Ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae: implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesis
Abstract Background The process of gene fusion involves the formation of a single chimeric gene from multiple complete or partial gene sequences. Gene fusion is recognized as an important mechanism by which genes and their protein products can evolve new functions. The presence-absence of gene fusio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Genomics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-018-5412-4 |
| _version_ | 1818011818507894784 |
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| author | Shannon J. Sibbald Julia F. Hopkins Gina V. Filloramo John M. Archibald |
| author_facet | Shannon J. Sibbald Julia F. Hopkins Gina V. Filloramo John M. Archibald |
| author_sort | Shannon J. Sibbald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The process of gene fusion involves the formation of a single chimeric gene from multiple complete or partial gene sequences. Gene fusion is recognized as an important mechanism by which genes and their protein products can evolve new functions. The presence-absence of gene fusions can also be useful characters for inferring evolutionary relationships between organisms. Results Here we show that the nuclear genomes of two unrelated single-celled algae, the cryptophyte Guillardia theta and the chlorarachniophyte Bigelowiella natans, possess an unexpected diversity of genes for ubiquitin fusion proteins, including novel arrangements in which ubiquitin occupies amino-terminal, carboxyl-terminal, and internal positions relative to its fusion partners. We explore the evolution of the ubiquitin multigene family in both genomes, and show that both algae possess a gene encoding an ubiquitin-nickel superoxide dismutase fusion protein (Ubiq-NiSOD) that is widely but patchily distributed across the eukaryotic tree of life – almost exclusively in phototrophs. Conclusion Our results suggest that ubiquitin fusion proteins are more common than currently appreciated; because of its small size, the ubiquitin coding region can go undetected when gene predictions are carried out in an automated fashion. The punctate distribution of the Ubiq-NiSOD fusion across the eukaryotic tree could serve as a beacon for the spread of plastids from eukaryote to eukaryote by secondary and/or tertiary endosymbiosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:12:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ddbaa8d38a04d8db804ee90026874d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2164 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:12:17Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Genomics |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ddbaa8d38a04d8db804ee90026874d62022-12-22T02:08:19ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642019-01-0120111310.1186/s12864-018-5412-4Ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae: implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesisShannon J. Sibbald0Julia F. Hopkins1Gina V. Filloramo2John M. Archibald3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie UniversityAbstract Background The process of gene fusion involves the formation of a single chimeric gene from multiple complete or partial gene sequences. Gene fusion is recognized as an important mechanism by which genes and their protein products can evolve new functions. The presence-absence of gene fusions can also be useful characters for inferring evolutionary relationships between organisms. Results Here we show that the nuclear genomes of two unrelated single-celled algae, the cryptophyte Guillardia theta and the chlorarachniophyte Bigelowiella natans, possess an unexpected diversity of genes for ubiquitin fusion proteins, including novel arrangements in which ubiquitin occupies amino-terminal, carboxyl-terminal, and internal positions relative to its fusion partners. We explore the evolution of the ubiquitin multigene family in both genomes, and show that both algae possess a gene encoding an ubiquitin-nickel superoxide dismutase fusion protein (Ubiq-NiSOD) that is widely but patchily distributed across the eukaryotic tree of life – almost exclusively in phototrophs. Conclusion Our results suggest that ubiquitin fusion proteins are more common than currently appreciated; because of its small size, the ubiquitin coding region can go undetected when gene predictions are carried out in an automated fashion. The punctate distribution of the Ubiq-NiSOD fusion across the eukaryotic tree could serve as a beacon for the spread of plastids from eukaryote to eukaryote by secondary and/or tertiary endosymbiosis.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-018-5412-4UbiquitinUbiquitin fusion proteinsAlgaeEndosymbiosisPlastid evolution |
| spellingShingle | Shannon J. Sibbald Julia F. Hopkins Gina V. Filloramo John M. Archibald Ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae: implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesis BMC Genomics Ubiquitin Ubiquitin fusion proteins Algae Endosymbiosis Plastid evolution |
| title | Ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae: implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesis |
| title_full | Ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae: implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesis |
| title_fullStr | Ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae: implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae: implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesis |
| title_short | Ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae: implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesis |
| title_sort | ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesis |
| topic | Ubiquitin Ubiquitin fusion proteins Algae Endosymbiosis Plastid evolution |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-018-5412-4 |
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