Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 15, 251-263, Copyright © 1998 by Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
RK Kuzoff, JA Sweere, DE Soltis, PS Soltis and EA Zimmer
18S ribosomal RNA genes are the most widely used nuclear sequences for
phylogeny reconstruction at higher taxonomic levels in plants. However, due
to a conservative rate of evolution, 18S rDNA alone sometimes provides too
few phylogenetically informative characters to resolve relationships
adequately. Previous studies using partial sequences have suggested the
potential of 26S or large-subunit (LSU) rDNA for phylogeny retrieval at
taxonomic levels comparable to those investigated with 18S rDNA. Here we
explore the patterns of molecular evolution of entire 26S rDNA sequences
and their impact on phylogeny retrieval. We present a protocol for PCR
amplification and sequencing of entire (approximately 3.4 kb) 26S rDNA
sequences as single amplicons, as well as primers that can be used for
amplification and sequencing. These primers proved useful in angiosperms
and Gnetales and likely have broader applicability. With these protocols
and primers, entire 26S rDNA sequences were generated for a diverse array
of 15 seed plants, including basal eudicots, monocots, and higher eudicots,
plus two representatives of Gnetales. Comparisons of sequence dissimilarity
indicate that expansion segments (or divergence domains) evolve 6.4 to 10.2
times as fast as conserved core regions of 26S rDNA sequences in plants.
Additional comparisons indicate that 26S rDNA evolves 1.6 to 2.2 times as
fast as and provides 3.3 times as many phylogenetically informative
characters as 18S rDNA; compared to the chloroplast gene rbcL, 26S rDNA
evolves at 0.44 to 1.0 times its rate and provides 2.0 times as many
phylogenetically informative characters. Expansion segment sequences
analyzed here evolve 1.2 to 3.0 times faster than rbcL, providing 1.5 times
the number of informative characters. Plant expansion segments have a
pattern of evolution distinct from that found in animals, exhibiting less
cryptic sequence simplicity, a lower frequency of insertion and deletion,
and greater phylogenetic potential.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The phylogenetic potential of entire 26S rDNA sequences in plants
Department of Botany, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-4238, USA. kuzoff@wsunix.wsu.edu
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