Central Dogma3

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Central Dogma3 Conversation on Central Dogma Page 1 of 11 A Conversation about Central Dogma sequences code for proteins of differing of Molecular Biology sequences. Student: OK. Now, what does the Central Dogma Student: What is the Central Dogma of Molecular state? Biology? Teacher: Again, in Crick’s words, the Central Teacher: The Central Dogma of Molecular Dogma states that “ that once ‘information’ has Biology was proposed by Sir Francis Crick in passed into protein it cannot get out again .” The paper he published in 1958 [1]. In this paper, Crick ‘information’ in a nucleic acid is its sequence of discussed a theoretical framework for the nucleotides. The ‘information’ in a protein is its mechanisms leading to protein synthesis; for this sequence of amino acids. This statement by Crick Crick presented two general principles, which he means that a sequence of amino acids cannot be termed the Sequence Hypothesis and the Central used to provide instruction for synthesis of either a Dogma, though there was scant experimental nucleic acid or a protein. Crick elaborated on this evidence for either. point as follows “the transfer of information from nucleic acid to nucleic acid, or from nucleic acid Student: OK. So what does the Sequence to protein may be possible, but transfer from Hypothesis state? protein to protein, or from protein to nucleic acid is impossible .” Teacher: In Crick’s own words, the sequence hypothesis “ assumes that the specificity of a piece Student: This sounds clear enough. But I of nucleic acid is expressed solely by the sequence 2 remember reading on Wikipedia that the Central of its bases, and that this sequence is a simple Dogma relates to the ‘residue by residue transfer code for the amino acid sequence of a particular of sequential information ’, which sounded quite protein .” complicated. Can you explain this in simpler terms? Also, is this different from what Crick had Student: Can you explain it in simpler words? said? Teacher: There are two parts to this statement. Teacher: Let us first consider the phrase ‘residue One: the unique identity, or specificity, of a by residue ’. Residues refer to monomeric units in segment of nucleic acids it its sequence. For a polymeric molecule. The monomeric units are example, a dinucleotide AT is different from a deoxynucleotides in DNA, ribonucleotides in dinucleotide TA (remember that the sequence of RNA, and amino acids in proteins. nucleic acids is written in the 5’ 3’ direction). Two: the sequence of a nucleic acid forms the Now consider ‘transfer of sequential information ’. instruction for a sequence of a protein. At the time We know that in this context, ‘information’ is the when Crick made this statement, rules governing sequence of nucleotides or amino acids; to clarify the correspondence between nucleotides in the this, Wikipedia has termed it as “ sequential nucleic acid and amino acids in the protein were information ”. I see how the word ‘ sequential ’ can not known, but this statement provided a stimulus be confusing, since it might suggest a certain order to uncover these rules – this correspondence (sequence) of events rather than the actual between nucleotides and amino acids is now called composition (sequence) of the polymer. the Genetic Code. Combining the two parts of this “Sequence-based information” might be a clearer statement, we see that the sequence hypothesis term in this context. states that DNA/RNA segments of differing Now comes the most interesting term – “transfer ”. It means that the information (sequence) in one 1 Crick, F.H.C. (1958): On Protein Synthesis. Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol. XII, 139-163. 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_dogma_of_molecular_ biology Conversation on Central Dogma Page 2 of 11 molecule can be copied to create another molecule First, the purpose of replication is to produce an with the same information (sequence). In other identical copy of a molecule. Therefore, each words, one molecule (‘mother’) acts as a template residue in one parent molecule is copied to or guide for the synthesis of another molecule produce one daughter molecule of the same type. (‘daughter’) with the same information. This Replication is complete when there are two property of reproduction – creation of units of identical molecules – that is, molecules with the similar type - is characteristic of living beings. same sequence information. Student: So, how does the ‘ residue by residue On the other hand, the purpose of gene replication transfer of sequential information ’ occur? is to meet the immediate needs of a cell. Hence only that segment of a molecule which carries Teacher: Two types of activities are central to information relevant for a particular requirement is living beings: reproduction and survival. copied. Instructions are required for both these types of activities, and hence there is a requirement for two Second, only one complete copy of a molecule is types of ‘transfer of information ’. The transfer made at the end of a replication cycle. However, required for reproduction is called replication (also during gene expression, the need might be for called ‘vertical transfer’), wherein information is some abundant substance, so multiple copies of a transferred from a parent generation to a progeny particular segment of a molecule may be made. In generation. The transfer required for survival can technical terms, we can say that the stoichiometry be called ‘gene expression’, wherein information or ratio of template: product is 1:1 in replication present within a cell is used within the same cell but is often 1:many during gene expression. for carrying out various processes such as respiration that are necessary to meet its Finally, the end-product of replication is a immediate requirements. molecule of the same type as the template molecule, though there might be intermediate Student: I understand replication. But what is a molecules of different types. For example, the “gene” and how is it “expressed”? end-product of replication of DNA is DNA, thought it might occur via an RNA intermediate. Teacher: It is not easy to define a gene since new But the end-product of gene replication is often a discoveries are continually changing our concept molecule of a type different from the template. In of a gene [ 3,4]. For the purpose of our discussion of most cells, the template for gene expression is the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology, we can DNA, but the end-product is protein. consider a gene to comprise one or more segments of one or more molecules that need to be copied to Student: OK. Can you tell me now about transfer carry out a particular function. Continuing with of sequence-based information during replication? this simple definition of a gene, we can say that gene expression comprises processes involving Teacher: In all cellular organisms, the genetic transfer of sequence-based information present in material is double strand DNA, that is, ds DNA a gene. the molecule that determines the identity of a cell. For replication, one molecule of DNA has to be Student: Are there differences between transfer of copied to make two identical molecules of DNA. information in replication and gene expression? As you know, the two polynucleotide strands Teacher: Yes, there are three main differences in comprising a molecule of ds DNA are terms of transfer of information. complementary to each other. This means that an A residue on one strand is paired with a T residue on the other strand, and a G residue on one strand is paired with a C residue on the other strand. The 3 Pearson H (2006) Nature 441: 399-401 simplest mechanism to achieve replication is as 4 Gerstein et al. (2007) Genome Res . 17: 669-681 follows: the two strands comprising a ds DNA Conversation on Central Dogma Page 3 of 11 molecule are separated, and each strand acts as a template for the synthesis of the complementary strand. Synthesis of the complementary strand is done using the Watson-Crick base pairing: A pairs with T, and G pairs with C. In this way, two identical molecules of ds DNA are produced from one molecule of ds DNA. Some viruses (such as M13 and phiX174) have a single stranded DNA genome. To replicate a ss Student: Why are these steps called ‘transcription’ DNA genome, the DNA is first copied using and ‘reverse transcription’? complementary base pairing to produce a complementary strand, which is then copied to Teacher: Well, the four building blocks for DNA produce copies of genomic DNA. are dATP, dGTP, dCTP, and dTTP, whereas the four building blocks for RNA are rATP, rGTP, Replication is catalyzed rCTP, and rUTP. Historically, the use DNA as a by an enzyme called template to synthesize RNA was observed first; DNA polymerase this process was termed transcription to denote (DNAP). The transfer of that it involved a change of ‘script’ of the information during information from dNTPs to rNTPs. replication of DNA can be depicted as shown in Later, when the use of RNA as a template to figure 1. synthesize DNA was observed, the process was termed ‘reverse transcription’ to note that Student: This looks identities of template and intermediate molecules simple. Are there other in transcription was reversed in this process, that routes for transfer of sequence-based information is, the template was RNA and the intermediate for the purpose of replication? was DNA. Teacher: Yes, there is another route for replication Student: OK. So life forms with DNA as their of DNA genomes, as seen in cauliflower mosaic genetic material transfer sequence-based virus (a plant virus) and hepatitis B virus (an information during replication either by DNA animal viruses), where the DNA genome DNA or by DNA RNA DNA. replicates by a circuitous route.
Recommended publications
  • Identification of a Non-LTR Retrotransposon from the Gypsy Moth
    Insect Molecular Biology (1999) 8(2), 231-242 Identification of a non-L TR retrotransposon from the gypsy moth K. J. Garner and J. M. Siavicek sposons (Boeke & Corces, 1989), or retroposons USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, (McClure, 1991). Many non-L TR retrotransposons Delaware, Ohio, U.S.A. have been described in insects, including the Doc (O'Hare et al., 1991), F (Di Nocera & Casari, 1987), I (Fawcett et al., 1986) and jockey (Priimiigi et al., 1988) Abstract elements of Drosophila melanogaster, the T1Ag A family of highly repetitive elements, named LDT1, (Besansky, 1990) and Q (Besansky et al., 1994) ele- has been identified in the gypsy moth, Lymantria ments of Anopheles gambiae, and the R1Bm (Xiong & dispar. The complete element is 5.4 kb in length and Eickbush, 1988a) and R2Bm (Burke et al., 1987) lacks long-terminal repeats, The element contains two families of ribosomal DNA insertions in Bombyx mori. open reading frames with a significant amino acid Gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar) are currently wide- sequence similarity to several non-L TR retrotrans- spread forest pests in the north-eastern United States posons. The first open reading frame contains a and the adjacent regions of Canada. Population region that potentially encodes a polypeptide similar markers have been sought to distinguish the North to DNA-binding GAG-like proteins. The second American gypsy moths introduced from Europe in 1869 encodes a polypeptide resembling both endonuclease from those recently introduced from Asia (Bogdano- and reverse transcriptase sequences. A" members of wicz et al., 1993; Pfeifer et al., 1995; Garner & Siavicek, the LDT1 element family sequenced thus far have poly- 1996; Schreiber et al., 1997).
    [Show full text]
  • The Significance of the Evolutionary Relationship of Prion Proteins and ZIP Transporters in Health and Disease
    The Significance of the Evolutionary Relationship of Prion Proteins and ZIP Transporters in Health and Disease by Sepehr Ehsani A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology University of Toronto © Copyright by Sepehr Ehsani 2012 The Significance of the Evolutionary Relationship of Prion Proteins and ZIP Transporters in Health and Disease Sepehr Ehsani Doctor of Philosophy Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology University of Toronto 2012 Abstract The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is unique amongst mammalian proteins in that it not only has the capacity to aggregate (in the form of scrapie PrP; PrPSc) and cause neuronal degeneration, but can also act as an independent vector for the transmission of disease from one individual to another of the same or, in some instances, other species. Since the discovery of PrPC nearly thirty years ago, two salient questions have remained largely unanswered, namely, (i) what is the normal function of the cellular protein in the central nervous system, and (ii) what is/are the factor(s) involved in the misfolding of PrPC into PrPSc? To shed light on aspects of these questions, we undertook a discovery-based interactome investigation of PrPC in mouse neuroblastoma cells (Chapter 2), and among the candidate interactors, identified two members of the ZIP family of zinc transporters (ZIP6 and ZIP10) as possessing a PrP-like domain. Detailed analyses revealed that the LIV-1 subfamily of ZIP transporters (to which ZIPs 6 and 10 belong) are in fact the evolutionary ancestors of prions (Chapter 3).
    [Show full text]
  • Using Rnai to Elucidate Mechanisms of Human Disease
    Cell Death and Differentiation (2008) 15, 809–819 & 2008 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 1350-9047/08 $30.00 www.nature.com/cdd Review From sequence to function: using RNAi to elucidate mechanisms of human disease NM Wolters1 and JP MacKeigan*,1 RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as one of the most powerful tools for functionally characterizing large sets of genomic data. Capabilities of RNAi place it at the forefront of high-throughput screens, which are able to span the human genome in search of novel targets. Although RNAi screens have been used to elucidate pathway components and discover potential drug targets in lower organisms, including Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila, only recently has the technology been advanced to a state in which large-scale screens can be performed in mammalian cells. In this review, we will evaluate the major advancements in the field of mammalian RNAi, specifically in terms of high-throughput assays. Crucial points of experimental design will be highlighted, as well as suggestions as to how to interpret and follow-up on potential cell death targets. Finally, we assess the prospective applications of high-throughput screens, the data they are capable of generating, and the potential for this technique to further our understanding of human disease. Cell Death and Differentiation (2008) 15, 809–819; doi:10.1038/sj.cdd.4402311; published online 18 January 2008 The sequencing of the human genome ushered a new era into maintaining the balance between cell survival, cell death, the field of modern biology; it is now possible to elucidate and autophagy represents a crucial regulatory point in human molecular pathways relevant to development and disease health and that when this balance is tipped, a variety of with a breadth never before seen.
    [Show full text]
  • The Beaver's Phylogenetic Lineage Illuminated by Retroposon Reads
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN The Beaver’s Phylogenetic Lineage Illuminated by Retroposon Reads Liliya Doronina1,*, Andreas Matzke1,*, Gennady Churakov1,2, Monika Stoll3, Andreas Huge3 & Jürgen Schmitz1 Received: 13 October 2016 Solving problematic phylogenetic relationships often requires high quality genome data. However, Accepted: 25 January 2017 for many organisms such data are still not available. Among rodents, the phylogenetic position of the Published: 03 March 2017 beaver has always attracted special interest. The arrangement of the beaver’s masseter (jaw-closer) muscle once suggested a strong affinity to some sciurid rodents (e.g., squirrels), placing them in the Sciuromorpha suborder. Modern molecular data, however, suggested a closer relationship of beaver to the representatives of the mouse-related clade, but significant data from virtually homoplasy- free markers (for example retroposon insertions) for the exact position of the beaver have not been available. We derived a gross genome assembly from deposited genomic Illumina paired-end reads and extracted thousands of potential phylogenetically informative retroposon markers using the new bioinformatics coordinate extractor fastCOEX, enabling us to evaluate different hypotheses for the phylogenetic position of the beaver. Comparative results provided significant support for a clear relationship between beavers (Castoridae) and kangaroo rat-related species (Geomyoidea) (p < 0.0015, six markers, no conflicting data) within a significantly supported mouse-related clade (including Myodonta, Anomaluromorpha, and Castorimorpha) (p < 0.0015, six markers, no conflicting data). Most of an organism’s phylogenetic history is fossilized in their heritable genomic material. Using data from genome sequencing projects, particularly informative regions of this material can be extracted in sufficient num- bers to resolve the deepest history of speciation.
    [Show full text]
  • A Field Guide to Eukaryotic Transposable Elements
    GE54CH23_Feschotte ARjats.cls September 12, 2020 7:34 Annual Review of Genetics A Field Guide to Eukaryotic Transposable Elements Jonathan N. Wells and Cédric Feschotte Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850; email: [email protected], [email protected] Annu. Rev. Genet. 2020. 54:23.1–23.23 Keywords The Annual Review of Genetics is online at transposons, retrotransposons, transposition mechanisms, transposable genet.annualreviews.org element origins, genome evolution https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-genet-040620- 022145 Abstract Annu. Rev. Genet. 2020.54. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org Access provided by Cornell University on 09/26/20. For personal use only. Copyright © 2020 by Annual Reviews. Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile DNA sequences that propagate All rights reserved within genomes. Through diverse invasion strategies, TEs have come to oc- cupy a substantial fraction of nearly all eukaryotic genomes, and they rep- resent a major source of genetic variation and novelty. Here we review the defining features of each major group of eukaryotic TEs and explore their evolutionary origins and relationships. We discuss how the unique biology of different TEs influences their propagation and distribution within and across genomes. Environmental and genetic factors acting at the level of the host species further modulate the activity, diversification, and fate of TEs, producing the dramatic variation in TE content observed across eukaryotes. We argue that cataloging TE diversity and dissecting the idiosyncratic be- havior of individual elements are crucial to expanding our comprehension of their impact on the biology of genomes and the evolution of species. 23.1 Review in Advance first posted on , September 21, 2020.
    [Show full text]
  • Mg-SINE: a Short Interspersed Nuclear Element from the Rice Blast Fungus, Magnaporthe Grisea (Transposon/Repeated DNA) PRADEEP KACHROO*, SALLY A
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 92, pp. 11125-11129, November 1995 Genetics Mg-SINE: A short interspersed nuclear element from the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea (transposon/repeated DNA) PRADEEP KACHROO*, SALLY A. LEONGt, AND BHARAT B. CHATTOO*t *Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology Center, Faculty of Science, M. S. University of Baroda, Baroda 390 002, India; and tU.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Plant Disease Research Unit, 1630 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 Communicated by M. S. Swaminathan, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Madras, India, June 28, 1995 ABSTRACT A short interspersed nuclear element, Mg- Magnaporthe grisea, an ascomycetous fungus responsible for SINE, was isolated and characterized from the genome of the the blast disease of rice (Oryza sativa), is known to generate rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea. Mg-SINE was isolated new pathogenic variants at a high frequency (15). Various as an insertion element within Pot2, an inverted-repeat trans- mechanisms have been postulated to explain pathogenic vari- poson from M. grisea and shows typical features of a mam- ability in this fungus (15-17), although its molecular basis malian SINE. Mg-SINE is present as a 0.47-kb interspersed remains elusive. We initiated an analysis of repeated DNA sequence at "100 copies per haploid genome in both rice and sequences of M. grisea in order to delineate their role in non-rice isolates of M. grisea, indicating a common evolution- genome organization and generation of variability. We report ary origin. Secondary structure analysis ofMg-SINE revealed here the presence of a SINE sequence in the genome of M.
    [Show full text]
  • 5' Exonuclease ERL1 in Chloroplast Ribosomal RNA
    Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktors der Naturwissenschaften (Dr. rer. nat.) im Fachbereich 18 - Naturwissenschaften der Universität Kassel vorgelegt von: Heiko Tobias Schumacher Kassel im Mai 2009 Datum der Disputation: 16. Juli 2009 Die Natur ist aller Meister Meister, sie zeigt uns erst den Geist der Geister Johann Wolfgang v. Goethe Erklärung Hiermit versichere ich, dass ich die vorliegende Dissertation selbständig und ohne unerlaubte Hilfe angefertigt und andere als die in der Dissertation angegebenen Hilfsmittel nicht benutzt habe. Alle Stellen, die wörtlich oder sinngemäß aus veröffentlichten oder unveröffentlichten Schriften entnommen sind, habe ich als solche kenntlich gemacht. Kein Teil dieser Arbeit ist in einem anderen Promotions- oder Habilitationsverfahren verwendet worden. Kassel, den 03. Mai 2009 __________________________________ Heiko Tobias Schumacher Zusätzliche Erklärung über kooperative Arbeiten und Publikation Teile der in dieser Dissertation präsentierten Resultate sind das Ergebnis kooperativer Arbeiten von Heiko Tobias Schumacher (Universität Kassel) und Jutta Maria Helm (Universität für Bodenkultur Wien) am Institut für Molekularbiologie und Biotech- nologie in Heraklion, Griechenland. Die folgenden Arbeiten wurden von Jutta Maria Helm durchgeführt: • Herstellung transgener Nicotiana benthamiana-Pflanzen zur Überexpression bzw. Suppression von ERL1 (vergl. Abschnitt 2.2.6.). • Herstellung doppelt-homozygoter Kreuzungen zwischen der GFP-exprimieren- den Nicotiana benthamiana-Linie GFP 6.4 mit ERL1-überexprimierenden Pflan- zen (vergl. Abschnitt 3.3.2.). • Chlorophyll a Fluoreszenz-Messungen zur Charakterisierung grundlegender bioenergetischer Parameter in ERL1-überexprimierenden Pflanzen (vergl. Ab- schnitt 3.4.3.). • Klonierung kleiner ribosomaler RNAs zur Analyse der 3’-Enden pflanzlicher 5.8S, 5S und 4.5S rRNAs (vergl. Abschnitte 2.2.11. und 3.6.1.). Der Elektronenmikroskop-Service wurde von Eva Papadogiorgaki geleitet.
    [Show full text]
  • The Medical & Scientific Library of W. Bruce
    The Medical & Scientific Library of W. Bruce Fye New York I March 11, 2019 The Medical & Scientific Library of W. Bruce Fye New York | Monday March 11, 2019, at 10am and 2pm BONHAMS LIVE ONLINE BIDDING IS INQUIRIES CLIENT SERVICES 580 Madison Avenue AVAILABLE FOR THIS SALE New York Monday – Friday 9am-5pm New York, New York 10022 Please email bids.us@bonhams. Ian Ehling +1 (212) 644 9001 www.bonhams.com com with “Live bidding” in Director +1 (212) 644 9009 fax the subject line 48 hrs before +1 (212) 644 9094 PREVIEW the auction to register for this [email protected] ILLUSTRATIONS Thursday, March 7, service. Front cover: Lot 188 10am to 5pm Tom Lamb, Director Inside front cover: Lot 53 Friday, March 8, Bidding by telephone will only be Business Development Inside back cover: Lot 261 10am to 5pm accepted on a lot with a lower +1 (917) 921 7342 Back cover: Lot 361 Saturday, March 9, estimate in excess of $1000 [email protected] 12pm to 5pm REGISTRATION Please see pages 228 to 231 Sunday, March 10, Darren Sutherland, Specialist IMPORTANT NOTICE for bidder information including +1 (212) 461 6531 12pm to 5pm Please note that all customers, Conditions of Sale, after-sale [email protected] collection and shipment. All irrespective of any previous activity SALE NUMBER: 25418 with Bonhams, are required to items listed on page 231, will be Tim Tezer, Junior Specialist complete the Bidder Registration transferred to off-site storage +1 (917) 206 1647 CATALOG: $35 Form in advance of the sale.
    [Show full text]
  • Sva Elements: Hominid Specific Retrotransposons
    Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2006 SVA elements: hominid specific etrr otransposons Hui Wang Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Recommended Citation Wang, Hui, "SVA elements: hominid specific er trotransposons" (2006). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 2016. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/2016 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. SVA ELEMENTS: HOMINID SPECIFIC RETROTRANSPOSONS A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Biological Sciences By Hui Wang B.S., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, P.R.China, 2000 M.S., Shanghai Jiao Tong University, P.R.China, 2003 December 2006 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Mark A. Batzer, my advisor, for his continuous guidance, constant encouragement, and financial support during my Ph.D study at LSU. It is my great pleasure to learn from and work with such a knowledgeable, considerate, and helpful scholar. I want to express my sincere gratitude to my committee members, Dr. David Donze, Dr. Joomyeong Kim, Dr. Stephania Cormier and Dr. Karin Peterson. I would like to thank all of them for kindly serving on my committee. Also I want to thank members in the Batzer’s laboratory for their scientific guidance and friendship, especially to Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Retroposon Analysis and Recent Geological Data Suggest Near-Simultaneous Divergence of the Three Superorders of Mammals
    Retroposon analysis and recent geological data suggest near-simultaneous divergence of the three superorders of mammals Hidenori Nishiharaa, Shigenori Maruyamab, and Norihiro Okadaa,1 aDepartment of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259-B-21 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan; and bDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan Edited by Masatoshi Nei, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, and approved February 13, 2009 (received for review September 17, 2008) As a consequence of recent developments in molecular phylog- (9). They estimated molecular divergence times among many enomics, all extant orders of placental mammals have been mammalian orders to be Ϸ100 Ma, which is inconsistent with grouped into 3 lineages: Afrotheria, Xenarthra, and Boreotheria, fossil records suggesting that most mammals had diverged after which originated in Africa, South America, and Laurasia, respec- 65 Ma. One of their interpretations was that the early divergence tively. Despite this advancement, the order of divergence of these of mammals occurred because of several continental fissions. 3 lineages remains unresolved. Here, we performed extensive This hypothesis prompted many biologists to consider available retroposon analysis with mammalian genomic data. Surprisingly, geological data when estimating lineage divergence. One of the we identified a similar number of informative retroposon loci that outcomes of this idea is Afrotheria, which is a good represen- support each of 3 possible phylogenetic hypotheses: the basal tative case for the association between continental drift and position for Afrotheria (22 loci), Xenarthra (25 loci), and Boreoth- mammalian evolution (10, 11).
    [Show full text]
  • Downloads/Repeatmaskedgenomes
    Kojima Mobile DNA (2018) 9:2 DOI 10.1186/s13100-017-0107-y REVIEW Open Access Human transposable elements in Repbase: genomic footprints from fish to humans Kenji K. Kojima1,2 Abstract Repbase is a comprehensive database of eukaryotic transposable elements (TEs) and repeat sequences, containing over 1300 human repeat sequences. Recent analyses of these repeat sequences have accumulated evidences for their contribution to human evolution through becoming functional elements, such as protein-coding regions or binding sites of transcriptional regulators. However, resolving the origins of repeat sequences is a challenge, due to their age, divergence, and degradation. Ancient repeats have been continuously classified as TEs by finding similar TEs from other organisms. Here, the most comprehensive picture of human repeat sequences is presented. The human genome contains traces of 10 clades (L1, CR1, L2, Crack, RTE, RTEX, R4, Vingi, Tx1 and Penelope) of non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons (long interspersed elements, LINEs), 3 types (SINE1/7SL, SINE2/tRNA, and SINE3/5S) of short interspersed elements (SINEs), 1 composite retrotransposon (SVA) family, 5 classes (ERV1, ERV2, ERV3, Gypsy and DIRS) of LTR retrotransposons, and 12 superfamilies (Crypton, Ginger1, Harbinger, hAT, Helitron, Kolobok, Mariner, Merlin, MuDR, P, piggyBac and Transib) of DNA transposons. These TE footprints demonstrate an evolutionary continuum of the human genome. Keywords: Human repeat, Transposable elements, Repbase, Non-LTR retrotransposons, LTR retrotransposons, DNA transposons, SINE, Crypton, MER, UCON Background contrast, MER4 was revealed to be comprised of LTRs of Repbase and conserved noncoding elements endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) [1]. Right now, Repbase Repbase is now one of the most comprehensive data- keeps MER1 to MER136, some of which are further bases of eukaryotic transposable elements and repeats divided into several subfamilies.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrating Single-Molecule Visualization and DNA
    VU Research Portal The DNA double helix challenged by force Gross, P. 2011 document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in VU Research Portal citation for published version (APA) Gross, P. (2011). The DNA double helix challenged by force. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. E-mail address: [email protected] Download date: 24. Sep. 2021 The DNA double helix challenged by force This thesis was reviewed by: prof.dr. Ulrich Bockelmann ESPCI CNRS UMR Gulliver, Paris prof.dr. Fred C. MacKintosh VU University, Amsterdam prof.dr. Antoine M. van Oijen University of Groningen prof.dr. Helmut Schiessel Leiden University prof.dr. Mark C. Williams Northeastern University, Boston prof.dr. Gijs J. L. Wuite VU University, Amsterdam This work is part of the research programme ATLAS, a European Commission-funded Marie Curie early stage training network.
    [Show full text]