Robert Cedergren

The Evolutionary Relationships among Known Life Forms

SummarySequences of small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA genes from archaebacteria, eubacteria, and the nucleus, chloroplasts, and mitochondria of eukaryotes have been compared in order to identify the most conservative positions. Aligned sets of these positions for both SSU and LSU rRNA have been used to generate tree diagrams relating the source organisms/organelles. Branching patterns were evaluated using the statistical bootstrapping technique. The resulting SSU and LSU trees are remarkably congruent and show a high degree of similarity with those based on alternative data sets and/or generated by different techniques. In addition to providing insights into the evolution of prokaryotic and eukaryotic (nuclear) lineages, the analysis reported here provides, for the first time, an extensive phylogeny of the mitochondrial lineage.

Schistosome Satellite DNA Encodes Active Hammerhead Ribozymes

ABSTRACT Using a computer program designed to search for RNA structural motifs in sequence databases, we have found a hammerhead ribozyme domain encoded in the Smα repetitive DNA of Schistosoma mansoni. Transcripts of these repeats are expressed as long multimeric precursor RNAs that cleave in vitro and in vivo into unit-length fragments. This RNA domain is able to engage in bothcis and trans cleavage typical of the hammerhead ribozyme. Further computer analysis of S. mansoni DNA identified a potential trans cleavage site in the gene coding for a synaptobrevin-like protein, and RNA transcribed from this gene was efficiently cleaved by the Smα ribozyme in vitro. Similar families of repeats containing the hammerhead domain were found in the closely related Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosomatium douthitti species but were not present in Schistosoma japonicum orHeterobilharzia americana, suggesting that the hammerhead domain was not acquired from a common schistosome ancestor.

On the evolution of the single-subunit RNA polymerases

Abstract. Many eukaryotic nuclear genomes as well as mitochondrial plasmids contain genes displaying evident sequence similarity to those encoding the single-subunit RNA polymerase (ssRNAP) of bacteriophage T7 and its relatives. We have collected and aligned these ssRNAP sequences and have constructed unrooted phylogenetic trees that demonstrate the separation of ssRNAPs into three well-defined and nonoverlapping clusters (phage-encoded, nucleus-encoded, and plasmid-encoded). Our analyses indicate that these three subfamiles of T7-like RNAPs shared a common ancestor; however, the order in which the groups diverged cannot be inferred from available data. On the basis of structural similarities and mutational data, we suggest that the ancestral ssRNAP gene may have arisen via duplication and divergence of a DNA polymerase or reverse transcriptase gene. Considering the current phylogenetic distribution of ssRNAP sequences, we further suggest that the origin of the ancestral ssRNAP gene closely paralleled in time the introduction of mitochondria into eukaryotic cells through a eubacterial endosymbiosis.

Exploiting the chemical synthesis of RNA

A number of nucleotide phosphoramidites are now available that permit the chemical synthesis of RNA, modified RNA and RNA-DNA chimeric oligonucleotides. Since the chemical strategy allows the introduction of a particular modification at any given site in a nucleotide polymer, very subtle and specific questions regarding structure-function relationships in RNA may be addressed.

Frequency of insertion-deletion, transversion, and transition in the evolution of 5S ribosomal RNA

SummaryThe problem of choosing an alignment of two or more nucleotide sequences is particularly difficult for nucleic acids, such as 5S ribosomal RNA, which do not code for protein and for which secondary structure is unknown. Given a set of ‘costs’ for the various types of replacement mutations and for base insertion or deletion, we present a dynamic programming algorithm which finds the optimal (least costly) alignment for a set of N sequences simultaneously, where each sequence is associated with one of the N tips of a given evolutionary tree. Concurrently, protosequences are constructed corresponding to the ancestral nodes of the tree. A version of this algorithm, modified to be computationally feasible, is implemented to align the sequences of 5S RNA from nine organisms. Complete sets of alignments and proto-sequence reconstructions are done for a large number of different con-figurations of mutation costs. Examination of the family of curves of total replacements inferred versus the ratio of transitions/trans-versions inferred, each curve corresponding to a given number of in-sertions-deletions inferred, provides a method for estimating relative costs and relative frequencies for these different types of mutation.

Bacteriophage MS2 RNA: A correlation between the stability of the codon: Anticodon interaction and the choice of code words

SummaryThe non-random distribution of degenerate code words in Bacteriophage MS2 RNA can be explained partially by considerations of the stability of the codon-anticodon complex in prokaryotic systems. Supporting this hypothesis we note that wobble codons are positively selected in codons having G and/or C in the first two positions. In contrast, wobble codons are statitically less likely in codons composed of A and U in the first two positions. Analyses of nucleotides adjacent to 5′ and 3′ ends of codons indicate a nonrandom distribution as well. It is thus likely that some elements of RNA evolution are independent of the structural needs of the RNA itself and of the translated protein product.

The Evolving Trna Molecul

AbstractThe study of tRNA molecular evolution is crucial to understanding the origin and establishment of the genetic code as well as the differentiation and refinement of the machinery of protein synthesis in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, organelles, and phage systems. The small size of the molecule and its critical involvement in a multiplicity of roles distinguish its study from classical protein molecular evolution with respect to goals and methods. Here, theauthors assessavailable and missingdata, existingand needed methodology, and the impact of tRNA studies on current theories both of genetic code evolution and of the evolution of species. They analyze mutational “hot spots”, the role of base modification, synthetase recognition, codon-anticodon interactions and the status of organelle tRNA.

An RNA pattern matching program with enhanced performance and portability.

The identification of RNA genes in DNA sequences generally involves searching the sequence or database for consensus nucleotides. However, specific base pairing patterns rather than sequences provide a better characterization of an increasing number of functional RNA molecules. Computer programs that automatically recognize higher-order structural motifs not only facilitate the identification of RNA genes, but also find an important application in the refinement of RNA structure descriptors, an enlightening task which involves the inference of essential structural elements associated with a molecular function. We present here a signicant improvement of the program RNAMOT which allows searches of primary and secondary structural patterns in sequence databases (Gautheret et al., 1990). An important performance enhancement was achieved using a faster string-matching algorithm and more efficient sequence scans. RNAMOT can now perform complete GenBank searches for RNA motifs in a few hours. Other enhancements include an automatic determination of the optimal search order for structural motifs, the handling of sequences of virtually unlimited length and a full implementation of the IUPAC/IUB codes in either target sequences or RNA descriptors. RNAMOT is written in the ANSI C language and compiles on any workstation or personal computer. The memory requirement depends on the largest sequence used in the search (~ 3 Mbytes for a GenBank search); CPU time depends on the frequency of pattern elements in the target sequence.

Using SAR and QSAR analysis to model the activity and structure of the quinolone-DNA complex.

A set of 78 quinolone derivatives were used in a structure-activity study to identify structural features correlating with antibacterial activity. Distinct combinations of functional properties were identified for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. 3-D Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies identified specific hydrophobic, topologic and electronic properties of the molecules for both in vitro and in vivo activities. From these results, a three-dimensional model of a DNA-quinolone complex was built using molecular modeling techniques. It was based on the intercalation of quinolone into the double helix of DNA. We conclude that the intercalation model is consistent with most available data on the structure of the quinolone complex. This predicted structure is stabilized by the binding of magnesium ion with the sp2 oxygens present in quinolone, a phosphate and a purine base of the DNA. Substituents R1 and R7 are predicted to make hydrophobic interactions in the major and minor groove of DNA, respectively. R7 could also form hydrogen bonds with amino groups of guanines and the aspartic acid residue at position 87 in DNA gyrase subunit A.

The sequence of the gene encoding elongation factor Tu from Chlamydia trachomatis compared with those of other organisms.

Nucleotide (nt) sequences encoding the elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu), tRNA(Thr) and tRNA(Trp) from Chlamydia trachomatis have been determined. The environment of the EF-Tu-encoding gene (tuf), between two tRNA gene sequences, suggests that it is part of a tufB locus. The nt sequence and the deduced amino acid (aa) sequence were aligned with comparable sequences from other organisms and the resulting data bases were used to infer phylogenies. Phylogenetic trees based on aa sequences and nt sequences are similar, but not completely congruent with rRNA gene-based phylogenies. Both the nt and aa sequence trees concur on the early divergence of Thermotoga and Chlamydia from the bacterial root. The aa alignment highlights the presence of four unique Cys residues in the chlamydial sequence which are found at strictly conserved positions in other sequences. Further peculiarities of the chlamydial and eubacterial sequences have been mapped to the X-ray crystallographic structure of the protein.