Gene fragmentation: a key to mitochondrial genome evolution in Euglenozoa?

0364837 - BC 2012 RIV DE eng J - Článek v odborném periodiku
Flegontov, Pavel - Gray, M.W. - Burger, G. - Lukeš, Julius
Gene fragmentation: a key to mitochondrial genome evolution in Euglenozoa?
Current Genetics. Roč. 57, č. 4 (2011), 225-232. ISSN 0172-8083. E-ISSN 1432-0983
Výzkumný záměr: CEZ:AV0Z60220518
Klíčová slova: Euglena * Diplonema * Mitochondrial genome * RNA editing * Constructive neutral evolution
Kód oboru RIV: EB - Genetika a molekulární biologie
Impakt faktor: 2.556, rok: 2011

Gene fragmentation is a striking feature of both euglenid and diplonemid mtDNAs. To rationalize the emergence of these highly divergent mtDNA types and the existence of insertion/deletion RNA editing (in kinetoplastids) and trans-splicing (in diplonemids), we propose that in the mitochondrion of the common evolutionary ancestor of Euglenozoa, small expressed gene fragments promoted a rampant neutral evolutionary pathway. Interactions between small antisense transcripts of these gene fragments and full-length transcripts, assisted by RNA-processing enzymes, permitted the emergence of RNA editing and/or trans-splicing activities, allowing the system to tolerate indel mutations and further gene fragmentation, respectively, and leading to accumulation of additional mutations. In this way, dramatically different mitochondrial genome structures and RNA-processing machineries were able to evolve.
Trvalý link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0200214