Trichinella pseudospiralis vs. T. spiralis thymidylate synthase gene structure and T. pseudospiralis thymidylate synthase retrogene sequence
Abstract Background Thymidylate synthase is a housekeeping gene, designated ancient due to its role in DNA synthesis and ubiquitous phyletic distribution. The genomic sequences were characterized coding for thymidylate synthase in two species of the genus Trichinella, an encapsulating T. spiralis an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2014-04-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-175 |
| _version_ | 1797811675679686656 |
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| author | Elżbieta Jagielska Andrzej Płucienniczak Magdalena Dąbrowska Anna Dowierciał Wojciech Rode |
| author_facet | Elżbieta Jagielska Andrzej Płucienniczak Magdalena Dąbrowska Anna Dowierciał Wojciech Rode |
| author_sort | Elżbieta Jagielska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Thymidylate synthase is a housekeeping gene, designated ancient due to its role in DNA synthesis and ubiquitous phyletic distribution. The genomic sequences were characterized coding for thymidylate synthase in two species of the genus Trichinella, an encapsulating T. spiralis and a non-encapsulating T. pseudospiralis. Methods Based on the sequence of parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis thymidylate synthase cDNA, PCR techniques were employed. Results Each of the respective gene structures encompassed 6 exons and 5 introns located in conserved sites. Comparison with the corresponding gene structures of other eukaryotic species revealed lack of common introns that would be shared among selected fungi, nematodes, mammals and plants. The two deduced amino acid sequences were 96% identical. In addition to the thymidylate synthase gene, the intron-less retrocopy, i.e. a processed pseudogene, with sequence identical to the T. spiralis gene coding region, was found to be present within the T. pseudospiralis genome. This pseudogene, instead of the gene, was confirmed by RT-PCR to be expressed in the parasite muscle larvae. Conclusions Intron load, as well as distribution of exon and intron phases in thymidylate synthase genes from various sources, point against the theory of gene assembly by the primordial exon shuffling and support the theory of evolutionary late intron insertion into spliceosomal genes. Thymidylate synthase pseudogene expressed in T. pseudospiralis muscle larvae is designated a retrogene. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:27:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-44fe9ad248f8436cb189f8f626cfa577 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:27:13Z |
| publishDate | 2014-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-44fe9ad248f8436cb189f8f626cfa5772023-06-04T11:17:58ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052014-04-017111010.1186/1756-3305-7-175Trichinella pseudospiralis vs. T. spiralis thymidylate synthase gene structure and T. pseudospiralis thymidylate synthase retrogene sequenceElżbieta Jagielska0Andrzej Płucienniczak1Magdalena Dąbrowska2Anna Dowierciał3Wojciech Rode4Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of SciencesInstitute of Biotechnology and AntibioticsNencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of SciencesNencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of SciencesNencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of SciencesAbstract Background Thymidylate synthase is a housekeeping gene, designated ancient due to its role in DNA synthesis and ubiquitous phyletic distribution. The genomic sequences were characterized coding for thymidylate synthase in two species of the genus Trichinella, an encapsulating T. spiralis and a non-encapsulating T. pseudospiralis. Methods Based on the sequence of parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis thymidylate synthase cDNA, PCR techniques were employed. Results Each of the respective gene structures encompassed 6 exons and 5 introns located in conserved sites. Comparison with the corresponding gene structures of other eukaryotic species revealed lack of common introns that would be shared among selected fungi, nematodes, mammals and plants. The two deduced amino acid sequences were 96% identical. In addition to the thymidylate synthase gene, the intron-less retrocopy, i.e. a processed pseudogene, with sequence identical to the T. spiralis gene coding region, was found to be present within the T. pseudospiralis genome. This pseudogene, instead of the gene, was confirmed by RT-PCR to be expressed in the parasite muscle larvae. Conclusions Intron load, as well as distribution of exon and intron phases in thymidylate synthase genes from various sources, point against the theory of gene assembly by the primordial exon shuffling and support the theory of evolutionary late intron insertion into spliceosomal genes. Thymidylate synthase pseudogene expressed in T. pseudospiralis muscle larvae is designated a retrogene.https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-175Trichinella spiralisTrichinella pseudospiralisThymidylate synthaseGene structureIntrons-late theoryRetrogene |
| spellingShingle | Elżbieta Jagielska Andrzej Płucienniczak Magdalena Dąbrowska Anna Dowierciał Wojciech Rode Trichinella pseudospiralis vs. T. spiralis thymidylate synthase gene structure and T. pseudospiralis thymidylate synthase retrogene sequence Parasites & Vectors Trichinella spiralis Trichinella pseudospiralis Thymidylate synthase Gene structure Introns-late theory Retrogene |
| title | Trichinella pseudospiralis vs. T. spiralis thymidylate synthase gene structure and T. pseudospiralis thymidylate synthase retrogene sequence |
| title_full | Trichinella pseudospiralis vs. T. spiralis thymidylate synthase gene structure and T. pseudospiralis thymidylate synthase retrogene sequence |
| title_fullStr | Trichinella pseudospiralis vs. T. spiralis thymidylate synthase gene structure and T. pseudospiralis thymidylate synthase retrogene sequence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trichinella pseudospiralis vs. T. spiralis thymidylate synthase gene structure and T. pseudospiralis thymidylate synthase retrogene sequence |
| title_short | Trichinella pseudospiralis vs. T. spiralis thymidylate synthase gene structure and T. pseudospiralis thymidylate synthase retrogene sequence |
| title_sort | trichinella pseudospiralis vs t spiralis thymidylate synthase gene structure and t pseudospiralis thymidylate synthase retrogene sequence |
| topic | Trichinella spiralis Trichinella pseudospiralis Thymidylate synthase Gene structure Introns-late theory Retrogene |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-175 |
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