degrees of similarity and difference in newly discovered properties of more or less related species could be predicted. Such observations can be regarded as attempts to falsify the theory of common descent. We conclude that the theory of common descent is an easily-falsifiable & often-tested & still-not-falsified theory, which is the strongest predicate a theory in an empirical science can obtain. Theories intended as causal explanations of evolution can be falsified essentially, and Lamarck's theory has been falsified actually. Several elements of Darwin's theory have been modified or falsified: new versions of a theory of evolution by natural selection are now the leading scientific theories on evolution. We have argued that the theory of common descent and Darwinism are ordinary, falsifiable scientific theories.
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  • 2
    ISSN: 1572-8358
    Keywords: Animal cognition ; Evolution ; Representation ; Computation ; Significance ; Phenomenology ; Autonomy
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract A distinction is made between two definitions of animal cognition: the one most frequently employed in cognitive sciences considers cognition as extracting and processing information; a more phenomenologically inspired model considers it as attributing to a form of the outside world a significance, linked to the state of the animal. The respective fields of validity of these two models are discussed along with the limitations they entail, and the questions they pose to evolutionary biologists are emphasized. This is followed by a presentation of a general overview of what might be the study of the evolution of knowledge in animals.
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  • 3
    ISSN: 1433-4909
    Keywords: Key words Thermococcus ; Pyrococcus ; Thermophilic ; Phosphofructokinase ; Evolution ; ADP ; Glycolysis ; ATP
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The ADP-dependent phosphofructokinase (PFK) from Thermococcus zilligii has been purified 950 fold; it had a specific activity of 190 U mg−1. The enzyme required Mg2+ ions for optimal activity and was specific for ADP. The forward reaction kinetics were hyperbolic for both cosubstrates (pH optimum of 6.4), and the apparent K m values for ADP and fructose-6-phosphate were 0.6 mM (apparent V max of 243 U mg−1) and 1.47 mM (apparent V max of 197 U mg−1), respectively. Significantly, the enzyme is indicated to be nonallosteric but was slightly activated by some monovalent cations including Na+ and K+. The protein had a subunit size of 42.2 kDa and an estimated native molecular weight of 66 kDa (gel filtration). Maximal reaction rates for the reverse reaction were attained at pH 7.5–8.0, and the apparent K m values for fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and AMP were 0.56 mM (apparent V max of 2.9 U mg−1) and 12.5 mM, respectively. The biochemical characteristics of this unique ADP-dependent enzymatic activity are compared to ATP and pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinases.
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  • 4
    ISSN: 1433-4909
    Keywords: Key wordsNatronomonas pharaonis ; Natronobacteria ; Archaea ; Serine protease ; Chymotrypsinogen ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract A protease of a molecular mass of approximately 30 kDa was isolated and purified from the haloalkaliphilic archaeon Natronomonas (formerly Natronobacterium) pharaonis. The enzyme hydrolyzed synthetic peptides, preferentially at the carboxyl terminus of phenylalanine or leucine, as well as large proteins. Hydrolysis occurred over the range of pH from 6 to 12, with an optimum at pH 10. The temperature optimum was 61°C. The enzyme was nearly equally active over the range of salt concentration from 0.5 to 4 M (NaCl or KCl). A strong cross-reaction with a polyclonal antiserum against human chymotrypsin was observed. Enzymatic activity was inhibited by typical serine protease inhibitors. There was significant homology between N-terminal and internal sequences from autolytic fragments and the sequence of bovine chymotrypsinogen B; the overall amino acid composition was similar to that of vertebrate chymotrypsinogens. Evidence for a zymogen-like processing of the protease was obtained. Cell extracts from other halobacteria exhibited similar proteolytic activity and immunoreactivity. The data suggested a widespread distribution of a chymotrypsinogen B-like protease among halo- and haloalkaliphilic Archaea.
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  • 5
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words Antigen processing ; Evolution ; Cell surface molecules ; Mhc ; Class I antigens
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
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  • 6
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words NRAMP ; Fish ; Carp ; Evolution ; Expression
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The mouse Lsh/Ity/Bcg locus regulates natural resistance to intracellular pathogens, and the Nramp1 gene was isolated as its candidate. Nramp is part of a small family of at least two genes, Nramp1 and Nramp2. In the present study, a full-length cDNA for carp NRAMP has been isolated and characterized. Nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence analysis indicate that the carp NRAMP encodes a 548 amino acid membrane protein with 12 putative transmembrane domains, two N-linked glycosylation sites, and an evolutionarily conserved consensus transport motif. The peptide sequence identity among carp and human NRAMP2 is 78%, and 65% with human NRAMP1. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that carp NRAMP is ubiquitously expressed. Phylogenetic analysis, using neigbor-joining, showed that the carp NRAMP protein clustered together with mammalian NRAMP2 proteins.
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  • 7
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    Immunogenetics 50 (1999), S. 301-308 
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words T-cell receptors ; Variable region genes ; Evolution ; Phylogeny ; Diversity
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The receptor of a T lymphocyte (TCR) recognizes nonself antigens in the company of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules presented to it by the antigen-presenting cell. The variable region of TCR is encoded by either a concatenation of variable region (TCR-V), diversity region (TCR-D), and joining region (TCR-J) genes, or a concatenation of TCR-V and TCR-J genes. The TCR-V genes exist as a multigene family in vertebrate species. Here we study the evolutionary relationships of TCR-V genes from humans, sheep, cattle, rabbits, mice, and chicken. These six species can be classified into two groups according to the frequency of γδ T-cells in their peripheral T-cell populations. The "γδ low" group of species includes humans and mice, in which γδ T-cells constitute very limited portion of the T-cell population. The "γδ high" group includes sheep, cattle, rabbits, and chicken, in which γδ T-cells comprise up to 60% of the T-cell population. Here, we compiled TCR-V sequences from the six species and conducted a phylogenetic analysis. We identified various TCR-V gene subgroups based on the analysis. We found that humans and mice have representatives from nearly all of the subgroups identified, while other species have lost subgroups to different extent. Therefore, the γδ low species have a high degree of diversity of TCR-V genes, while γδ high species all have limited diversity of TCR-V genes. This pattern is similar to that found for immunoglobulin variable region (IGV) genes.
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  • 8
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    Immunogenetics 50 (1999), S. 329-335 
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words Marsupials ; Light chains ; Variable regions ; IGK ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  A full-length and several partial cDNAs encoding IGK light chains from the marsupial South American opossum, Monodelphis domestica, were isolated and characterized. Using these clones as a starting point, the expressed IGKV repertoire was sampled by anchored polymerase chain reaction using an IGKC-specific primer. Based on nucleotide sequences of twenty unique, expressed IGKV-J combinations, there are at least four IGKV families and two J segments. Southern blot analysis revealed each IGK-V family contains multiple gene segments totaling at least thirty-five IGKV in the opossum genome. No evidence for particular, recurrent IGKV-J combinations in the opossum IGK repertoire was seen, rather the V-J combinations appeared random and diverse. Each of the four IGKV families appear more closely related to V segments from placental mammals than to each other, suggesting the duplication of the IGKV families prior to the separation of marsupials and placental mammals more than one-hundred-million years ago. Overall, the complexity of opossum light chain V segments appears greater than that found in the heavy chain, and light chains are likely to contribute significantly to Ig diversity in this species.With this report, the homologues encoding all three classes of eutherian Ig chains, IGH, IGL, and IGK, have been described in a non-placental mammal.
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  • 9
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words MHC ; MIC ; Nonhuman primates ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
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  • 10
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    Immunogenetics 49 (1999), S. 295-302 
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words Major histocompatibility complex ; Class II ; Antigen processing ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Proper peptide presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-encoded class II antigens is dependent on the products of the MHC DM loci. We identified the rabbit orthologues (RLA-DMA and -DMB) of human HLA-DMA and -DMB and found that they have 76.9% and 78.8% identity with HLA-DMA and -DMB, respectively. Like classical class II MHC genes, RLA-DM genes are more closely related to human HLA-DM genes than to mouse H2-DM. Among the DM family, there is a high degree of variability at the amino terminus of the DMa chains, and length variability in the cytoplasmic tails of both DMα and DMβ. The rabbit DM genes are coexpressed with class II genes in lymphoid tissues, as are the DM genes of other mammals. The RLA-DM locus maps to the class II region of the rabbit MHC, and is flanked by the DP and DOB loci. Despite having some similarities to class II genes of bony fishes, the DM family represents a separate branch of the MHC class II family.
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  • 11
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words Mhc ; Class II A ; Cichlid ; Fish ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
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  • 12
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words Beta2-microglobulin ; Evolution ; Sturgeon ; cDNA ; Genomic
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
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  • 13
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    Bulletin of volcanology 59 (1997), S. 161-170 
    ISSN: 1432-0819
    Keywords: Key words Structure ; Evolution ; Uplift ; Geodetic modeling ; Alban Hills
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract  The Alban Hills, a Quaternary volcanic center lying west of the central Apennines, 15–25 km southeast of Rome, last erupted 19 ka and has produced approximately 290 km3 of eruptive deposits since the inception of volcanism at 580 ka. Earthquakes of moderate intensity have been generated there at least since the Roman age. Modern observations show that intermittent periods of swarm activity originate primarily beneath the youngest features, the phreatomagmatic craters on the west side of the volcano. Results from seismic tomography allow identification of a low-velocity region, perhaps still hot or partially molten, more than 6 km beneath the youngest craters and a high-velocity region, probably a solidified magma body, beneath the older central volcanic construct. Thirty centimeters of uplift measured by releveling supports the contention that high levels of seismicity during the 1980s and 1990s resulted from accumulation of magma beneath these craters. The volume of magma accumulation and the amount of maximum uplift was probably at least 40×106 m3 and 40 cm, respectively. Comparison of newer levelings with those completed in 1891 and 1927 suggests earlier episodes of uplift. The magma chamber beneath the western Alban Hills is probably responsible for much of the past 200 ka of eruptive activity, is still receiving intermittent batches of magma, and is, therefore, continuing to generate modest levels of volcanic unrest. Bending of overburden is the most likely cause of the persistent earthquakes, which generally have hypocenters above the 6-km-deep top of the magma reservoir. In this view, the most recent uplift and seismicity are probably characteristic and not precursors of more intense activity.
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  • 14
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; κ-Casein ; Cytochrome b ; Artiodactyla ; Ruminantia ; Caprinae ; Capricornis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Nucleotide sequences for the κ-casein precursor proteins have been determined from the genomic DNAs or hair roots of the Ruminantia. The coding regions, exons 2, 3, and 4, were amplified separately via the three kinds of PCRs and then directly sequenced. The primers were designed from the sequence of bovine κ-casein gene; they were applicable for the amplification of the κ-casein genes from the 13 species in the Ruminantia except exon 2 of the lesser mouse deer. These results permitted an easy phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of an autosomal gene. A phylogenetic tree was constructed from the mature K-casein sequences and compared with the tree of the cytochrome b genes which were sequenced from the same individuals. The Cervidae (sika deer, Cervus nippon) were separated from the branch of the Bovidae on the tree of κ-casein genes with a relatively high confidence level of the bootstrap analysis, but included in the branch of the Bovidae on the tree of cytochrome b genes. The κ-casein tree indicated a monophyly of the subfamily Caprinae, although the internal branches were uncertain in the Caprinae. The tree based on the nucleotide sequences of cytochrome b genes clearly showed the relationships of the closely related species in the genus Capricornis consisting of serow (C. smatorensis), Japanese serow (C. crispus), and Formosan serow (C. swinhoei). These results would be explained by the difference of resolving power between the κ-casein and the cytochrome b sequences.
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  • 15
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    Journal of molecular evolution 43 (1996), S. 399-404 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Asarum ; Dioscorea ; Angiosperms ; Evolution ; Legumins ; Seed proteins
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Analysis of legumin-encoding cDNAs fromDioscorea caucasica Lipsky (Dioscoreaceae) and fromAsarum europaeum L. (Aristolochiaceae) shows that there is an especially methionine-rich legumin subfamily present in the lower angiosperm clades including the Monocotyledoneae. It is characterized by a methionine content of 3–4 mol% which is roughly triple the methionine proportion of most other legumins. These “MetR” legumins, if present, still have to be detected in the higher angiosperms including the important seed crops. Evolutionary analysis suggests that the MetR legumins are the result of a gene duplication allowing the differentiation of legumin genes according to their sulfur content. The duplication event must have taken place before the split into mono- and dicotyledonous plants but probably after the separation of angiosperms and gymnosperms.
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  • 16
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    Journal of molecular evolution 43 (1996), S. 685-689 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Retroposons ; Integration targets ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Genomic DNA fragments generated by the reverse transcription of cellular RNA are called retroposons. Because they are flanked by short repeats, mammalian retroposons are believed to integrate at staggered chromosomal breaks. Recently, a significant sequence pattern associated with the integration of Alu and ID repeats was identified (Jurka 1996). It is represented by the 5′ TTAAAA consensus sequence around the 5′ ends of flanking repeats of Alu, ID, as well as, of B1 and B2 retroposed elements as shown in this paper. This consensus is a potential target for enzymatic nicking which probably occurs in the complementary strand between 3′ AA and the following 3′ TTTT bases. The first four bases of the flanking repeats corresponding to the 3′ TTTT consensus sequence show some sequence variations that may be affected by complementary base pairing between the A-rich RNA tails and the DNA target sequences prior to nicking and reverse transcription. We discuss potential evidence for such base pairing based on correlated variations in nucleotide composition of different tail and target regions.
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  • 17
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Alleles ; Evolution ; Gene conversion ; Introns ; Nematode
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Globin genes from theCaenorhabditis speciesbriggsae andremanei were identified and compared with a previously describedC. elegans globin gene. The encoded globins share between 86% and 93% amino acid identity, with most of the changes in or just before the putative B helix.C. remanei was found to have two globin alleles,Crg1-1 andCrgl-2. The coding sequence for each is interrupted by a single intron in the same position. The exons of the two genes are only 1 % divergent at the nucleotide level and encode identical polypeptides. In contrast, intron sequence divergence is 16% and numerous insertions and deletions have significantly altered the size and content of both introns. Genetic crosses show thatCrg1-1 andCrgl-2 segregate as alleles. Homozygous lines for each allele were constructed and northern analysis confirmed the expression of both alleles. These data reveal an unusual situation wherein two alleles encoding identical proteins have diverged much more rapidly in their introns than the silent sites of their coding sequences, suggesting multiple gene conversion events.
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  • 18
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Expression patterns ; α-Amylase ; Glucose repression ; Starch induction ; Intra- and interspecific variation ; Drosophila ; Gene expression ; Regulatory genes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Intraspecific variation of α-amylase activity in D. melanogaster and D. immigrans, which is distantly related to D. melanogaster, and interspecific variation of α-amylase activity in 18 Drosophila species were examined. The amount of intraspecific variation of α-amylase activities measured in terms of coefficient of variation in D. melanogaster and D. immigrans was one-half and one-tenth or less, respectively, of the interspecific variation in 18 Drosophila species. We also surveyed the response patterns of α-amylase activity to dietary carbohydrates at the larval and adult stages. The levels of α-amylase activity depended on both repression by dietary glucose (glucose repression) and induction by dietary starch (starch induction). In general, our data suggest that glucose repression was conserved among species at both stages while starch induction was mainly observed in larvae, although the degree of the response depended on species. In D. lebanonensis lebanonensis and D. serrata, larvae expressed electrophoretically different α-amylase variants (isozymes) from those of adult flies. These results may suggest that the regulatory systems responsible both for the response to environment and developmental expression are different among species in Drosophila.
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  • 19
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Soybean ; Ferritin ; Plant-animal ; Monocotyledons ; Dicotyledons ; Plastid ; Gene organization ; Evolution ; Intron
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Ferritin, a protein widespread in nature, concentrates iron −1011−1012-fold above the solubility within a spherical shell of 24 subunits; it derives in plants and animals from a common ancestor (based on sequence) but displays a cytoplasmic location in animals compared to the plastid in contemporary plants. Ferritin gene regulation in plants and animals is altered by development, hormones, and excess iron; iron signals target DNA in plants but mRNA in animals. Evolution has thus conserved the two end points of ferritin gene expression, the physiological signals and the protein structure, while allowing some divergence of the genetic mechanisms. Comparison of ferritin gene organization in plants and animals, made possible by the cloning of a dicot (soy-bean) ferritin gene presented here and the recent cloning of two monocot (maize) ferritin genes, shows evolutionary divergence in ferritin gene organization between plants and animals but conservation among plants or among animals; divergence in the genetic mechanism for iron regulation is reflected by the absence in all three plant genes of the IRE, a highly conserved, noncoding sequence in vertebrate animal ferritin mRNA. In plant ferritin genes, the number of introns (n = 7) is higher than in animals (n = 3). Second, no intron positions are conserved when ferritin genes of plants and animals are compared, although all ferritin gene introns are in the coding region; within kingdoms, the intron positions in ferritin genes are conserved. Finally, secondary protein structure has no apparent relationship to intron/exon boundaries in plant ferritin genes, whereas in animal ferritin genes the correspondence is high. The structural differences in introns/exons among phylogenetically related ferritin coding sequences and the high conservation of the gene structure within plant or animal kingdoms suggest that kingdom-specific functional constraints may exist to maintain a particular intron/exon pattern within ferritin genes. In the case of plants, where ferritin gene intron placement is unrelated to triplet codons or protein structure, and where ferritin is targeted to the plastid, the selection pressure on gene organization may relate to RNA function and plastid/nuclear signaling.
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  • 20
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Multigene family ; Recombination ; Trypanosome ; Variant surface glycoprotein
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The surface of the parasitic protozoanTrypanosoma brucei spp. is covered with a dense coat consisting of a single type of glycoprotein molecule, the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). There may be as many as 1,000 genes for VSG within the genome ofT. brucei, and the switch of expression from one to another is the phenomenon of antigenic variation. As an approach to understanding the evolution of VSG genes we have determined the genomic DNA sequences of the eight genes encoding the variant surface glycoprotein 117 (VSG) family. From these data we have observed a number of features concerning the relationships between these genes: (1) there is a region of high variability confined to the N-terminus of the coding sequence, and comparison of the sequences with the available X-ray diffraction crystal structures suggests that two of the most variable stretches within the N-terminal domain are present on surface-exposed loops, indicating a role for epitope selection in evolution of these genes; (2) the 29 nucleotides surrounding the splice acceptor site are absolutely conserved in all eight 117 VSG genes; (3) numerous insertion/deletion mutations are located within or immediately downstream of the C-terminal protein-coding sequences: (4) within 500 by downstream of the insertion/deletion mutations are one or two copies of a repeat motif highly homologous to the recombinogenic 76-bp repeat sequences present upstream of many VSG basic copy genes and the expression-linked copy.
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  • 21
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Metalloproteinase ; Disintegrin ; Evolution ; Venom ; Phylogeny ; Gene duplication
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The evolution of the Metalloproteinase Disintegrin Cysteine-rich (MDC) gene family and that of the mammalian Matrix-degrading Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are compared. The alignment of snake venom and mammalian MDC and MMP precursor sequences generated a phylogenetic tree that grouped these proteins mainly according to their function. Based on this observation, a common ancestry is suggested for mammalian and snake venom MDCs; it is also possible that gene duplication of the already-assembled domain structure, followed by divergence of the copies, may have significantly contributed to the evolution of the functionally diverse MDC proteins. The data also suggest that the structural resemblance of the zinc-binding motif of venom MDCs and MMPs may best be explained by common ancestry and conservation of the proteolytic motifs during the divergence of the proteins rather than through convergent evolution.
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  • 22
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Krebs cycle ; Evolution ; Metabolism ; Citric acid cycle ; Chemical design
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The evolutionary origin of the Krebs citric acid cycle has been for a long time a model case in the understanding of the origin and evolution of metabolic pathways: How can the emergence of such a complex pathway be explained? A number of speculative studies have been carried out that have reached the conclusion that the Krebs cycle evolved from pathways for amino acid biosynthesis, but many important questions remain open: Why and how did the full pathway emerge from there? Are other alternative routes for the same purpose possible? Are they better or worse? Have they had any opportunity to be developed in cellular metabolism evolution? We have analyzed the Krebs cycle as a problem of chemical design to oxidize acetate yielding reduction equivalents to the respiratory chain to make ATP. Our analysis demonstrates that although there are several different chemical solutions to this problem, the design of this metabolic pathway as it occurs in living cells is the best chemical solution: It has the least possible number of steps and it also has the greatest ATP yielding. Study of the evolutionary possibilities of each one-taking the available material to build new pathways-demonstrates that the emergence of the Krebs cycle has been a typical case of opportunism in molecular evolution. Our analysis proves, therefore, that the role of opportunism in evolution has converted a problem of several possible chemical solutions into asingle-solution problem, with the actual Krebs cycle demonstrated to be the best possible chemical design. Our results also allow us to derive the rules under which metabolic pathways emerged during the origin of life.
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  • 23
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Histone H1° ; 3′ untranslated region ; Slippage ; Sequence simplicity ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The H1° gene has a long 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of 1,125 nucleotides in the rat and 1,310 in humans. Analysis of the sequences shows that they have features of simple DNA that suggest involvement of replication slippage in their evolution. These features include the length imbalance between the rat and human sequences; the abundance of single-base repeats, two-base runs and other simple motifs clustered along the sequence; and the presence of single-base repeat length polymorphisms in the rat and mouse sequences. Pairwise comparisons show numerous short insertions/deletions, often flanked by direct repeats. In addition, a proportion of short insertions/deletions results from length differences in conserved single-base repeats. Quantification of the sequence simplicity shows that simple sequences have been more actively incorporated in the human lineage than in the rodent lineage. The combination of insertions/deletions and nucleotide substitutions along the sequence gives rise to three main regions of homology: a highly variable central region flanked by more conserved regions nearest the coding region and the polyA addition site.
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  • 24
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    Journal of molecular evolution 16 (1980), S. 149-150 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Exons ; Evolution ; Heme-binding proteins
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary It is known that globin genes contain three exons with the middle exon coding for a four-helical supersecondary structure responsible for heme binding. Since this portion of the globin peptide chain can be structurally superimposed onto the cytochromec and cytochromeb 5 chains (Argos and Rossmann 1979), it can be inferred that the cytochromec gene will contain only one coding sequence while the cytochromeb 5 gene will be composed of three exons as found in the globin gene.
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  • 25
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    Journal of molecular evolution 16 (1980), S. 211-267 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Nucleic acids ; Proteins ; Natural selection ; Genetics ; Nonrandom molecular divergence ; Nonrandom REH theory ; Evolution ; mRNA ; DNA
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary REH theory is extended by deriving the theoretical equations that permit one to analyze the nonrandom molecular divergence of homologous genes and proteins. The nonrandomicities considered are amino acid and base composition, the frequencies with which each of the four nucleotides is replaced by one of the other three, unequal usage of degenerate codons, distribution of fixed base replacements at the three nucleotide positions within codons, and distributions of fixed base replacements among codons. The latter two distributions turn out to dominate the accuracy of genetic distance estimates. The negative binomial density is used to allow for the unequal mutability of different codon sites, and the implications of its two limiting forms, the Poisson and geometric distributions, are considered. It is shown that the fixation intensity — the average number of base replacements per variable codon - is expressible as the simple product of two factors, the first describing the asymmetry of the distribution of base replacements over the gene and the second defining the ratio of the average probability that a codon will fix a mutation to the probability that it will not. Tables are given relating these features to experimentally observable quantities inα hemoglobin,β hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromec, and the parvalbumin group of proteins and to the structure of their corre-sponding genes or mRNAs. The principal results are (1) more accurate methods of estimating parameters of evolutionary interest from experimental gene and protein sequence data, and (2) the fact that change in gene and protein structure has been a much less efficient process than previously believed in the sense of requiring many more base replacements to effect a given structural change than earlier estimation procedures had indicated. This inefficiency is directly traceable to Darwinian selection for the nonrandom gene or protein structures necessary for biological function. The application of these methods is illustrated by detailed consideration of the rabbitα -andβ hemoglobin mRNAs and the proteins for which they code. It is found that these two genes are separated by about 425 fixed base replacements, which is a factor of two greater than earlier estimates. The replacements are distributed over approximately 114 codon sites that were free to accept base mutations during the divergence of these two genes.
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    Journal of molecular evolution 17 (1981), S. 31-42 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Pea ; Mung bean ; Genome organization ; Evolution ; Amplification ; Repetitive DNA ; Single copy DNA
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    Notes: Abstract Essentially all of the sequences in the pea (Pisum sativum) genome which reassociate with single copy kinetics at standard (Tm -25°C) criterion follow repetitive kinetics at lower temperatures (about Tm-35°C). Analysis of thermal stability profiles for presumptive single copy duplexes show that they contain substantial mismatch even when formed at standard criterion. Thus most of the sequences in the pea genome which are conventionally defined as “single copy” are actually “fossil repeats” — that is, they are members of extensively diverged (mutuated) and thus presumably ancient families of repeated sequences. Coding sequences as represented by a cDNA probe prepared from poly-somal poly(A) + mRNA reassociate with single copy kinetics regardless of criterion and do not form mismatched duplexes. The coding regions thus appear to be composed of true single copy sequences but they cannot represent more than a few percent of the pea genome. Ancient diverged repeats are present, but not a prominent feature of the smaller mung bean (Vigna radiata) genome. An extension of a simple evolutionary model is proposed in which these and other differences in genome organization are considered to reflect different rates of sequence amplification or genome turnover during evolution. The model accounts for some of the differences between typical plant and animal genomes.
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  • 27
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    Journal of molecular evolution 17 (1981), S. 368-376 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Phylogeny ; Maximum likelihood ; Parsimony ; Estimation ; DNA sequences
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The application of maximum likelihood techniques to the estimation of evolutionary trees from nucleic acid sequence data is discussed. A computationally feasible method for finding such maximum likelihood estimates is developed, and a computer program is available. This method has advantages over the traditional parsimony algorithms, which can give misleading results if rates of evolution differ in different lineages. It also allows the testing of hypotheses about the constancy of evolutionary rates by likelihood ratio tests, and gives rough indication of the error of the estimate of the tree.
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  • 28
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    Journal of molecular evolution 18 (1981), S. 15-17 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Amino acid code ; Evolution ; Primitive codes ; Mitochondria
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    Notes: Summary Differences between mitochondrial codes and the universal code indicate that an evolutionary simplification has taken place, rather than a return to a more primitive code. However, these differences make it evident that the universal code is not the only code possible, and therefore earlier codes may have differed markedly from the previous code. The present universal code is probably a “frozen accident.” The change in CUN codons from leucine to threonine (Neurospora vs. yeast mitochondria) indicates that neutral or near-neutral changes occurred in the corresponding proteins when this code change took place, caused presumably by a mutation in a tRNA gene.
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  • 29
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Monomeric hemoglobins ; Dimeric hemoglobins ; Chironomus ; Antibodies ; Evolution ; Gene duplication
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    Notes: Summary The monomeric hemoglobins ofChironomus tentans andC. pallidivittatus have been isolated and separated into their respective components by gel chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel. The amino acid compositions of the purified components are given. The sequence of the 30 N-terminal amino acid residues of one of the monomeric components (Hb I fromC. pallidivittatus) was determined and found to be identical in almost all of its parts with the monomeric hemoglobins ofC. thummi (CTT III and CTT IV). Antibodies against the monomeric hemoglobins Hb I and Hb IIc and the dimeric fraction were highly specific and no cross reaction between dimeric and monomeric hemoglobins could be demonstrated. The antibodies against the monomers crossreact with the monomeric hemoglobins CTT III and CTT IV ofC. thummi. Taken together with genetic data, the immunological results indicate that divergence of monomeric from dimeric forms was an early event in the evolution of the various hemoglobins inChironomus.
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  • 30
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    Journal of molecular evolution 19 (1982), S. 20-27 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: GU base pairing ; RNA replication ; Globular proteins ; Genetic code ; Evolution
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    Notes: Summary It has previously been shown that the formation of GU base pairs in RNA copying processes leads to an accumulation of G and U in both strands of the replicating RNA, which results in a non-random distribution of base triplets. In the present paper, this distribution is calculated, and, using the χ2-test, a correlation between the distribution of triplets and the amino acid composition of the evolutionarily conservative interior regions of selected globular proteins is established. It is suggested that GU wobbling in early replication of RNA could have led to the observed amino acid composition of present-day protein interiors. If this hypothesis is correct, the GU wobbling must have been very extensive in the imprecisely replicating RNA, even reaching values close to the critical for stability of its double-helical structure. Implications of the hypothesis both for the evolution of the genetic code and of proteins are discussed.
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  • 31
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    Journal of molecular evolution 19 (1983), S. 203-213 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Phylogenetic distribution ; Repetitive-dispersed DNAs ; Speciation ; Transposons
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    Notes: Summary We have examined the phylogenetic distribution of a spectrum ofDrosophila repetitive-dispersed DNAs ranging from structurally complex transposable elements to scrambled middle repetitive sequences. Our data suggest that unlike typical “genes” these DNAs are unstable components of the drosophilid genome. The unusual behavior of these repetitive-dispersed DNAs raises the possibility that this type of sequence may have an important role in the evolution of the family Drosophilidae.
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  • 32
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    Journal of molecular evolution 15 (1980), S. 149-159 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Genes ; REH theory ; Genetic distance ; Evolution ; mRNA ; Nucleic acids
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary It is shown how REH theory in conjunction with mRNA or gene sequence data can be used to obtain estimates of the fixation intensity, the number of varions, and the total mutations fixed between homologous pairs of nucleic acids. These estimates are more accurate than those that can be derived from amino acid sequence data. The method is illustrated forα andβ hemoglobin genes and these improved estimates are compared with those made from the amino acid sequences for which those genes code. Significant differences are found between the estimates made by these two methods. For theβ hemoglobin gene sequences examined here, the fixation intensity is some-what less than the protein data had suggested, and the number of rations is considerably greater. Depending on the gene sequences examined, between 62 and 83% of the codons appear able to fix mutations during the divergences considered. This reflects the constraints of natural selection on acceptable mutations. The total number of base replacements separating the genes for human, mouse, and rabbitβ hemoglobin varies from 61 to 105 depending on the pair examined. Rabbitα andβ hemoglobin are separated by at least 290 fixed mutations. For such distantly related sequences estimates made from protein and mRNA data differ less, reflecting the higher quality of information from the many observed changes in primary structure. The effects of nonrandom gene structure on these evolutionary estimates and the fact that various genetic events are not equiprobable are discussed.
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  • 33
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    Journal of molecular evolution 21 (1984), S. 54-57 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Mitochondrion ; Cytochrome C ; Rhodospirillaceae ; Endosymbiosis ; rRNA ; Evolution
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    Notes: Summary The comparative morphology and pigmentation of protists suggest that those with tubular mitochondrial cristae belong to a different lineage than those with lamellar cristae and that the evolutionary divergence might have been very early. We propose that the difference in cristal morphology is the result of separate origins of the mitochondria from endosymbionts related to the Rhodospirillaceae (purple nonsulfur bacteria) but differing in the morphology of their internal membranes. Comparisons of the cytochromes c of protists and the Rhodospirillaceae and of 16s rRNA T1 oligonucleotide catalogs in the Rhodospirillaceae do not contradict, and in fact provide support for, the idea. More extensive evidence may be lacking simply because cytochromes c have been studied in very few protists with tubular mitochondrial cristae.
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  • 34
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    Journal of molecular evolution 21 (1984), S. 72-75 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Heat ; Rates of copy error ; Evolution
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    Notes: Summary Heat induces a number of premutational lesions (for example, the deamination of cytosine to uracil) in DNA and RNA. These kinds of errors occur in resting as well as replicating polynucleotides. However, an increase in temperature also raises the probability of copying error occurring in nucleic acids because of increased thermal noise in the replicative machinery. In most modern genetic systems, the majority of heat-induced lesions are efficiently repaired. It follows that the importance of heat-induced error increases as the effectiveness of repair declines. We show in this paper that the error rate of enzymatic polynucleotide copying is expected to increase monotonically with temperature. We also explore the effects of temperature variations on the early evolution of biological information transmission mechanisms.
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  • 35
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    Journal of molecular evolution 40 (1995), S. 570-577 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Alternate reading frames ; Evolution ; Overlapping frames ; Homology search ; Primary sequence analysis ; Polycistronic genes
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    Notes: Abstract Hypothetical Products from Noncoding Frames (i.e., HyPNoFs) are hypothetical, not-coded proteins, translated from alternate reading frames (i.e., coding+1 and coding+2) of cDNAs. HyPNoFs of CD4, PKC, oncostatin, bcl-2 proto-oncogene, tumor suppressor p53, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), and tumor necrosis factors a and β were searched as query sequences vs the SWISS-PROT data bank. Homology searches carried out revealed that hypothetical products (i.e., HyPNoFs) may share high similarity with real protein products actually coded. Sequence similarity of hypothetical products to real proteins is sometimes very high, suggesting common conformational features, according to the Sander and Schneider cutoff value. This finding supports the hypothesis that eukaryotic DNA, currently considered to be monocistronic, might occasionally have polycistronic regions, carrying different protein messages on overlapping frames. As yet, polycistronic genes have been observed in viral genomes only. The presence of polycistronic regions in eukaryotic genes is likely reminiscent of an ancient strategy, rather than a present feature of the genome in eukaryotes. These data suggest that thorough investigation of HyPNoFs is likely to improve our ability to trace genes' evolution and to investigate structure-function relationships of protein and DNA sequences.
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  • 36
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    Journal of molecular evolution 40 (1995), S. 601-607 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Prolamine ; Sperm proteins ; Evolution ; Mammals
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    Notes: Abstract Prolamine P1 genes have been sequenced following PCR amplification from 11 mammals representing five major mammalian orders: Rodentia (rat and guinea pig), Carnivora (cat and bear), Proboscidea (elephant), Perissodactyla (horse), and Artiodactyla (camel, deer, elk, moose, and gazelle). The predicted amino acid sequence for these genes together with previously reported sequences results in a data set of 25 different P1 genes and 30 different P1 amino acid sequences. The alignment of all these sequences reveals that prolamines are amongst the most rapidly diverging proteins studied. In spite of the large number of differences there are conserved motifs that are also common to birds such as the N-terminal ARYR followed by the triple alternating SRSRSR phosphorylation site. The central region contains 3 arginine clusters consisting of 5–6 arginines each. The C-terminus appears to be the most variable region of the protamines. Overall the molecular evolution of P1 genes is in agreement with the expected species evolution supporting that these genes have evolved vertically.
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  • 37
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Snake venom ; Bothrops ; Phospholipase ; Myotoxin ; Evolution ; cDNA ; Gene duplication ; Phylogeny
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    Notes: Abstract The sequence coding for a snake venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2), BJUPLA2, has been cloned from a Bothrops jararacussu venom gland cDNA library. The cDNA sequence predicts a precursor containing a 16-residue signal peptide followed by a molecule of 122 amino acid residues with a strong sequence similarity to group II snake venom PLA2's. A striking feature of the cDNA is the high sequence conservation of the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions in cDNAs coding for PLA2's from a number of viper species. The greatest sequence variation was observed between the regions coding for the mature proteins, with most substitutions occurring in nonsynonymous sites. The phylogenetic tree constructed by alignment of the amino acid sequence of BJUPLA2 with group II PLA2's in general groups them according to current taxonomical divisions and/or functional activity. It also suggests that gene duplications may have occurred at a number of different points during the evolution of snake venom group II PLA2's.
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  • 38
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    Journal of molecular evolution 41 (1995), S. 238-246 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Cellular slime molds ; Animals ; Fungi ; Plantae ; Maximum-likelihood method ; Evolution
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    Notes: Abstract The phylogenetic position of Dictyostelium inferred from 18S rRNA data contradicts that from protein data. Protein trees always show the close affinity of Dictyostelium with animals, fungi, and plants, whereas in 18S rRNA trees the branching of Dictyostelium is placed at a position before the massive radiation of protist groups including the divergence of the three kingdoms. To settle this controversial issue and to determine the correct position of Dictyostelium, we inferred the phylogenetic relationship among Dictyostelium and the three kingdoms Animalia, Fungi, and Plantae by a maximum-likelihood method using 19 different protein data sets. It was shown at the significance level of 1 SE that the branching of Dictyostelium antedates the divergence of Animalia and Fungi, and Plantae is an outgroup of the Animalia-Fungi-Dictyostelium clade.
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  • 39
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    Journal of molecular evolution 41 (1995), S. 293-298 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: β-tubulin ; Evolution ; Gene cluster ; Gene dispersion ; Drosophila montium subgroup
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The β1-, β2-, and β3-tubulin genes have been mapped by in situ hybridization on the polytene chromosomes of 11 selected species (15 strains) belonging to theDrosophila montium subgroup. Although the hybridization pattern among the strains of the same species does not differ, this pattern is significantly different among the species. The β-tubulin genes in themontium subgroup seem to be organized in a cluster, or in a semi-cluster, or are completely dispersed. The clustered arrangement is found in the North-Oriental sibling speciesD. auraria, D. triauraria, andD. quadraria. The semi-clustered arrangement, wherein the β1 and β2 genes are located at the same locus while β3 is at a different one, appears in the South-Oriental speciesD. bicomuta, D. serrata, andD. birchii, as well as in the Afrotropical speciesD. diplacantha andD. seguyi. The complete separation of the genes is observed in the Indian speciesD. kikkawai andD. jambulina and in the Afrotropical speciesD. vulcana. Based on the above results, a possible mode of evolution of the β-tubulin genes in the montium subgroup is attempted. In addition, phylogenetic relationships among themontium species are discussed.
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  • 40
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    Journal of molecular evolution 41 (1995), S. 293-298 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: β-tubulin ; Evolution ; Gene cluster ; Gene dispersion ; Drosophila montium subgroup
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    Notes: Abstract The β1-, β2-, and β3-tubulin genes have been mapped by in situ hybridization on the polytene chromosomes of 11 selected species (15 strains) belonging to the Drosophila montium subgroup. Although the hybridization pattern among the strains of the same species does not differ, this pattern is significantly different among the species. The β-tubulin genes in the montium subgroup seem to be organized in a cluster, or in a semi-cluster, or are completely dispersed. The clustered arrangement is found in the North-Oriental sibling species D. auraria, D. triauraria, and D. quadraria. The semi-clustered arrangement, wherein the β1 and β2 genes are located at the same locus while β3 is at a different one, appears in the South-Oriental species D. bicomuta, D. serrata, and D. birchii, as well as in the Afrotropical species D. diplacantha and D. seguyi. The complete separation of the genes is observed in the Indian species D. kikkawai and D. jambulina and in the Afrotropical species D. vulcana. Based on the above results, a possible mode of evolution of the β-tubulin genes in the montium subgroup is attempted. In addition, phylogenetic relationships among the montium species are discussed.
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  • 41
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Giardia ; Trichomonas ; CDK ; CDC ; Unicellular ; Metazoa ; Evolution
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    Notes: Abstract Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and cell division control (CDC2) sequences are strongly conserved among eukaryotes and may complement the use of other sequence families in eukaryotic phylogenetic inference. We synthesized degenerate PCR primers to amplify the catalytic region of CDK homologs in representatives of the earliest available lineages of eukaryotes. CDK family sequence-based, maximum-likelihood distance measurements with neighbor joining, and Fitch-Margoliash least-squares analyses produced unrooted dendrograms that included protists, yeasts, and higher eukaryotes. Bootstrap confidence estimates supported CDK-based phylogenetic groupings among the protists, fungi, and vertebrates although resolution within these groups was often insignificant. However, Trichomonas vaginalis and Giardia lamblia exhibited two of the most divergent CDK-like sequences consistent with rRNA-phylogenetic inference of early divergence of these eukaryotic lineages. In the evolution from unicellular to multicellular organisms, a constellation of amino acid residues aligning with the human, CDK N-terminal β sheet may have undergone abrupt replacement.
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  • 42
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    Journal of molecular evolution 41 (1995), S. 813-832 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Phylogeny ; Evolution ; Carbamoylphosphate synthetase ; Dihydroorotase ; Aspartate transcarbamoylase ; Intron ; Exon ; Arginine biosynthesis ; Pyrimidine biosynthesis
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    Notes: Abstract Carbamoylphosphate is a common intermediate in the metabolic pathways leading to the biosynthesis of arginine and pyrimidines. The amino acid sequences of all available proteins that catalyze the formation of carbamoylphosphate were retrieved from Genbank and aligned to estimate their mutual phylogenetic relations. In gram-negative bacteria carbamoylphosphate is synthesized by a two-subunit enzyme with glutamiriase and carbamoylphosphate synthetase (CPS) activity, respectively. In gram-positive bacteria and lower eukaryotes this two-subunit CPS has become dedicated to arginine biosynthesis, while in higher eukaryotes the two subunits fused and subsequently lost the glutaminase activity. The CPS dedicated to pyrimidine synthesis is part of a multifunctional enzyme (CPS II), encoding in addition dihydroorotase and aspartate transcarbamoylase. Evidence is presented to strengthen the hypothesis that the two “kinas” subdomains of all CPS isozymes arose from a duplication of an ancestral gene in the progenote. A further duplication of the entire CPS gene occurred after the divergence of the plants and before the divergence of the fungi from the eukaryotec root, generating the two isoenzymes involved in either the synthesis of arginine or that of pyrimidines. The mutation rate was found to be five- to tenfold higher after the duplication than before, probably reflecting optimization of the enzymes for their newly acquired specialized function. We hypothesize that this duplication arose from a need for metabolic channeling for pyrimidine biosynthesis as it was accompanied by the tagging of the CPS gene with the genes for dihydroorotase and aspartate transcarbamoylase, and as the duplication occurred independently also in gram-positive bacteria. Analysis of the exon-intron organization of the two “kinase” subdomains in CPS I and II suggests that ancient exons may have comprised approx. 19 amino acids, in accordance with the prediction of the “intron-early” theory.
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  • 43
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Ribonuclease ; Gene duplication ; Evolution ; Ruminants
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    Notes: Abstract Phylogenetic analysis, based on the primary structures of mammalian pancreatic-type ribonucleases, indicated that gene duplication events, which occurred during the evolution of ancestral ruminants, gave rise to the three paralogous enzymes present in the bovine species. Herein we report data that demonstrate the existence of the orthologues of the bovine pancreatic, seminal, and cerebral ribonucleases coding sequences in the genomes of giraffe and sheep. The “seminal” sequence is a pseudogene in both species. We also report an analysis of the transcriptional expression of ribonuclease genes in sheep tissues. The data presented support a model for positive selection acting on the molecular evolution of ruminant ribonuclease genes.
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  • 44
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    Journal of molecular evolution 17 (1981), S. 167-181 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Genetics ; REH theory ; Mutations ; Natural selection ; Nucleic acids ; Proteins ; Paleogenetics
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary We have independently repeated the computer simulations on which Nei and Tateno (1978) base their criticism of REH theory and have extended the analysis to include mRNAs as well as proteins. The simulation data confirm the correctness of the REH method. The high average value of the fixation intensity μ2 found by Nei and Tateno is due to two factors: 1) they reported only the five replications in which μ2 was high, excluding the forty-five replications containing the more representative data;and 2) the lack of information, inherent to protein sequence data, about fixed mutations at the third nucleotide position within codons, as the values are lower when the estimate is made from the mRNAs that code for the proteins. REH values calculated from protein or nucleic acid data on the basis of the equiprobability of genetic events underestimate, not overestimate, the total fixed mutations. In REH theory the experimental data determine the estimate T2 of the time average number of codons that have been free to fix mutations during a given period of divergence. In the method of Nei and Tateno it is assumed, despite evidence to the contrary, that every amino acid position may fix a mutation. Under the latter assumption, the measure X2 of genetic divergence suggested by Nei and Tateno is not tenable: values of X2 for theα hemoglobin divergences are less than the minimum number of fixed substitutions known to have occurred. Within the context of REH theory, a paradox, first posed by Zuckerkandl, with respect to the high rate of covarion turnover and the nature of general function sites in proteins is resolved.
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  • 45
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Archaebacteria ; Taxonomy ; Evolution ; DNA ; 16S rRNA ; Hybridization ; Phylogeny ; Thermoproteales
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    Notes: Summary DNAs from 16 species of archaebacteria including 6 novel isolates were hybridized with 16S rRNAs from 7 species representing different orders or groups of the urkingdom of archaebacteria. The yields, normalized for the number of genes perµg of DNA, and the temperature stabilities of all hybrids were determined and related to each other. A taxonomic tree constructed from such fractional stability data reveals the same major divisions as that derived from comparative cataloging of 16S rRNA sequences. The extreme halophiles appear however as a distinct order besides the three known divisions of methanogens. The methanogens, the halophiles andThermoplasma form one of two clearly recognizable branches of the archaebacterial urkingdom. The order represented bySulfolobus and the related novel orderThermoproteales form the other branch. Three novel genera,Thermoproteus, Desulfurococcus and the “stiff filaments” represent three families of this order. The extremely thermophilic methanogenMethanothermus fervidus belongs to theMethanobacteriales. SN1, a methanogen from Italy, appears as another species of the genusMethanococcus. Another novel methanogen, M3, represents a genus or family of the orderMethanomicrobiales.
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  • 46
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    Journal of molecular evolution 19 (1982), S. 80-86 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Microtubules ; Tubulin ; Evolution
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary Tubulin subunits have been isolated from a variety of protists and marine invertebrates. The sources were: sperm tails of a tunicate (Ciona intestinalis), an abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and a sea anemone (Tealia crassicornis), the gill cilia of a clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), the cilia of a ciliate (Tetrahymena pyriformis) and the cytoplasm of a slime mold (Physarum polycephalum). All the β-tubulins, as characterised by their electropherograms after limited proteolytic cleavage withStaphylococcus aureus protease, were fairly similar. In contrast, two markedly different peptide patterns were found for the α-tubulins of (a) metazoan axonemes and (b) protistan axonemes, plant axonemes and slime mold cytoplasm. Metazoan axonemal α-tubulin peptide patterns could be further divided into two similar but distinct subtypes which did not correlate with the taxonomic divisions of deuterostomia and protostomia, or to different tubulins within an axoneme, or to different tubulins of flagella and cilia. We have postulated that these small differences may be accounted for by a simple glutamicaspartic acid exchange at a particular position in the α-tubulin sequence. Identical peptide patterns were observed for sea urchin and sea anemone sperm tail tubulins, proving that the metazoan type of axonemal tubulin arose before the divergence of bilateral and radial symmetric organisms. The close similarity of the slime mold cytoplasmic α-tubulin peptide pattern to protistan and plant axonemal α-tubulin patterns suggests that the same type of tubulin might be used to form both axonemal and cytoplasmic types of microtubules in protists and plants. The large structural constraints imposed upon this tubulin molecule probably allowed very little change in its primary structure, thus explaining the similarity of tubulins from organisms which diverged at such an early time in eukaryote history. Duplication and modification of the tubulin gene may then have led to the development of specific axonemal and cytoplasmic microtubules during the evolution of the metazoa.
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  • 47
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Microbial phylogeny ; Evolution ; Aromatic biosynthesis ; Regulatory enzymes
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    Notes: Abstract Pseudomonad bacterial are a phylogenetically diverse assemblage of species named within contemporary genera that includePseudomonas, Xanthomonas andAlcaligenes. Thus far, five distinct rRNA homology groups (Groups I through V) have been established by oligonucleotide cataloging and by rRNA/DNA hybridization. A pattern of enzymic features of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis (enzymological patterning) is conserved at the level of rRNA homology, five distinct and unambiguous patterns therefore existing in correspondence with the rRNA homology groups. We sorted 87 pseudomonad strains into Groups (and Subgroups) by aromatic pathway patterning. The reliability of this methodology was tested in a blind study using coded cultures of diverse pseudomonad organisms provided by American Type Culture Collection. Fourteen of 14 correct assignments were made at the Group level (the level of rRNA homology), and 12 of 14 correct assignments were made at the finer-tuned Subgroup levels. Many strains of unknown rRNA-homology affiliation had been placed into tentative rRNA groupings based upon enzymological patterning. Positive confirmation of such strains as members of the predicted rRNA homology groups was demonstrated by DNA/rRNA hybridization in nearly every case. It seems clear that the combination of these molecular approaches will make it feasible to deduce the evolution of biochemical-pathway construction and regulation in parallel with the emerging phylogenies of microbes housing these pathways.
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  • 48
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: mtDNA ; Gene mapping ; Evolution ; Yeasts
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    Notes: Summary Mapping of sequences specifying the large and small ribosomal RNAs and six polypeptides in the circular 23.7 kbp mitochondrial DNA ofSaccharomyces exiguus has shown that these genes have the same orientation and that a 5 gene cluster is common to this DNA and the 18.9 kbp mtDNA fromTorulopsis glabrata. Included in the preserved region are juxtaposed sequences specifying ATPase subunits 6 and 9 which have the same order and orientation as analogous genes in theEscherichia coli unc operon. The above data, together with knowledge that these two sequences are dispersed in larger yeast mtDNAs, leads us to suggest that larger forms are derived from a smaller ancestral molecule that would have had some resemblance to the mtDNAs ofS. exiguus andT. glabrata.
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    Journal of molecular evolution 19 (1983), S. 342-345 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: mtDNA ; Gene mapping ; Evolution ; Yeasts
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    Notes: Summary Analysis of gene order and orientation in the circular 18.9 kbp mitochondrial DNA molecule ofTorulopsis glabrata has shown that the eight large genic sequences have the same orientation and that a five gene cluster which runs — cytochrome b, cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, ATPase subunits 6 and 9 and cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 — is common to this DNA andSaccharomyces exiguus mtDNA (see accompanying paper).
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  • 50
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Yeast ; E. coli ; tRNA ; rRNA ; Sequence homologies ; Evolution ; Origins ; Coding mechanism
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    Notes: Summary Many tRNAs ofE. coli and yeast contain stretches whose base sequences are similar to those found in their respective rRNAs. The matches are too frequent and extensive to be attributed to coincidence. They are distributed without discernible pattern along and among the RNAs and between the two species. They occur in loops as well as in stems, among both conserved and non-conserved regions. Their distributions suggest that they reflect common ancestral origins rather than common functions, and that they represent true homologies.
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  • 51
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    Journal of molecular evolution 20 (1984), S. 128-134 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Snake venom ; Neurotoxin ; Cytotoxin ; Evolution ; Circular dichroism
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The amino acid sequences of the 139 homologous “short” neurotoxins, “long” neurotoxins and cytotoxins so far characterised from elapid snake venoms were compared on the basis of the amino acid deletion/insertion events that have occurred during evolution. Systematic grouping of the toxins according to similarity suggests that the short neurotoxins resemble the cytotoxins more closely than they do the long neurotoxins. The significance of this finding is discussed in relation to the methodology, the conformations of the toxins (as represented by circular dichroism spectra) and the outcome of the study that would have been obtained had more traditional methods been used. It appears probable that the cytotoxins evolved relatively recently from neurotoxic ancestors.
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  • 52
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    Journal of molecular evolution 40 (1995), S. 482-486 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase ; Computer analysis ; Evolution ; Genetic code ; tRNA
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract tRNA sequences were analyzed for sequence features correlated with known classes of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase enzymes. The tRNAs were searched for distinguishing nucleotides anywhere in their sequences. The analyses did not find nucleotides predictive of synthetase class membership. We conclude that such nucleotides never existed in tRNA sequences or that they existed and were lost from many of the tRNA sequences during evolution.
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  • 53
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    Journal of molecular evolution 40 (1995), S. 476-481 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Aminoacylation ; Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases ; tRNA ; GluRS ; GlnRS ; Glutamate ; Glutamine ; Evolution ; Mischarging
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    Notes: Abstract Aminoacyl-tRNA for protein synthesis is produced through the action of a family of enzymes called aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. A general rule is that there is one aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase for each of the standard 20 amino acids found in all cells. This is not universal, however, as a majority of prokaryotic organisms and eukaryotic organelles lack the enzyme glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, which is responsible for forming Gln-tRNAGln in eukaryotes and in Gram-negative eubacteria. Instead, in organisms lacking glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, Gln-tRNAGln is provided by misacylation of tRNAGln with glutamate by glutamyl-tRNA synthetase, followed by the conversion of tRNA-bound glutamate to glutamine by the enzyme Glu-tRNAGln amidotransferase. The fact that two different pathways exist for charging glutamine tRNA indicates that ancestral prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms evolved different cellular mechanisms for incorporating glutamine into proteins. Here, we explore the basis for diverging pathways for aminoacylation of glutamine tRNA. We propose that stable retention of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase in prokaryotic organisms following a horizontal gene transfer event from eukaryotic organisms (Lamour et al. 1994) was dependent on the evolving pool of glutamate and glutamine tRNAs in the organisms that acquired glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase by this mechanism. This model also addresses several unusual aspects of aminoacylation by glutamyl- and glutaminyl-tRNA synthetases that have been observed.
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  • 54
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases ; tRNA ; Genetic code ; RNA world ; Evolution
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    Notes: Abstract Two aspects of the evolution of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are discussed. Firstly, using recent crystal structure information on seryl-tRNA synthetase and its substrate complexes, the coevolution of the mode of recognition between seryl-tRNA synthetase and tRNAser in different organisms is reviewed. Secondly, using sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees, the early evolution of class 2 Amnoacyl-tRNA synthetases is traced. Arguments are presented to suggest that synthetases are not the oldest of protein enzymes, but survived as RNA enzymes during the early period of the evolution of protein catalysts. In this view, the relatedness of the current synthetases, as evidenced by the division into two classes with their associated subclasses, reflects the replacement of RNA synthetases by protein synthetases. This process would have been triggered by the acquisition of tRNA 3′ end charging activity by early proteins capable of activating small molecules (e.g., amino acids) with ATP. If these arguments are correct, the genetic code was essentially frozen before the protein synthetases that we know today came into existence. Correspondence to: S. Cusack
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  • 55
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    Journal of molecular evolution 41 (1995), S. 996-1005 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Repetitive DNA ; Tandem repeats ; Sequence analysis ; Phylogenetic tree ; Silent repeats ; Evolution
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Two different satellite DNAs exist in the genus Cucurbita which are different with respect to repeat length (350 by and 170 bp), array size, and sequence homogenization. Whereas the 350-bp satellite DNA is prominent and very homogeneous in all species investigated except for C. maxima and C. lundelliana, the 170-bp satellite is rather evenly distributed in all species. In C. maxima and C. lundelliana the 350-bp satellite is present only in small amounts, but detectable by the sensitive PCR method. These repeats are also very homogeneous, reflecting a silent stage of satellite DNA. In contrast, the 170-bp satellite DNA is intra- and interspecifically heterogeneous. It is striking that the species with no detectable amount of 350-bp satellite contain 170-bp satellite DNA clusters with the highest degree of homogeneity. The evolution of satellite DNA repeats within cultivated and wild species in the genus Cucurbita is elucidated using the sequence data of both satellite DNAs from all species investigated. The value of satellite DNA for phylogenetic analysis between closely related species is discussed.
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    Journal of molecular evolution 40 (1995), S. 120-126 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Simple repetitive DNA ; Microsatellites ; Unstable triplets ; Database ; Evolution
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    Notes: Abstract Simple repeats composed of tandemly repeated units 1–6 nucleotides (nt) long have been extracted from a selected set of primate genomic DNA sequences. Of the 501 theoretically possible, different types of repeats only 67 were present in the analyzed database in at least two different size ranges over 12 nt. They include all simple repeats known to be polymorphic in the primate genome. A list of moderately expanding and nonexpanding oligonucleotide patterns has also been included. Furthermore, we have compiled statistical data with emphasis on the overall variability of the most abundant 67 types of repeats. We have demonstrated that the expandability of at least some simple repeats may be affected by the overall base composition and by flanking sequences. In particular, the occurrence of tandemly repeated CAG and GCC triplets in exons positively correlates with their G+C content. We also noted that in the vicinity of Alu sequences tetrameric repeats are more abundant than in the total genomic DNA. This paper can be used as a comprehensive guide in identification of the most abundant and potentially polymorphic simple repeats. It is also of broader significance as a step toward understanding the contribution of flanking sequences and the overall sequence composition to variability of simple repeats.
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  • 57
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    Journal of molecular evolution 41 (1995), S. 457-466 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Seed storage proteins ; Legumin ; Gene structure ; Evolution ; Gymnosperms ; Ginkgo biloba
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    Notes: Abstract Legumin-like seed storage proteins have been intensively studied in crop plants. However, little is known about the molecular evolution of these proteins and their genes and it was assumed that they originated from an ancestral gene that already existed at the beginning of angiosperm evolution. We have evidence for the ubiquitous occurrence of homologous proteins in gymnosperms as well. We have characterized the major seed storage globulin from Ginkgo biloba by amino acid sequencing, which reveals clear homology to legumin-like proteins from angiosperms. The Ginkgo legumin is encoded by a gene family; we describe two of its members. The promoter regions contain sequence motifs which are known to function as regulatory elements involved in seed-specific expression of angiosperm legumins, although the tissues concerned are different in gymnosperms and angiosperms. The Ginkgo legumin gene structure is divergent from that of angiosperms and suggests that the evolution of legumin genes implicated loss of introns. From our data and from functional approaches recently described it becomes obvious that the posttranslational processing site of legumin precursors is less conserved than hitherto assumed. Finally, we present a phylogenetic analysis of legumin encoding sequences and discuss their utility as molecular markers for the reconstruction of seed plant evolution.
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  • 58
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    Journal of molecular evolution 41 (1995), S. 492-497 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Primate ; Microsatellite ; Evolution ; Mutation process
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    Notes: Abstract Dimeric short tandem repeats are a source of highly polymorphic markers in the mammalian genome. Genetic variation at these hypervariable loci is extensively used for linkage analysis, for the identification of individuals, and may be useful for interpopulation and interspecies studies. In this paper, we analyze the variability and the sequences of a segment including three microsatellites, first described in man, in several species of primates (chimpanzee, orangutan, gibbon, and macaque) using the heterologous primers (man primers). This region is located on the human chromosome 6p, near the tumor necrosis factor genes, in the major histocompatibility complex. The fact that these primers work in all species studied indicates that they are conserved throughout the different lineages of the two superfamilies, the Hominoidea and the Cercopithecidea, represented by the macaques. However, the intervening sequence displays intraspecific and interspecific variability. The sites of base substitutions and the insertion/ deletion events are not evenly distributed within this region. The data suggest that it is necessary to have a minimal number of repeats to increase the rate of mutation sufficiently to allow the development of polymorphism. In some species, the microsatellites present single base variations which reduce the number of contiguous repeats, thus apparently slowing the rate of additional slippage events. Species with such variations or a low number of repeats are monomorphic. These microsatellite sequences are informative in the comparison of closely related species and reflect the phylogeny of the Old World monkeys, apes, and man.
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  • 59
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Ribosomal RNA ; Cyanobacteria ; Leptolyngbya ; Oscillatoria
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    Notes: Abstract In order to determine the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences of cyanobacteria originating from nonaxenic cultures, a cyanobacterium-specific oligonucleotide probe was developed to distinguish polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of the cyanobacterial rRNA operons from those resulting from amplification of contaminating bacteria. Using this screening method the 16S rRNA genes of four nonaxenic filamentous cyanobacterial strains belonging to the generaLeptolyngbya andOscillatoria were cloned and sequenced. For the genusLeptolyngbya, the 16S rRNA sequence of the axenic strain PCC 73110 was also determined. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on complete and partial sequences. The results show that the strainsLeptolyngbya foveolarum Komárek 1964/112,Leptolyngbya sp. VRUC 135 Albertano 1985/1, andLeptolyngbya boryanum PCC 73110 belong to the same cluster. StrainOscillatoria cf.corallinae SAG 8.92, which contains the rare photosynthetic pigment CU-phycoerythrin, is not closely related to other CU-phycoerythrin-containing cyanobacteria.Oscillatoria agardhii CYA 18, which is a representative of planktonicOscillatoria species that form toxic blooms in Norwegian inland waters, has no close relatives in the tree.
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    Journal of comparative physiology 179 (1996), S. 371-384 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Visual pigment ; Stomatopoda ; Visual ecology ; Evolution ; Photoreceptor ; Retina
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    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract 1. Interspecific diversity in the visual pigments of stomatopod crustaceans was characterized using microspectrophotometry. We examined the 10 visual pigments in main rhabdoms in retinas of 3 species of each of two genera of stomatopod crustaceans of the superfamily Gonodactyloidea, Gonodactylus (G. oerstedii, G. aloha, and G. curacaoensis) and Odontodactylus (O. scyllarus, O. brevirostris, and O. “havanensis”). Species were selected to provide a matched diversity of habitats. 2. In each genus, visual pigments varied in λmax in several regions of the retina, as revealed by analysis of variance. The variation within closely related species of the same genus implies that visual pigments can evolve rapidly in stomatopods. 3. In photoreceptors of the peripheral retina, which are devoted to spatial vision, visual pigment λmax decreased as the depth range of the various species increased, a typical pattern for marine animals. In contrast, visual pigment λmax in photoreceptors of retinal regions devoted to polarization vision (midband Rows 5 and 6) is not obviously correlated with the spectral environment, implying that polarization information may be confined to particular spectral ranges. Visual pigments of the tiered rows of the midband, which are committed to spectral analysis, span a larger spectral range in shallow-water than deepwater species.
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    Journal of comparative physiology 183 (1998), S. 635-650 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Key words Olfactory receptors ; Multigene families ; Pseudogenes ; Vertebrate species ; Evolution
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    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In species representing different levels of vertebrate evolution, olfactory receptor genes have been identified by molecular cloning techniques. Comparing the deduced amino-acid sequences revealed that the olfactory receptor gene family of Rana esculenta resembles that of Xenopus laevis, indicating that amphibians in general may comprise two classes of olfactory receptors. Whereas teleost fish, including the goldfish Carassius auratus, possess only class I receptors, the `living fossil' Latimeria chalumnae is endowed with both receptor classes; interestingly, most of the class II genes turned out to be pseudogenes. Exploring receptor genes in aquatic mammals led to the discovery of a large array of only class II receptor genes in the dolphin Stenella Coeruleoalba; however, all of these genes were found to be non-functional pseudogenes. These results support the notion that class I receptors may be specialized for detecting water-soluble odorants and class II receptors for recognizing volatile odorants. Comparing the structural features of both receptor classes from various species revealed that they differ mainly in their extracellular loop 3, which may contribute to ligand specificity. Comparing the number and diversity of olfactory receptor genes in different species provides insight into the origin and the evolution of this unique gene family.
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    Journal of comparative physiology 181 (1997), S. 367-382 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Key words Stomatogastric ganglion ; Penaeus ; Pyloric circuit ; Neurotransmitter ; Evolution
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    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Pyloric pattern-generating neurons that control the pyloric region of the foregut were identified in the stomatogastric ganglion of the most primitive decapod genus Penaeus. Five types of motor neurons and one interneuron are involved in generation of pyloric motor pattern. One cell type of motor neurons innervates muscles of both the gastric mill and the pylorus like the gastric motor neurons in Cancer, but unlike those in Panulirus. These identified neurons are connected to each other either by electrical or inhibitory chemical synapses to construct the neural circuit. This pyloric circuit is similar to the homologous circuit of other crustacean species though some differences are seen in synaptic connections, supporting the hypothesis that the basic design of the neural circuit has been conserved during evolution of the Malacostraca, and that differences have occurred in the synaptic connectivity as the foregut structure has become complex. The motor neurons use either acetylcholine or glutamate as a neurotransmitter like in reptantians. The foregut structure, the number of the pyloric cells, muscle innervation, neurotransmitters, and circuitry are compared among malacostracan crustaceans to provide insight into how the neural circuits change and evolve to produce the motor patterns mediating behaviour.
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    Journal of comparative physiology 185 (1999), S. 367-372 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Key words Cortical magnification ; Somatosensory cortex ; Development ; Evolution ; Behavior
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    Notes: Abstract The star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) has a snout surrounded by 22 fleshy and mobile appendages. This unusual structure is not an olfactory organ, as might be assumed from its location, nor is it used to manipulate objects as might be guessed from its appearance. Rather, the star is devoted to the sense of touch, and for this purpose the appendages are covered with thousands of small mechanoreceptive Eimer's organs. Recent behavioral studies find that the star acts much like a tactile eye, having a small behavioral focus, or “fovea” at the center – used for detailed explorations of objects of interest. The peripheral and central nervous systems of the mole reflect these behavioral specializations, such that the small behavioral focus on the nose is more densely innervated in the periphery, and has a greatly enlarged representation in the somatosensory cortex. This somatosensory representation of the tactile fovea is not correlated with anatomical parameters (innervation density) as found in other species, but rather is highly correlated with patterns of behavior. The many surprising parallels between the somatosensory system of the mole, and the visual systems of other mammals, suggest a convergent and perhaps common organization for highly developed sensory systems.
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    Journal of comparative physiology 184 (1999), S. 543-551 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Key words Auditory physiology ; Insect ; Frequency discrimination ; Evolution ; Song recognition
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    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Peripheral auditory frequency tuning in the ensiferan insect Cyphoderris monstrosa (Orthoptera: Haglidae) was examined by comparing tympanal vibrations and primary auditory receptor responses. In this species there is a mis-match between the frequency of maximal auditory sensitivity and the frequency content of the species' acoustic signals. The mis-match is not a function of the mechanical properties of the tympanum, but is evident at the level of primary receptors. There are two classes of primary receptors: low-tuned and broadly tuned. Differences in the absolute sensitivity of the two receptor types at the male song frequency would allow the auditory system to discriminate intraspecific signals from sounds containing lower frequencies. Comparisons of tympanal and receptor tuning indicated that the sensitivity of the broadly tuned receptors did not differ from that of the tympanum, while low-tuned receptors had significantly narrower frequency tuning. The results suggest that the limited specialization for the encoding of intraspecific signals in the auditory system of C. monstrosa is a primitive rather than a degenerate condition. The limited specialization of C. monstrosa may reflect the evolutionary origin of communication-related hearing from a generalized precursor through the addition of peripheral adaptations (tympana, additional receptors) to enhance frequency sensitivity and discrimination.
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    Journal of comparative physiology 185 (1999), S. 199-205 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Key words Hearing ; Orthoptera ; Phaneropteridae ; Cercal system ; Evolution
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    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The unusual morphology of a sound-activated plurisegmental ascending interneurone (AN5-AG7) in an insect (Ancistrura nigrovittata, Ensifera, Phaneropteridae) is described. This neurone's soma is located in the penultimate abdominal ganglion. The most prominent arborisations with smooth endings are found in the prothoracic ganglion. The neurone terminates with numerous beaded endings in the brain (protocerebrum). All abdominal ganglia including the penultimate contain only tiny side branches of beaded appearance. The neurone's morphology is compared to the morphology of a `typical' sound-activated plurisegmental neurone of bushcrickets with its soma in the prothorax. In the prothoracic ganglion and in the brain the arborisations of the two cells are very similar. Graded potentials and action potentials are generated in the prothoracic portion of both neurones. Both receive excitation mainly by ultrasound, and inhibition by soma-ipsilateral stimuli. Neither wind, substrate vibration nor touch of the abdomen evoke responses in AN5-AG7. It is assumed that early in evolution this neurone had its dendrites in the ganglion which houses the cell body (like cercal interneurones of this neuromere). Profound evolutionary changes probably have taken place to bring about this neuron's modern morphology.
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    Journal of comparative physiology 181 (1997), S. 477-483 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Key words Insects ; Bats ; Ears ; Evolution ; Neotropics
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    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Assuming that bat-detection is the primary function of moth ears, the ears of moths that are no longer exposed to bats should be deaf to echolocation call frequencies. To test this, we compared the auditory threshold curves of 7 species of Venezuelan day-flying moths (Notodontidae: Dioptinae) to those of 12 sympatric species of nocturnal moths (Notodontidae: Dudusinae, Noctuidae and Arctiidae). Whereas 2 dioptines (Josia turgida, Zunacetha annulata) revealed normal ears, 2 (J. radians, J. gopala) had reduced hearing at bat-specific frequencies (20–80 kHz) and the remaining 3 (Thirmida discinota, Polypoetes circumfumata and Xenorma cytheris) revealed pronounced to complete levels of high-frequency deafness. Although the bat-deaf ears of dioptines could function in other purposes (e.g., social communication), the poor sensitivities of these species even at their best frequencies suggest that these moths represent a state of advanced auditory degeneration brought about by their diurnal life history. The phylogeny of the Notodontidae further suggests that this deafness is a derived (apomorphic) condition and not a retention of a primitive (pleisiomorphic), insensitive state.
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    Journal of comparative physiology 180 (1997), S. 245-255 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Key words Mole-rat  ;  Vocalization  ;  Acoustic communication  ;  Subterranean mammal  ; Hearing  ; Evolution
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    Notes: Abstract In captive adult Zambian mole-rats 14 different sounds (13 true vocalizations) have been recorded during different behavioural contexts. The sound analysis revealed that all sounds occurred in a low and middle frequency range with main energy below 10 kHz. The majority of calls contained components of 1.6–2 kHz, 0.63–0.8 kHz, and/or 5–6.3 kHz. The vocalization range thus matched well the hearing range as established in other studies. The frequency content of courtship calls in two species of Zambian Cryptomys was compared with that in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) and blind mole-rats (Spalax ehrenbergi) as described in the literature. The frequency range of maximum sound energy is negatively correlated with the body weight and coincides with the frequencies of best hearing in the respective species. In general, the vocalization range in subterranean mammals is shifted towards low frequencies which are best propagated in underground burrows.
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  • 68
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Key wordsCydia pomonella ; Adoxophyes orana ; Sex pheromone ; Interspecific interruption ; Evolution ; AbbreviationsZ9-14:Ac (Z9)-tetradecenylacetate Z11-14:Ac (Z11)-tetradecenylacetate ; E8, E10-12:OH (E8, E10)-dodecadienol
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    Notes: Abstract Male moths responding to their species-specific sex pheromone, may cease their upwind flight when pheromone components of sympatric species are added to the mixture. The interspecific interaction between the pheromone response of the tortricid moths Cydia pomonella and Adoxophyes orana was investigated in field-trapping and wind-tunnel studies. Addition of the A. orana pheromone [(Z9)-tetradecenylacetate and (Z11)-tetradecenylacetate] to a source containing the C. pomonella pheromone [(E8, E10)-dodecadienol] resulted in a significant inhibition of attraction by male C. pomonella. It is demonstrated that this behavioural antagonist for C. pomonella must be emitted from the same point source to induce this inhibitory effect. A spatial separation of the two interspecific pheromones (at 14 cm, 5 cm and 0.5 cm crosswind) restored the attraction of the conspecific pheromone for male C. pomonella. In contrast to C. pomonella, male A. orana were not inhibited by point sources releasing both the C. pomonella and A. orana pheromone. We suggest that the discrepancy in the interspecific pheromone interaction between these two tortricids can be explained if we consider the evolutionary ecology of interspecific pheromone communication in C. pomonella and A. orana.
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    Journal of molecular evolution 18 (1982), S. 287-292 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Endosymbiosis ; Gene transfer ; Transmembrane movement of proteins ; Receptors
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary In the origin of the mitochondrion and plastid, gene transfer from the ancestral endosymbiont to the host was proposed to be a crucial event. For this genic integration to proceed, products of transferred genes had to return to and enter the endosymbionts. The limiting event was the crossing of the barrier presented by the two semipermeable membranes bounding the proto-organelle. In this paper it is suggested that spontaneous transport allowed transferred gene encoded proteins to enter the endosymbionts before receptors evolved. The effects of these events, including the degeneration of the endosymbiont genome, are discussed. Although the presumed gene transfer had profound effects on the metabolic relationships between host and endosymbionts it probably cannot account for all examples of organelle/cytoplasmic isozyme pairs or the absence of amino acid synthetic enzymes in animal cells.
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    Journal of molecular evolution 16 (1980), S. 37-46 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Drosophila ; Temperature ; Mitochondrial enzymes ; Kinetic properties
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The evolutionary behavior of two mitochondrial enzymes (L-glycerol 3-phosphate:cytochrome c oxidoreductase E.C.1.1.1.95,αGPO, and L-malate: NAD+ oxidoreductase, E.C.1.1.1.37, m-MDH) obtained from several temperate and tropicalDrosophila species was examined by comparing their catalytic properties, which related to temperature (Km-Ea-Q10-Thermostability). MitochondrialαGPO or m-MDH obtained either from temperate or from tropical species was found to exhibit similar catalytic properties while for both cytosolic enzymes, theαGPDH and s-MDH, Km patterns were similar among species from the same thermal habitat and different between thermal habitats. In combination with other observations reported in the literature these facts support the view that the function, and probably the structure, of mitochondrial enzymes are better conserved in evolution than those of the corresponding enzymes found in the cytosol. It is proposed that the relative invariance of the mitochondrial enzymes structure is probably linked to a necessary relative invariance of molecular interactions inside the mitochondrion.
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  • 71
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    Journal of molecular evolution 16 (1980), S. 73-94 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Enzymes ; Evolution ; Gene regulation ; HawaiianDrosophila
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The tissue and stage specificity of expression of five enzymes was examined by electrophoretic analysis of relative enzyme levels in extracts of 13 larval and adult tissues in 27 species of Hawaiian picture-wingedDrosophila. The developmentally regulated patterns of enzyme expression thus characterized were compared to a modal standard phenotype. About 30% of the pattern features analyzed differed significantly from the standard in one or more species. Many of these regulatory differences are essentially qualitative, with tissue specific differences in enzyme activity in excess of 100 fold for some species pairs. The adaptive significance of these pattern differences is unknown, but the results provide strong direct evidence for rapid evolution of new patterns of gene regulation in this group of organisms.
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  • 72
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Balbiani ring ; Repeat ; Evolution ; Repetitive DNA
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary All known types of Balbiani ring (BR) gene consist of multiple, tandemly arranged, ca. 180 to 300-bp repeat units that can be divided into a constant region and a subrepeat region. The latter region includes short tandem subrepeats (SRs). Comparison of all available BR sequences using computer methods has enabled us (a) to define more precisely the constant and subrepeat regions, (b) to infer the evolutionary relationships among the various types of BR repeats, (c) to derive a consensus approximation of an ancestral sequence from a small segment of which the highly diverse present-day SRs may have originated, and (d) to detect an underlying substructure in the constant region, evident in the consensus but not in the present-day sequences and possibly corresponding to an original 39-bp DNA segment from which the extant, giant BR sequences may have evolved. We discuss the processes of reduplication, diversification, and homogenization within the hierarchically repetitive BR sequences as examples of how a simple DNA element may evolve into a diverse family of large, protein-coding genes.
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  • 73
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Gene family ; Balbiani ring genes ; Repetitive sequences ; Structural proteins ; Protein conformation ; Polymerization
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The large, repetitive Balbiani ring (BR) genes, BR 1, 2, and 6, inChironomus tentans originated from a short ancestral sequence and have all evolved according to analogous amplification schemes. We analyzed the structures of the BR-encoded secretory proteins and defined the parts that have been conserved during the evolutionary process. The BR products show striking similarities, with the BR 1 and BR 2 products being more similar to each other than to the BR 6 product. In the constant (C) region of the repeat units, 7 of the 30 amino acid residues are strictly conserved; 4 of these are the cysteine residues. The subrepeat (SR) regions of all the BR products are dominated by repeated tripeptide elements rich in proline and charged amino acid residues. Most of the amino acid replacements in both regions are conservative. Secondary structure predictions suggested that the C regions of the BR 1 and BR2 products have several elements of secondary structure: an α-helix, a β-strand, and one or two reverse turns, as in “globular structures.” The prediction for the C region of the BR 6 product is similar but lacks a β-strand. The predictions for the intervening SR regions appear less conclusive, but are clearly different from those for the C regions, and suggest regular structures not differing in their conformational elements. The SR regions evolved from an ancestor sequence similar to the C region; thus, the BR products seem to represent an example of evolution from one structure to two differently folded products. It is proposed that the alignment and polymerization of the long BR proteins could be promoted by the repetitive structure of the molecules, due to the possibility of forming disulfide bridges between half-cystine residues and electrostatic interactions between the charged residues of the SR regions. The divergence among the BR products is discussed in relation to possible functional differences among the members of the BR gene family.
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  • 74
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    Journal of molecular evolution 40 (1995), S. 405-412 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Primate ; Evolution ; Heterochromatin ; Repetitive sequences ; β Satellite sequences ; L1 transposon ; Polymerase chain reaction
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The genomes of four primate species, belonging to the families Pongidae (chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan) and Hylobatidae (gibbons), have been analyzed for the presence and organization of two human GC-rich heterochromatic repetitive sequences: βSatellite (βSat) and LongSau (LSau) repeats. By Southern blot hybridization and PCR, both families of repeats were detected in all the analyzed species, thus indicating their origin in an ape ancestor. In the chimpanzee and gorilla, as in man, βSat sequences showed a 68-bp Sau3A periodicity and were preferentially organized in large clusters, whereas in the orangutan, they were organized in DNA fragments of 550 bp, which did not seem to be characterized by a tandem organization. On the contrary, in each of the analyzed species, the bulk of LSau sequences showed a longer Sau3A periodicity than that observed in man (450–550 bp). Furthermore, only in the chimpanzee genome some of LSau repeats seemed to be interspersed within blocks of βSat sequences. This sequence organization, which also characterizes the human genome, is probably absent in the gorilla. In fact, the analysis of a gorilla genomic library suggested that LSau repeats are not preferentially in linkage with βSat sequences. Moreover, LSau sequences were found in a genomic sector characterized by the simultaneous presence of L1 and (CA) repeats, as well as of anonymous sequences and known genes. In spite of the different sequence organization, the nucleotide differences between complete human and gorilla LSau repeats were very few, whereas one gorilla LSau repeat, interrupted by a probably-truncated L1 transposon, showed a higher degree of divergence. Besides the gorilla, this unusual sequence organization was detected in man, and, to a lesser extent, in the chimpanzee.
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  • 75
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Chloroplasts ; Evolution ; Rubisco ; Picoplankton ; Prochloron ; Prochlorothrix ; Prochlorococcus ; Prochlorales
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The prochlorophytes, oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryotes having no phycobiliprotein but possessing chlorophylls a and b, have been proposed to have a common ancestry with green chloroplasts, yet this is still controversal. We report here that partial sequence comparisons of the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, including sequence data from two prochlorophytes, Prochlorococcus and Prochloron, indicate that Prochlorococcus is more closely related to a photosynthetic bacterium, Chromatium vinosum (γ-purple bacteria), than to cyanobacteria, while Prochloron is closely related to the prochlorophyte Prochlorothrix and to cyanobacteria. The molecular phylogenetic tree indicates that a common ancestor of Prochlorococcus and γ-purple bacteria branched off from the land plant lineage earlier than Prochloron, Prochlorothrix, and cyanobacteria.
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  • 76
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Alcohol dehydrogenase ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; Evolution ; Gene families
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract We have characterized two cDNA clones from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that display similarity to the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) gene family. The nucleotide sequences of these cDNAs predict that they encode Zn-containing long-chain ADH enzymes. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that one is most similar to dimeric class III ADHs found in diverse taxa; the other is most similar to the tetrameric forms of ADH previously described only in fungi.
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  • 77
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Cyanelles ; Cyanophora paradoxa ; Endosymbiosis ; Evolution ; Glaucocystophyta ; Glaucophyta ; Phylogeny ; Plastid ; 16S ribosomal RNA
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract Glaucocystophyte algae (sensu Kies, Berl. Deutsch. Bot. Ges. 92, 1979) contain plastids (cyanelles) that retain the peptidoglycan wall of the putative cyanobacterial endosymbiont; this and other ultrastructural characters (e.g., unstacked thylakoids, phycobilisomes) have suggested that cyanelles are “primitive” plastids that may represent undeveloped associations between heterotrophic “host” cells (i.e., glaucocystophytes) and cyanobacteria. To test the monophyly of glaucocystophyte cyanelles and to determine their evolutionary relationship to other plastids, complete 16S ribosomal RNA sequences were determined for Cyanophora paradoxa, Glaucocystis nostochinearum, Glaucosphaera vacuolata, and Gloeochaete wittrockiana. Plastid rRNAs were analyzed with the maximum-likelihood, maximumparsimony, and neighbor joining methods. The phylogenetic analyses show that the cyanelles of C. paradoxa, G. nostochinearum, and G. wittrockiana form a distinct evolutionary lineage; these cyanelles presumably share a monophyletic origin. The rDNA sequence of G. vacuolata was positioned within the nongreen plastid lineage. This result is consistent with analyses of nuclear-encoded rRNAs that identify G. vacuolata as a rhodophyte and support its removal from the Glaucocystophyta. Results of a global search with the maximumlikelihood method suggest that cyanelles are the first divergence among all plastids; this result is consistent with a single loss of the peptidoglycan wall in plastids after the divergence of the cyanelles. User-defined tree analyses with the maximum-likelihood method indicate, however, that the position of the cyanelles is not stable within the rRNA phylogenies. Both maximumparsimony and neighbor-joining analyses showed a close evolutionary relationship between cyanelles and nongreen plastids; these phylogenetic methods were sensitive to inclusion/exclusion of the G. wittrockiana cyanelle sequence. Base compositional bias within the G. wittrockiana 16S rRNA may explain this result. Taken together the phylogenetic analyses are interpreted as supporting a near-simultaneous radiation of cyanelles and green and nongreen plastids; these organelles are all rooted within the cyanobacteria.
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    Journal of molecular evolution 42 (1996), S. 570-579 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Evolution ; Catalase ; Phylogenetic tree,Zea mays L. ; Isozyme ; Antioxidant genes ; Gene Structure ; Oxidative stress
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract We have compared the nucleotide and protein sequences of the three maize catalase genes with other plant catalases to reconstruct the evolutionary relationship among these catalases. These sequences were also compared with other eukaryotic and prokaryotic catalases. Phylogenies based on distances and parsimony analysis show that all plant catalases derive from a common ancestral catalase gene and can be divided into three distinct groups. The first, and major, group includes maizeCatl, barleyCat1, riceCatB and most of the dicot catalases. The second group is an apparent dicot-specific catalase group encompassing the tobaccoCat2 and tomatoCat. The third is a monocot-specific catalase class including the maize Cat3, barley Cat2, and riceCatA. The maize Cat2 gene is loosely related to the first group. The distinctive features of monocot-specific catalases are their extreme high codon bias at the third position and low degree of sequence similarity to other plant catalases. Similarities in the intron positions for several plant catalase genes support the conclusion of derivation from a common ancestral gene. The similar intron position between bean catalases and human catalase implies that the animal and plant catalases might have derived from a common progenitor gene sequence.
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    Journal of molecular evolution 42 (1996), S. 79-84 
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: LacY ; Lactose permease ; Evolution ; Reduced synonymous polymorphism ; Positive selection ; E. coli
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract We have determined the nucleotide sequences of sevenlacY alleles isolated from natural isolates ofEscherichia coli. Nucleotide heterozygosity estimates for this locus were compared to those obtained from previous studies of intraspecific variation at chromosomal loci, revealing thatlacY has unusually low synonymous site variation. The average pairwise heterozygosity of synonymous sites (Ks=0.0112+/-0.0100) is the second lowest reported and the lowest for loci that have an equivalent level of nonsynonymous variation. We consider several hypotheses to explain how different forces in evolution could act to create the observed pattern of polymorphism, including selection for translational efficiency and positive selection. Our analysis most strongly supports the hypothesis that positive selection has acted on thelacY locus inE. coli.
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  • 80
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs) ; Histone H1 ; Cnidaria ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract We have analyzed the chromosomal protein composition of the sperm from several species belonging to three different classes (Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Anthozoa) of the phylum Cnidaria. In every instance, the sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs) were found to consist of one to two major protein fractions that belong to the histone H1 family, as can be deduced from their amino acid composition and solubility in dilute perchloric acid, and the presence of a trypsin-resistant core. In those species where mature spawned sperm could be obtained, we were able to show that these proteins completely replace the somatic histones from the stem cells that are present at the onset of spermatogenesis. The presence of a highly specialized histone H1 molecule in the sperm of this phylum provides support for the idea that the protamine-like proteins (PL) from higher groups in the phylogenetic tree (and possibly protamines as well) may all have evolved from a primitive histone H1 ancestor.
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  • 81
    ISSN: 1432-1432
    Keywords: Transposable elements ; Evolution ; Horizontal transfers and alternative hypotheses
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    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract The integrase domain of RNA-mediated elements (class I) and the transposase domain of DNA-mediated transposable elements (class II) were compared. A number of elements contain the DDE signature, which plays an important role in their integration. The possible relationships betweenmariner-Tc1 andIS elements, retrotransposons, and retroviruses were analyzed from an alignment of this region. Themariner-Tc1 superfamily, and LTR retrotransposons and retroviruses were found to be monophyletic groups. However, theIS elements of bacteria were found in several groups. These results were used to propose an evolutionary history that suggests a common ancestor for some integrases and transposases.
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    International journal of earth sciences 85 (1996), S. 58-64 
    ISSN: 1437-3262
    Keywords: Aperiodicity ; Buckling ; Evolution ; Modelling ; Spatial chaos
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract Naturally occurring fold systems are typically irregular. Although such systems may sometimes be approximated by a periodic geometry, in reality they are commonly aperiodic. Ord (1994) has proposed that naturally occurring fold systems may display spatial chaos in their geometry. Previous work has indicated that linear theories for the formation of fold systems, such as those developed by Biot (1965), result in strictly periodic geometries. In this paper the development of spatially chaotic geometries is explored for a thin compressed elastic layer embedded in a viscoelastic medium which shows elastic softening. In particular, it is shown that spatially localized forms of buckling can develop and the evolution of these systems in the time domain is presented. A nonlinear partial differential equation, fourth order in a spatial variable and first order in time, is found to govern the evolution. A related nonlinear fourth-order ordinary differential equation governs an initial elastic phase of folding. The latter equation belongs to a class with spatially chaotic solutions. The paper reviews the implications of localization in the geological framework, and draws some tentative conclusions about the development of spatial chaos. Crudely arrived-at, yet plausible, evolutionary time plots under the constraint of constant applied end displacement are presented. Emphasis throughout is on phenomenology, rather than underlying mathematics or numerics.
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  • 83
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    Surveys in geophysics 16 (1995), S. 533-591 
    ISSN: 1573-0956
    Keywords: Satellites ; Giant planets ; Origin ; Evolution
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    Topics: Geosciences , Physics
    Notes: Abstract The paper reviews the problem of formation and evolution of the so-called “regular satellites “ of the giant planets, and it consists of two parts: the first describes the possible origin of the satellites, the second studies their evolution, attempting to stress the relations of the present status of the satellites with their evolutionary history. The formation of regular satellite systems around giant planets is probably related to the formation of the central planet. Some characteristics of regular satellite systems are quite similar, and suggest a common origin in a disk present around the central body. This disk can originate through different mechanisms which we will describe, paying attention to the so-called “accretion disk” model, in which the satellite-forming material is captured. The disk phase links the formation of the primary body with the formation of satellites. The subsequent stages of the disk's evolution can lead first to the formation of intermediate size bodies, and through the collisional evolution of these bodies, to the birth of satellite “embryos” able to gravitationally capture smaller bodies. Given the scenario in which icy satellites may be formed by homogeneous accretion of planetesimals made of a mixtures of ice and silicates, if no melting occurs during accretion, the satellites have a homogeneous ice-rock composition. For the smaller satellites this homogeneous structure should not be substantially modified; only sporadic local events, such as large impacts, can modify the surface structure of the smaller satellites. For the larger satellites, if some degree of melting appears during accretion, a differentiation of the silicate part occurs, the amount of differentiation and hence the core size depending on the fraction of gravitational potential energy retained during the accumulation process. Melting and differentiation soon after the accretion, for the larger satellites, could also depend on the convective evolution in presence of phase transitions and generate an intermediate rock layer, considerably denser than the underlying, still homogeneous core, and unstable to overturning on a geologic time scale. Moreover the liquid water mantle could be a transient feature because the mantle would freeze over several hundred million years. For these large bodies the stable configuration is expected to be one consisting of a silicate core and a mantle of mixed rock and ice.
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    Journal of statistical physics 90 (1998), S. 191-210 
    ISSN: 1572-9613
    Keywords: Evolution ; birth/death processes ; mean-field ; population dynamics
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Physics
    Notes: Abstract The role of mutational bias in evolution on a smooth landscape is investigated. We consider both a finite-length genome where the bias increases linearly with the fitness, and an infinite genome with a fixed bias. We present simulations of finite populations in a waiting time model, showing both the nonequilibrium dynamics and the equilibrium fitness distributions that are reached. We compute the equilibrium analytically in several cases, using approximate direct solution of the master equations and truncated hierarchies.
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    Economic theory 13 (1999), S. 329-343 
    ISSN: 1432-0479
    Keywords: Keywords and Phrases: Risk ; Evolution ; Entrepreneur. ; JEL Classification Numbers: C72 ; D81.
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Economics
    Notes: Summary. I examine a Knightian (1921) model of risk using a general equilibrium model of investment and trade. A population of agents with various preference types can choose between a safe production technology and a risky production technology. In addition, the distribution of types of agents changes through a standard evolutionary dynamic. For a given population distribution, the equilibrium is in general inefficient, however, by allowing the population distribution to change in response to market generated rewards, the population will converge to one where the equilibrium is efficient and where the population as a whole behaves as if all agents were risk neutral.
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    Development genes and evolution 208 (1998), S. 591-594 
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Arthropod ; Hox ; Evolution ; Development ; Chelicerate
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  We have cloned, from an oribatid mite, a gene homologous to the zerknült (zen) genes of insects and the Hox 3 genes of vertebrates. Hox genes specify cell fates in specific regions of the body in all metazoans studied and are expressed in antero-posteriorly restricted regions of the embryo. This is true of the vertebrate Hox 3 but not of the zen genes, the insect homologs, and it has been proposed that the zen genes have lost their Hox-like function in the ancestor of the insects. We studied expression of a mite Hox 3/zen homolog and found that it is expressed in a discrete antero-posterior region of the body with an anterior boundary coinciding with that of the chelicerate homolog of the Drosophila Hox gene, proboscipedia, and propose that its loss of Hox function in insects is due to functional redundancy due to this overlap with another Hox gene.
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    Development genes and evolution 208 (1998), S. 113-116 
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words TALE homeobox gene ; MEINOX domain ; Hox cluster ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  A recent survey of TALE superclass homeobox genes revealed a new domain upstream of the homeodomain that is conserved between the plant KNOX genes and the animal MEIS genes. At the same time, another paper identified the Drosophila gene homothorax (hth) as a homologue of the vertebrate MEIS genes, which prompted a reexamination of the sequences of the MEIS, KNOX (collectively named MEINOX) and PBC domains. Similarity of the complete MEINOX domain was found within the PBC domain. This suggests that the PBC class genes were also derived from the ancient MEINOX genes. Recently, it has been shown that the MEIS genes can interact with the Abd-B genes, whilst previous results have shown that the PBC genes interact with anterior Hox genes. This leads to the hypothesis that the duplication of an ancestral MEINOX gene into the PBC and MEIS genes happened at a point in time when the first two Hox cluster genes, an anterior one and a posterior one, emerged, and that subsequently these gene classes coevolved.
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    Environmental geology 38 (1999), S. 34-46 
    ISSN: 1432-0495
    Keywords: Key words Alkaline/acid/neutral water ; Acid rain ; Geochemical modeling ; Brine ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Geosciences
    Notes: Abstract  Analysis and hydrogeochemical modeling of hydrocarbonate groundwater, including its buffering geochemical properties, have demonstrated that this water has undergone a geochemical transformation almost throughout the whole of one industrial region. It is known that hydrocarbonate groundwater possesses a high protective natural geochemical potential, supporting neutralization of acid atmospheric precipitation. Natural hydrocarbonate water undergoes three stages of anthropogenic transformation caused by acid atmospheric precipitation over more than 50 years. The first stage is transformation of neutral hydrocarbonate water into alkaline water, accompanied by calcite precipitation and sodium carbonate dissolution from the unsaturated zone. The second stage is transformation of alkaline water into neutral hydrocarbonate water; the hydrocarbonate content, being less than the lower limit for background concentrations, showed reduced water buffering properties or protective potential relative to acid precipitation. The third stage is transformation of neutral hydrocarbonate water into acidic water, with a complete loss of protective geochemical potential. This unfavorable ecological situation with natural geochemically hydrocarbonate groundwater shows that natural groundwater less protected from the impact of acid atmospheric precipitation is in a worse ecological condition, which is confirmed by observations in northern and Western Europe and other regions of the world.
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    Development genes and evolution 206 (1996), S. 136-146 
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Compound eye development ; Equator ; Evolution ; Homology ; Tribolium (Insecta ; Coleoptera)
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  Using electron microscopy, the first stages of ommatidial development in the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum were analysed in relation to the cellular architecture of the adult compound eye and were compared to the corresponding patterning process in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The ommatidia of the slightly horse-shoe shaped beetle compound eye contain six peripheral and two central retinula cells. The rhabdomere of the posteriorly located central photoreceptor cell is restricted to the distal half of the rhabdom whilst that of the anterior one is restricted to its proximal half. The development of the compound eye takes place in an external eye imaginal disc. Most stages of ommatidial development, as known from Drosophila, i.e. arc-like cell groups, five-cell clusters, immature eight-cell clusters and symmetrical eight-cell clusters, are very precisely conserved between the two species. Two major differences exist: 1. In Tribolium, the cone cell precursor cells synchronously join to the immature eight-cell cluster. As a consequence, the symmetrical eight-cell cluster immediately transforms into a four-cone-cell cluster. 2. The maturing ommatidia do not undergo rotation in Tribolium. Overall, no morphological indiation for an equator in the adult Tribolium compound eye could be found. Considering the strong evolutionary conservation of early ommatidial development, homology of photoreceptor cells of distantly related insects is proposed to be inferred from their ontogenetic origin.
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  • 90
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Hydra ; Insulin ; Development ; Receptor ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  A gene encoding a receptor protein-tyrosine kinase closely related to the vertebrate insulin receptor has been identified in the Cnidarian Hydra vulgaris. The gene is expressed in both epithelial layers of the adult polyp. A particularly high level of expression is seen in the ectoderm of the proximal portions of the tentacles and in a ring of ectodermal cells at the border between the foot basal disk and body column. The expression pattern of the gene in asexual buds is dynamic; expression is high throughout the newly emerging bud but the area of high expression becomes restricted to the apex as the bud lengthens. When the bud begins hypostome and tentacle formation, a high level of expression appears at the bases of the emerging tentacles. Finally, a ring of high expression appears just above the foot of the bud, completing the pattern seen in the adult polyp. The presence of this receptor and its pattern of expression suggested that an endogenous molecule related to insulin plays a role in regulating cell division in the body column and in differentiation of the tentacle and foot cells in Hydra, with the switch between the two being determined by the level of the receptor. Treatment of Hydra polyps with mammalian insulin caused an increase in the number of ectodermal and endodermal cells undergoing DNA synthesis.
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    Development genes and evolution 209 (1999), S. 186-197 
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Cnidaria ; Paired class ; Paired-like ; Homeobox gene ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  The genes belonging to the Paired class exert primary developmental functions. They are characterized by six invariant amino acid residues in the homeodomain, while the residue at position 50 can be a serine, glutamine or lysine as in the Pax-type, Q50 Paired-like or the K50 Paired-like homeodomains respectively. Genes in this class emerged early in animal evolution: three distinct Pax genes and two Q50 Paired-like genes have recently been characterised from cnidarians. Phylogenetic molecular reconstructions taking into account homeodomain and paired-domain sequences provide some new perspectives on the evolution of the Paired-class genes. Analysis of 146 Paired-class homeodomains from a wide range of metazoan taxa allowed us to identify 18 families among the three sub-classes from which the aristaless family displays the least diverged position. Both Pax-type and K50 families branch within the Q50 Paired-like sequences implying that these are the most ancestral. Consequently, most Pax genes arose from a Paired-like ancestor, via fusion of a Paired-like homebox gene with a gene encoding only a paired domain; the Cnidaria appear to contain genes representing the ’before’ and ’after’ fusion events.
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    Development genes and evolution 192 (1983), S. 337-346 
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Drosophila ; Gynandromorphs ; Genital disc ; Compartments ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Summary The genital imaginal disc ofDrosophila differentiates the terminalia, i.e. the genitalia and analia, of both sexes. It represents a composite anlage, containing a female genital primordium, a male genital primordium and an anal primordium. In normal males and females, only one of the two genital primordia differentiates; the other is developmentally repressed. Therefore, cell-lineage relationships between the male and female genital primordia can only be studied in sexual mosaics which differentiate female and male cells. We producedMinute (M)‖non-Minute(M+) gynandromorphs and selected those with sexually mosaic terminalia for a cell-lineage analysis. In these mosaics, either the male (XO) or female (XX) cells wereM + and thus had a growth advantage. The differential growth rates served as a tool to detect clonal restrictions. In control gynandromorphs (M +‖M +), the amount of female genitalia differentiated was largely independent of the amount of male genitalia present. In contrast, male and female anal structures, as a rule, added up to one full set. The same was true for the experimentalM‖M + gynandromorphs, but the contribution ofXX andXO cells to mosaic terminalia changed drastically due toM + cells competing successfully against the more slowly growingM cells. Specific subsamples ofM‖M + gynandromorphs showed thatM cells in a non-mosaic primordium are shielded from cell competition taking place in the neighbouring mosaic primordium. We conclude that the three primordia of the genital disc represent developmental compartments. In the genital primordia, even developmentally repressedM + cells compete successfully against developmentally activeM cells.
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  • 93
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    Development genes and evolution 207 (1997), S. 264-281 
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words yolk protein genes ; Calliphora ; Musca ; Evolution ; doublesex
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  We have investigated the conservation of regulatory elements for sex- and tissue-specific gene expression in three dipteran species, Drosophila melanogaster, Musca domestica and Calliphora erythrocephala, using the yolk protein (yp) genes. Yolk proteins of the fruitfly, medfly, housefly and blowfly are very well conserved both in their sequence and their expression in ovarian follicle cells and in fat bodies of adult females. Furthermore, yp regulation by both hormonal and nutritional factors shows similar features in all four species. To study conservation of yp regulation in dipteran insects, we tested 5′ flanking regions from one Musca yp gene and one Calliphora yp gene for enhancer functions in D. melanogaster. Two fragments of 823 and 1046 bp isolated from Musca and Calliphora yp genes, respectively, are able to direct correct expression of a reporter gene in the ovarian follicle cells of transformed Drosophila at specific stages during oogenesis. Surprisingly, these enhancers do not confer sex-specific reporter gene expression in the fat body, as expression was found in both sexes of the transformed flies. None-the-less by in vitro DNA/protein interaction assays, a 284-bp DNA region from the Musca yp enhancer was able to bind the Drosophila DOUBLESEX (DSX) protein, which in D.melanogaster confers sex-specific expression of yp. We speculate that the sex-determining pathway is not directly involved in yp regulation in Musca or Calliphora adult females, but depends instead on hormonal controls to achieve sex-specific expression of yp genes in the adult.
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  • 94
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    Development genes and evolution 207 (1997), S. 287-295 
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Sense organ embryology ; Ambystoma embryology ; Homeobox genes ; Vertebrate genetics ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  Gene expression has been studied in considerable detail in the developing vertebrate brain, neural crest, and some placode-derived organs. As a further investigation of vertebrate head morphogenesis, expression patterns of several homeobox-containing genes were examined using whole-mount in situ hybridization in a sensory system primitive for the vertebrate subphylum: the axolotl lateral lines and the placodes from which they develop. Axolotl Msx-2 and Dlx-3 are expressed in all of the lateral line placodes. Both genes are expressed throughout development of the lateral line system and their expression continues in the fully developed neuromasts. Expression within support cells is highly polarized. In contrast to most other observations of Msx genes in vertebrate organogenesis, expression of Msx-2 in developing lateral line organs is exclusively epithelial and is not associated with epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. A Hox-complex gene, Hoxb-3, is shown to be expressed in the embryonic hindbrain and in a lateral line placode at the same rostrocaudal level, but not in other placodes nor in mature lateral line organs. A Hox gene of a separate paralog group, Hoxa-4, is expressed in a more posterior hindbrain domain in the embryo, but is not expressed in the lateral line placode at that rostrocaudal level. These data provide the first test of the hypothesis that the neurogenic placodes develop in two rostrocaudal series aligned with the rhombomeric segments and patterned by combinations of Hox genes in parallel with the central nervous system.
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  • 95
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Amphioxus ; Snail ; Neural crest ; Evolution ; Chordate
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  Homologs of the Drosophila snail gene have been characterized in several vertebrates. In addition to being expressed in mesoderm during gastrulation, vertebrate snail genes are also expressed in presumptive neural crest and/or its derivatives. Given that neural crest is unique to vertebrates and is considered to be of fundamental importance in their evolution, we have cloned and characterized the expression of a snail gene from amphioxus, a cephalochordate widely accepted as the sister group of the vertebrates. We show that, at the amino acid sequence level, the amphioxus snail gene is a clear phylogenetic outgroup to all the characterized vertebrate snail genes. During embryogenesis snail expression initially becomes restricted to the paraxial or presomitic mesoderm of amphioxus. Later, snail is expressed at high levels in the lateral neural plate, where it persists during neurulation. Our results indicate that an ancestral function of snail genes in the lineage leading to vertebrates is to define the paraxial mesoderm. Furthermore, our results indicate that a cell population homologous to the vertebrate neural crest may be present in amphioxus, thus providing an important link in the evolution of this key vertebrate tissue.
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  • 96
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    Development genes and evolution 208 (1998), S. 94-99 
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words T-box ; Evolution ; Zebrafish ; Paraxial mesoderm ; Tail bud
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  We report on a new zebrafish T-box-containing gene, tbx16. It encodes a message that is first detected throughout the blastoderm soon after the initiation of zygotic gene expression. Following gastrulation, expression becomes restricted to paraxial mesoderm and later primarily to the developing tail bud. To gain an evolutionary prospective on the potential function of this gene, we have analyzed its phylogenetic relationships to known T-box genes from other species. Zebrafish tbx16 is likely orthologous to the chicken Tbx6L and Xenopus Xombi/Antipodean/Brat/VegT genes. Our analysis also shows that zebrafish tbx6 and mouse Tbx6 genes are paralogous to zebrafish tbx16. We present evidence which argues, that despite the same name and similar expression, zebrafish tbx6 and mouse Tbx6 genes are not orthologous to each other but instead represent relatively distant paralogs. The expression patterns of all genes are discussed in the light of their evolutionary relationships.
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  • 97
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Tooth morphogenesis ; Evolution ; Mouse ; Microtus rossiaemeridionalis ; Enamel knot
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  While the evolutionary history of mammalian tooth shapes is well documented in the fossil record, the developmental basis of their tooth shape evolution is unknown. We investigated the expression patterns of eight developmental regulatory genes in two species of rodents with different molar morphologies (mouse, Mus musculus and sibling vole, Microtus rossiaemeridionalis). The genes Bmp-2, Bmp-4, Fgf-4 and Shh encode signal molecules, Lef-1, Msx-1 and Msx-2, are transcription factors and p21 CIP1/WAF1 participates in the regulation of cell cycle. These genes are all known to be associated with developmental regulation in mouse molars. In this paper we show that the antisense mRNA probes made from mouse cDNA cross-hybridized with vole tissue. The comparisons of gene expression patterns and morphologies suggest that similar molecular cascades are used in the early budding of tooth germs, in the initiation of tooth crown base formation, and in the initiation of each cusp’s development. Furthermore, the co-localization of several genes indicate that epithelial signalling centres function at the three stages of morphogenesis. The earliest signalling centre in the early budding epithelium has not been reported before, but the latter signalling centres, the primary and the secondary enamel knots, have been studied in mouse. The appearance of species-specific tooth shapes was manifested by the regulatory molecules expressed in the secondary enamel knots at the areas of future cusp tips, whilst the mesenchymal gene expression patterns had a buccal bias without similar species-specific associations.
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  • 98
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Notch pathway ; Antagonist ; Hairless ; Orthologue ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  Hairless is a member of the Notch signalling pathway, where it acts as antagonist by binding to Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)], thereby inhibiting Notch target gene activation. The pathway and its members are highly conserved in metazoans from worms to humans. However, a Hairless orthologue from another species has not yet been identified. The identification of Hairless in largely diverged species by cross-hybridization has failed so far probably due to a low degree of conservation. Therefore, we turned to D. hydei where a Hairless mutation has been described before. The D. hydei Hairless orthologue is reasonably well conserved with regard to gene structure and expression. The prospective Hairless protein orthologues share several highly conserved regions which are separated by quite diverged stretches. As to be expected, the largest region of high conservation corresponds to the Su(H) binding domain. This region is also functionally conserved, since this D. hydei protein domain binds very strongly to the D. melanogaster Su(H) protein. The other conserved regions support our earlier structure-function analysis since they nicely correspond to previously defined, functionally important protein domains. Most notably, the very C-terminal domain which is very sensitive to structural alterations, is nearly identical between the two species. In summary, this evolutionary study improves the knowledge on functionally significant domains of the Hairless protein, and may be helpful for the future identification of homologues in other animals, especially in vertebrates.
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  • 99
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Astacin ; Metalloproteinase ; Toxin ; Cnidaria ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  Metalloproteinases of the astacin family such as tolloid play major roles in animal morphogenesis. Cnidarians are thought to be evolutionary simple organisms and, therefore, a metalloproteinase from the marine hydrozoan Podocoryne carnea was analysed to evaluate the role of this conserved gene familiy at the base of animal evolution. Surprisingly, the proteinase domain of Podocornyne PMP1 is more similar to human meprin than to HMP1 from another hydrozoan, the freshwater polyp Hydra vulgaris. However, PMP1 and HMP1 both contain a small C-terminal domain with six cysteines that distinguishes them from other astacin-like molecules. Similar domains have been described only recently from sea anemone toxins specific for potassium channels. This toxin homology (Tox1) domain is clearly distinct from epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains or other cysteine-rich modules and terminates with the characteristic pattern CXXXCXXC with three out of six cysteines in the last eight residues of the protein. PMP1 is transiently expressed at various sites of morphogenetic activity during medusa bud development. In the adult medusa, however, expression is concentrated to the manubrium, the feeding organ, where the PMP1 gene is highly induced upon feeding. These disparate expression patterns suggest a dual role of PMP1 comparable to tolloid in development and, like astacin in the crayfish, also for food digestion. The Tox1 domain of PMP1 could serve as a toxin to keep the pray paralysed after ingestion, but as a sequence module such Tox1 domains with six cysteines are neither restricted to cnidarians nor to toxins.
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  • 100
    ISSN: 1432-041X
    Keywords: Key words Echinoid ; Oogenesis ; Development ; Evolution
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology
    Notes: Abstract  Evolutionary change in developmental mode in sea urchins is closely tied to an increase in maternal provisioning. We examined the oogenic modifications involved in production of a large egg by comparison of oogenesis in congeneric sea urchins with markedly different sized oocytes and divergent modes of development. Heliocidaris tuberculata has small eggs (95 µm diameter) and the ancestral mode of development through feeding larvae, whereas H. erythrogramma has large eggs (430 µm diameter) and highly modified non-feeding lecithotrophic larvae. Production of a large egg in H. erythrogramma involved both conserved and divergent mechanisms. The pattern and level of vitellogenin gene expression is similar in the two species. Vitellogenin processing is also similar with the gonads of both species incorporating yolk protein from coelomic and hemal stores into nutritive cells with subsequent transfer of this protein into yolk granules in the developing vitellogenic oocyte. Immunocytology of the eggs of both Heliocidaris species indicates they incorporate similar levels of yolk protein. However, H. erythrogramma has evolved a highly divergent second phase of oogenesis characterised by massive deposition of non-vitellogenic material including additional maternal protein and lipid. Maternal provisioning in H. erythrogramma exhibits recapitulation of the ancestral vitellogenic program followed by a novel oogenic phase with hypertrophy of the lipogenic program being a major contributor to the increase in egg size.
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