Comparing the mitochondrial genomes of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial nematode species
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many species of filarial nematodes depend on <it>Wolbachia</it> endobacteria to carry out their life cycle. Other species are naturally <it>Wolbachia</it>-free. The biological mechanisms underpinning <it>...
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BMC
2012-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Genomics |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/13/145 |
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| author | McNulty Samantha N Mullin Andrew S Vaughan Jefferson A Tkach Vasyl V Weil Gary J Fischer Peter U |
| author_facet | McNulty Samantha N Mullin Andrew S Vaughan Jefferson A Tkach Vasyl V Weil Gary J Fischer Peter U |
| author_sort | McNulty Samantha N |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many species of filarial nematodes depend on <it>Wolbachia</it> endobacteria to carry out their life cycle. Other species are naturally <it>Wolbachia</it>-free. The biological mechanisms underpinning <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependence and independence in filarial nematodes are not known. Previous studies have indicated that <it>Wolbachia</it> have an impact on mitochondrial gene expression, which may suggest a role in energy metabolism. If <it>Wolbachia</it> can supplement host energy metabolism, reduced mitochondrial function in infected filarial species may account for <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependence. <it>Wolbachia</it> also have a strong influence on mitochondrial evolution due to vertical co-transmission. This could drive alterations in mitochondrial genome sequence in infected species. Comparisons between the mitochondrial genome sequences of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial worms may reveal differences indicative of altered mitochondrial function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mitochondrial genomes of 5 species of filarial nematodes, <it>Acanthocheilonema viteae, Chandlerella quiscali</it>, <it>Loa loa</it>, <it>Onchocerca flexuosa</it>, and <it>Wuchereria bancrofti</it>, were sequenced, annotated and compared with available mitochondrial genome sequences from <it>Brugia malayi, Dirofilaria immitis, Onchocerca volvulus</it> and <it>Setaria digitata</it>. <it>B. malayi</it>, <it>D. immitis, O. volvulus</it> and <it>W. bancrofti</it> are <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent while <it>A. viteae, C. quiscali</it>, <it>L. loa, O. flexuosa</it> and <it>S. digitata</it> are <it>Wolbachia</it>-free. The 9 mitochondrial genomes were similar in size and AT content and encoded the same 12 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs. Synteny was perfectly preserved in all species except <it>C. quiscali,</it> which had a different order for 5 tRNA genes. Protein-coding genes were expressed at the RNA level in all examined species. In phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial protein-coding sequences, species did not cluster according to <it>Wolbachia</it> dependence.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Thus far, no discernable differences were detected between the mitochondrial genome sequences of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent species. Additional research will be needed to determine whether mitochondria from <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent filarial species show reduced function in comparison to the mitochondria of <it>Wolbachia</it>-independent species despite their sequence-level similarities.</p> |
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| spelling | doaj.art-6df147c3e49a45e29f00e9dd29e95aa12022-12-22T02:55:13ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642012-04-0113114510.1186/1471-2164-13-145Comparing the mitochondrial genomes of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial nematode speciesMcNulty Samantha NMullin Andrew SVaughan Jefferson ATkach Vasyl VWeil Gary JFischer Peter U<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many species of filarial nematodes depend on <it>Wolbachia</it> endobacteria to carry out their life cycle. Other species are naturally <it>Wolbachia</it>-free. The biological mechanisms underpinning <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependence and independence in filarial nematodes are not known. Previous studies have indicated that <it>Wolbachia</it> have an impact on mitochondrial gene expression, which may suggest a role in energy metabolism. If <it>Wolbachia</it> can supplement host energy metabolism, reduced mitochondrial function in infected filarial species may account for <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependence. <it>Wolbachia</it> also have a strong influence on mitochondrial evolution due to vertical co-transmission. This could drive alterations in mitochondrial genome sequence in infected species. Comparisons between the mitochondrial genome sequences of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial worms may reveal differences indicative of altered mitochondrial function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mitochondrial genomes of 5 species of filarial nematodes, <it>Acanthocheilonema viteae, Chandlerella quiscali</it>, <it>Loa loa</it>, <it>Onchocerca flexuosa</it>, and <it>Wuchereria bancrofti</it>, were sequenced, annotated and compared with available mitochondrial genome sequences from <it>Brugia malayi, Dirofilaria immitis, Onchocerca volvulus</it> and <it>Setaria digitata</it>. <it>B. malayi</it>, <it>D. immitis, O. volvulus</it> and <it>W. bancrofti</it> are <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent while <it>A. viteae, C. quiscali</it>, <it>L. loa, O. flexuosa</it> and <it>S. digitata</it> are <it>Wolbachia</it>-free. The 9 mitochondrial genomes were similar in size and AT content and encoded the same 12 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs. Synteny was perfectly preserved in all species except <it>C. quiscali,</it> which had a different order for 5 tRNA genes. Protein-coding genes were expressed at the RNA level in all examined species. In phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial protein-coding sequences, species did not cluster according to <it>Wolbachia</it> dependence.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Thus far, no discernable differences were detected between the mitochondrial genome sequences of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent species. Additional research will be needed to determine whether mitochondria from <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent filarial species show reduced function in comparison to the mitochondria of <it>Wolbachia</it>-independent species despite their sequence-level similarities.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/13/145 |
| spellingShingle | McNulty Samantha N Mullin Andrew S Vaughan Jefferson A Tkach Vasyl V Weil Gary J Fischer Peter U Comparing the mitochondrial genomes of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial nematode species BMC Genomics |
| title | Comparing the mitochondrial genomes of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial nematode species |
| title_full | Comparing the mitochondrial genomes of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial nematode species |
| title_fullStr | Comparing the mitochondrial genomes of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial nematode species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparing the mitochondrial genomes of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial nematode species |
| title_short | Comparing the mitochondrial genomes of <it>Wolbachia</it>-dependent and independent filarial nematode species |
| title_sort | comparing the mitochondrial genomes of it wolbachia it dependent and independent filarial nematode species |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/13/145 |
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