Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 13, 1351-1362, Copyright © 1996 by Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
A Seegmiller, KR Williams, RL Hammersmith, TG Doak, D Witherspoon, T Messick, LL Storjohann and G Herrick
Internal eliminated sequences (IESs) often interrupt ciliate genes in the
silent germline nucleus but are exactly excised and eliminated from the
developing somatic nucleus from which genes are then expressed. Some long
IESs are transposons, supporting the hypothesis that short IESs are ancient
transposon relics. In light of that hypothesis and to explore the
evolutionary history of a collection of IESs, we have compared various
alleles of a particular locus (the 81 locus) of the ciliated protozoa
Oxytricha trifallax and O. fallax. Three short IESs that interrupt two
genes of the locus are found in alleles from both species, and thus must be
relatively ancient, consistent with the hypothesis that short IESs are
transposon relics. In contrast, TBE1 transposon interruptions of the locus
are allele-specific and probably the results of recent transpositions.
These IESs (and the TBE1s) are precisely excised from the DNA of the
developing somatic macronucleus. Each IES interrupts a highly conserved
sequence. A few nucleotides at the ends of each IES are also conserved,
suggesting that they interact critically with IES excision machinery.
However, most IES nucleotide positions have evolved at high rates, showing
little or no selective constraint for function. Nonetheless, the length of
each IES has been maintained (+/- 3 bp). While one IES is approximately 33
bp long, three other IESs have very similar sizes, approximately 70 bp
long. Two IESs are surrounded by direct repeats of the sequence TTCTT. No
other sequence similarities were found between any of the four IESs.
However, the ends of one IES do match the inverted terminal repeat
consensus sequence of the "TA" IESs of Paramecium. Three O. trifallax
alleles appear to have been recipients in recent conversion events that
could have been provoked by double-strand breaks associated with IES ends
subsequent to IES transposition. Our findings support the hypothesis that
short IESs evolved from ancient transposons that have lost most of their
sequences, except those necessary for precise excision during macronuclear
development.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Internal eliminated sequences interrupting the Oxytricha 81 locus: allelic divergence, conservation, conversions, and possible transposon origins
Department of Oncological Sciencies, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
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