Skip Navigation


MBE Advance Access originally published online on June 2, 2004
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
21/9/1704    most recent
msh178v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (20)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rooney, A. P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rooney, A. P.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Mol. Biol. Evol. 21(9):1704-1711. 2004
DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msh178
© 2004 by the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. ISSN: 0737-4038

Mechanisms Underlying the Evolution and Maintenance of Functionally Heterogeneous 18S rRNA Genes in Apicomplexans

Alejandro P. Rooney

Microbial Genomics & Bioprocessing Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois

E-mail: rooney{at}ncaur.usda.gov.

In many species of the protist phylum Apicomplexa, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene copies are structurally and functionally heterogeneous, owing to distinct requirements for rRNA-expression patterns at different developmental stages. The genomic mechanisms underlying the maintenance of this system over long-term evolutionary history are unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate what processes underlie the long-term evolution of apicomplexan 18S genes in representative species. The results show that these genes evolve according to a birth-and-death model under strong purifying selection, thereby explaining how divergent 18S genes are generated over time while continuing to maintain their ability to produce fully functional rRNAs. In addition, it was found that Cryptosporidium parvum undergoes a rapid form of birth-and-death evolution that may facilitate host-specific adaptation, including that of type I and II strains found in humans. This represents the first case in which an rRNA gene family has been found to evolve under the birth-and-death model.

Key Words: birth-and-death • purifying selection • multigene family • rRNA


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Syst BiolHome page
G. Baele, Y. Van de Peer, and S. Vansteelandt
A Model-Based Approach to Study Nearest-Neighbor Influences Reveals Complex Substitution Patterns in Non-coding Sequences
Syst Biol, October 1, 2008; 57(5): 675 - 692.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
B. Xue, A. P. Rooney, M. Kajikawa, N. Okada, and W. L. Roelofs
Novel sex pheromone desaturases in the genomes of corn borers generated through gene duplication and retroposon fusion
PNAS, March 13, 2007; 104(11): 4467 - 4472.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
A. P. Rooney and T. J. Ward
Evolution of a large ribosomal RNA multigene family in filamentous fungi: Birth and death of a concerted evolution paradigm
PNAS, April 5, 2005; 102(14): 5084 - 5089.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.