RESUMO
Eukaryotic genomes frequently exhibit interdependency between transcriptional units, as evidenced by regions of high gene density. It is well recognized that vertebrate microRNAs (miRNAs) are usually embedded in those regions. Recent work has shown that the genomic context is of utmost importance to determine miRNA expression in time and space, thus affecting their evolutionary fates over long and short terms. Consequently, understanding the inter- and intraspecific changes on miRNA genomic architecture may bring novel insights on the basic cellular processes regulated by miRNAs, as well as phenotypic evolution and disease-related mechanisms.
RESUMO
Molecular phylogeny is an indispensable tool for assessing evolutionary relationships among protists. The most commonly used marker is the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene, a conserved gene present in many copies in the nuclear genomes. However, this marker is not variable enough at a fine-level taxonomic scale, and intra-genomic polymorphism has already been reported. Finding a marker that could be useful at both deep and fine taxonomic resolution levels seemed like a utopic dream. We designed Amoebozoa-specific primers to amplify a region including partial sequences of two subunits of the mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase gene (NAD9/NAD7). We applied them to arcellinids belonging to distantly related genera (Arcella, Difflugia, Netzelia and Hyalosphenia) and to Arcellinid-rich environmental samples to obtain additional Amoebozoa sequences. Tree topology was congruent with previous phylogenies, all nodes being highly supported, suggesting that this marker is well-suited for deep phylogenies in Arcellinida and perhaps Amoebozoa. Furthermore, it enabled discrimination of close-related taxa. This short genetic marker (ca. 250bp) can therefore be used at different taxonomic levels, due to a fast-varying intergenic region presenting either a small intergenic sequence or an overlap, depending on the species.
Assuntos
Amebozoários/classificação , Amebozoários/genética , Código de Barras de DNA Taxonômico/normas , NADH Desidrogenase/genética , Filogenia , Amebozoários/enzimologia , Genes de Protozoários/genética , Marcadores Genéticos/genética , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
Lactic acid bacteria strains are commonly used for animal and human consumption due to their probiotic properties. One of the major genera used is Lactobacillus, a highly diverse genus comprised of several closely related species. The selection of new strains for probiotic use, especially strains of Lactobacillus, is the focus of several research groups. Accurate identification to species level is fundamental for research on new strains, as well as for safety assessment and quality assurance. The 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) is a deeply homologous region among prokaryotes that is commonly used for identification to the species level because it is able to acquire and accumulate mutations without compromising general bacterial metabolism. In the present study, 16S-23S ITS regions of 45 Lactobacillus species (48 strains) were amplified and subjected to independent enzymatic digestions, using 12 restriction enzymes that recognise six-base sequences. Twenty-nine species showed unique restriction patterns, and could therefore be precisely identified solely by this assay (64%). This approach proved to be reproducible, allowing us to establish simplified restriction patterns for each evaluated species. The restriction patterns of each species were similar among homologous strains, and to a large extent reflected phylogenetic relationships based on 16S rRNA sequences, demonstrating the promising nature of this region for evolutionary studies.
Assuntos
Técnicas Bacteriológicas/métodos , Lactobacillus/classificação , Lactobacillus/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , DNA Bacteriano/genética , DNA Ribossômico/química , DNA Ribossômico/genética , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/genética , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , RNA Ribossômico 23S/genética , Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
El caracol Pala, Strombus gigas (Strombidae), es de gran importancia ecológica y socioeconómica en el área caribeña colombiana. Sin embargo, es una especie catalogada como "vulnerable" y existe muy poca información referente a las especies bacterianas asociadas al caracol que puedan ser importantes para el desarrollo, manejo productivo y de seguridad acuícola de estos gastrópodos. En este trabajo, nosotros empleamos un estudio microbiológico y molecular de la región intergénica entre los genes 16S y 23S rDNA, análisis del gen rDNA 16S y secuenciación, para analizar las bacterias asociadas al caracol Pala (S. gigas). La composición de bacterias cultivables asociadas fue evaluada por su capacidad para crecer en agar marino y en medios de cultivos selectivos. De un total de 28 muestras analizadas encontramos que el número de bacterias cultivadas en condiciones aerobias fue de alrededor 10(6) ufc mL-1 donde las bacterias pertenecientes a la familia Vibrionacea fueron las más abundantes, cerca de >10(5) ufc mL-1. El análisis molecular de la región intergénica entre los genes 16S y 23S rDNA de las diferentes muestras, reveló una gran complejidad bacteriana asociada a S. gigas. Las secuencias de los amplificados del gen rDNA 16S identificó Pseudoalteromonas sp., Halomonas sp., Psycrobacter sp., Cobetia sp., Pseudomonas sp. y Vibrios sp. Nuestros resultados podrían sugerir un rol importante de estas bacterias como componentes de la comunidad asociada al S. gigas. Esta información puede complementar los estudios que se están implementando en los procesos para la conservación y repoblamiento de las poblaciones de S. gigas en Colombia.
The Queen Conch, Strombus gigas (Strombidae), is a species of great ecological and socioeconomic importance in the Caribbean area of Colombia. However, it is currently catalogued as "vulnerable"; there is limited information concerning the bacterial species associated with conch and important in the management of hatcheries for higher productivity and safety of these gastropods. In this study, we used a microbiology and molecular approach using the 16S-23S intergenic region, the 16S rDNA analysis and sequencing to determine the bacterial populations associated with Queen Conch (S. gigas). Also, the capacity to grow in marine agar and selective culture media was used to evaluate the composition of bacteria associated. The 28 total samples analysed we found the number of bacteria recovered after aerobic culture about 10Ë6 cfu mL-1 and most belong to the Vibrionaceae family in the order of 10Ë5 ufc mL-1. The molecular results of the spacer regions between the 16 and 23S genes from the different analyzed samples indicated a great complexity in the bacterial population associated to S. gigas. The sequencing of the amplicons of 16S rDNA identifies Pseudoalteromonas sp, Halomonas sp., Psycrobacter sp., Cobetia sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Vibrios sp. This suggests these bacteria can play an important role as components of the bacterial community associated to S. gigas. This information can help to improve both the management of hatcheries for higher productivity and for the implementation for the conservation processes of Colombian S. gigas.