Detecting selection using a single genome sequence of M. tuberculosis and P. falciparum

Selective pressures on proteins are usually measured by comparing nucleotide sequences. Here we introduce a method to detect selection on the basis of a single genome sequence. We catalogue the relative strength of selection on each gene in the entire genomes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium falciparum. Our analysis confirms that most antigens are under strong selection for amino-acid substitutions, particularly the PE/PPE family of putative surface proteins in M. tuberculosis and the EMP1 family of cytoadhering surface proteins in P. falciparum. We also identify many uncharacterized proteins that are under strong selection in each pathogen. We provide a genome-wide analysis of natural selection acting on different stages of an organism's life cycle: genes expressed in the ring stage of P. falciparum are under stronger positive selection than those expressed in other stages of the parasite's life cycle. Our method of estimating selective pressures requires far fewer data than comparative sequence analysis, and it measures selection across an entire genome; the method can readily be applied to a large range of sequenced organisms.     

Coevolution of codon usage and transfer RNA abundance

The use of synonymous codons is strongly biased in the bacterium Escherichia coli and yeast, comprising both bias between codons recognized by the same transfer RNA and bias between groups of codons recognized by different synonymous tRNAs. A major determinant of the second sort of bias is tRNA content, codons recognized by abundant tRNAs being used more often than those recognised by rare tRNAs, particularly in highly expressed genes, probably owing to selection at the level of translation against codons recognized by rare tRNAs. Conversely, codon usage is likely to exert selection pressure on tRNA abundance. Here I develop a model for the coevolution of codon usage and tRNA abundance which explains why there are unequal abundances of synonymous tRNAs leading to biased usage between groups of codons recognized by them in unicellular organisms.     

Is there a close relationship between synonymous codon bias and codon-anticodon binding strength in human genes?

Synonymous codon bias has been examined in 78 human genes (19967 codons) and measured by relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU). Relative frequencies of all kinds of dinucleotides in 2,3 or 3,4 codon positions have been calculated, and codon-anticodon binding strength has been estimated by the stacking energies of codon-anticodon bases in Watson-Crick pairs. The data show common features in synonymous codon bias for all codon families in human genes: all C-ending codons, which possess the strongest codon-anticodon binding energies, are the most favored codons in almost all codon families, and those codons with medium codon-anticodon binding energies are avoided. Data analysis suggests that besides isochore and genome signature , codon-anticodon binding strength may be closely related to synonymous codon choice in human genes. The join-effect of these factors on human genes results in the common features in codon bias.     

一种基于密码子使用偏性的检测型基因芯片设计方法

首先预测特定蛋白密码子使用概率表，以确定序列中各氨基酸的编码密码子，这样可以将芯片表面探针的数量减少为原来的4．47％，然后进一步考虑密码子在编码时的C－G选择性分离原则，G－T配对原则，以进一步将芯片表面探针的数量减少至4．25％，在对探针特异性要求不高的情况下，可以采用最优密码子使用概率表，以求最大限度的降低探针的数目，这样芯片表面探针的数量可减少到原来的0．20％，通过上述方法，可以显著提高单位芯片面积的信息检测量。     

Exploring Codon Usage Patterns of Alternatively Spliced Genes in Human Chromosome 1

Introduction A large number of species (prokaryotes and eukaryotes) have been used to study the pattern of codon usage bias, and it has also been demonstrated that inter- and intra-genomic variation of the pattern of codon usage is a widespread phenomenon, which may result from various factors. Alternative synonymous codon usage does not modify the amino acid sequence encoded in DNA among species and often among genes from the same genome. It has been suggested that the pattern of codon usag…     

Characterization of codon usage bias in the dUTPase gene of duck enteritis virus

A comparative analysis of the codon usage bias in the newly discovered dUTPase gene （Assigned Accession No.： DQ486149） of the duck enteritis virus （DEV） and the dUTPase gene of 32 reference herpesviruses was performed. The results indicated that the DEV dUTPase gene encodes a protein of 477 amino acids, which includes five conserved motifs with a 3-1-2-4-5 arrangement. The codon adaptation index （CAI）, effective number of codons （ENC）, and GC3s values indicated synonymous codon usage bias in the dUTPase gene of herpesviruses, and this synonymous bias was correlated with host evolution. The codon usage patterns of the DEV dUTPase gene were phylogenetically conserved and similar to that of the dUTPase genes of the avian alphaherpesvirus. Although codon usage in each microorganism was different, there were no strain-specific differences among them. Sixty-one codons in the predicted polypeptide, with a strong bias towards A and T at the third codon position, were used. Comparison of the codon usage in the dUTPase gene of different organisms revealed that there were 19 codons showing distinct codon usage differences between the DEV and Escherichia coli dUTPase genes; 16 between the DEV and yeast dUTPase genes; and 15 between the DEV and human dUTPase genes. Analysis of variance （ANOVA） showed significant differences between the DEV and yeast dUTPase genes （r = 0.536, P 〈 0.01）. The extent of codon usage bias in the DEV dUTPase gene was highly correlated with the gene expression level, therefore the results may provide useful information for gene classification and functional studies.     

Evolutionary nucleotide replacements in DNA.

With the increasing availability of analytical information on mRNA molecules, it is now possible to compare homologous nucleotide sequences from different organisms and to draw conclusions about their evolution. Such comparisons have shown that silent changes in codons occur more frequently than nucleotide replacements that produce changes in amino acid sequences (code-altering changes). Furthermore, there is an important difference between amino acid sequence comparisons and nucleotide sequence comparisons. The former show only differences in amino acid residues, but the latter show several types of differences when corresponding codons are compared. Single-base replacements may be degenerate (silent) or expressed as amino acid replacements. Two-base codon changes may be degenerate, single-base changes, or be visible as such. Three-base codon changes may be degenerate (involving serine), simulate either single-base or two-base changes or be visible as such. All nine types of change are found in comparisons of genes from the viruses phi X174 and G4. The relative numbers of these nine types as based on all possible interchanges between all 61 amino acid codons were listed by Holmquist et al. and are shown in Table 1. We discuss these results in the light of the significance of nucleotide changes in molecular evolution.     

Analysis of synonymous codon usage and evolution of begomoviruses

Begomoviruses are single-stranded DNA viruses and cause severe diseases in major crop plants worldwide. Based on current genome sequence analyses, we found that synonymous codon usage variations in the protein-coding genes of begomoviruses are mainly influenced by mutation bias. Base composition analysis suggested that the codon usage bias of AV1 and BV1 genes is significant and their expressions are high. Fourteen codons were determined as translational optimal ones according to the comparison of codon usage patterns between highly and lowly expressed genes. Interestingly the codon usages between begomoviruses from the Old and the New Worlds are apparently different, which supports the idea that the bipartite begomoviruses of the New World might originate from bipartite ones of the Old World, whereas the latter evolve from the Old World monopartite begomoviruses.     

RNA editing in wheat mitochondria results in the conservation of protein sequences

RNA editing is a process that results in the production of a messenger RNA with nucleotide sequences that differ from those of the template DNA, and provides another mechanism for modulating gene expression. The phenomenon was initially described in the mitochondria of protozoa. Here we report that RNA editing is also required for the correct expression of plant mitochondrial genes. It has previously been proposed that in plant mitochondria there is a departure from the universal genetic code, with CGG specifying tryptophan instead of arginine. This was because CGG codons are often found in plant mitochondrial genes at positions corresponding to those encoding conserved tryptophans in other organisms. We have now found, however, wheat mitochondrial gene sequences containing C residues that are edited to U residues in the corresponding mRNA sequences. In this way, CGG codons can be changed to UGG codons in the mRNA so that tryptophan may be encoded according to the universal genetic code. Furthermore, for each codon modification resulting from a C----U conversion that we studied, we found a corresponding change in the amino acid that was encoded. RNA editing in wheat mitochondria can thus maintain genetic information at the RNA level and as a result contribute to the conservation of mitochondrial protein sequences among plants.     

高频密码子分析法及其在烟草密码子分析中的应用

利用自编的RFCS程序计算同义密码子相对使用频率（RFSC），并根据RFSC值筛选出高频密码子，将高频密码子分析法筛选出的酵母Y.lipolytica高频密码子和传统的高表达优越密码子分析法筛选出的优越密码子进行比较，证实高频密码子分析法的可靠性。应用高频密码子分析法分析烟草的256个cDNA全序列，计算出同义密码子的相对使用频率，初步确定烟草的高频密码子， 为外源基因在烟草中的表达提供参考。     

Evolutionary genomics: codon bias and selection on single genomes

The idea that natural selection on genes might be detected using only a single genome has been put forward by Plotkin and colleagues, who present a method that they claim can detect selection without the need for comparative data and which, if correct, would confer greater power of analysis with less information. Here we argue that their method depends on assumptions that confound their conclusions and that, even if these assumptions were valid, the authors' inferences about adaptive natural selection are unjustified.     

3个茶树品种WOX基因家族的进化及密码子偏好性比较

【目的】WOX基因家族在模式植物组织培养中扮演着重要的分子调控角色。非模式植物WOX基因家族的系统发育和密码子使用偏好性研究有助于探索遗传进化规律和基因表达特征,进而为其转基因体系构建提供指导。【方法】利用生物信息学方法在3个茶树品种全基因组数据中鉴定WOX基因;通过ClustalX 2.1和MEGA X软件探索它们的进化规律。运用Perl语言、Codon W 1.4.2程序和SPSS 23.0等软件分析3个茶树品种WOX基因编码序列,探究它们的密码子使用偏好模式;基于ENc-GC_3s、PR2分析和中性分析结果解析影响密码子偏好的主要因素。【结果】共鉴定出42个WOX成员,其中‘云抗10号’(CSA)11个,‘舒茶早’(CSS)18个,‘云南野生古茶DASZ’(DASZ)13个,系统发育揭示3个茶树品种WOX基因在进化上存在较强的保守性。密码子偏好性分析揭示,3个茶树品种WOX基因密码子都偏好使用A/T和以A/T结尾;CSA和DASZ的WOX基因密码子使用模式相似,表明两者亲缘关系较近;以CSA和CSS作为转基因受体时,3个茶树品种WOX基因中个别密码子需优化;烟草是3个茶树品种WOX基因的最佳异源表达受体;ENc-GC_3s绘图、PR2分析和中性分析表明自然选择是影响3个茶树品种WOX基因密码子使用偏倚的主要因素。【结论】3个茶树品种WOX基因进化上较保守,密码子偏好使用A/T和以A/T结尾,且密码子偏好原因主要是自然选择;揭示出转茶树时密码子的优化信息和烟草为最佳异源表达受体的结果。     

分析伯氏疏螺旋体密码子使用的倾向性

本文采用非线性映射的方法分析伯氏疏螺旋体前导链和后随链上的基因结构，发现基因分布存在明显的差异，同义密码子的使用亦具有明显的倾向性．此外，高表达基因分布具有不对称性，其同义密码子使用与其它基因亦有不同，这表明原核生物基因组复制起始点两侧的碱基分布及翻译机制均影响基因的密码子使用．     

Converting nonsense codons into sense codons by targeted pseudouridylation

All three translation termination codons, or nonsense codons, contain a uridine residue at the first position of the codon. Here, we demonstrate that pseudouridylation (conversion of uridine into pseudouridine (Ψ), ref. 4) of nonsense codons suppresses translation termination both in vitro and in vivo. In vivo targeting of nonsense codons is accomplished by the expression of an H/ACA RNA capable of directing the isomerization of uridine to Ψ within the nonsense codon. Thus, targeted pseudouridylation represents a novel approach for promoting nonsense suppression in vivo. Remarkably, we also show that pseudouridylated nonsense codons code for amino acids with similar properties. Specifically, ΨAA and ΨAG code for serine and threonine, whereas ΨGA codes for tyrosine and phenylalanine, thus suggesting a new mode of decoding. Our results also suggest that RNA modification, as a naturally occurring mechanism, may offer a new way to expand the genetic code.     

雌雄异株植物MADS-box基因密码子偏好性分析

为了解雌雄异株植物间MADS-box基因家族的密码子使用偏好性特点,以拟南芥为参照,利用Gen-Bank Feature Extractor,Codonw和CUSP等软件对已发表的雌雄异株植物MADS-box基因序列的密码子偏好性进行分析,发现拟南芥及雌雄异株植物中均偏好使用密码子第3位点为U和A的密码子.再运用SPSS11.5对拟南芥和雌雄异株植物的MADS-box基因密码子偏好性进行聚类分析,发现雌雄异株植物与拟南芥在MADS-box基因的密码子选择偏好方面的差异不显著.从而得出雌雄异株植物对MADS-box基因密码子偏好性不具有显著影响.     

Phylogeny reconstruction based on protein phylogenetic profiles of organisms

With the coming of the Post Genomic Era, more and more genomes have been sequenced and it has become possible to study phylogeny reconstruction at genome level. The concept of protein phylogenetic profiles of organisms is defined in this work which is used in phylogeny reconstruction by proteome comparisons. This method is more stable than the prevailing molecular systematics methods and can be used widely. It will develop very fast with the rapid progress in genome sequencing.     

Nucleotide sequence of the rat skeletal muscle actin gene

The actins constitute a family of highly conserved proteins found in all eukaryotic cells. Their conservation through a very wide range of taxonomic groups and the existence of tissue-specific isoforms make the actin genes very interesting for the study of the evolution of genes and their controlling elements. On the basis of amino acid sequence data, at least six different mammalian actins have been identified (skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, two smooth muscle actins and the cytoplasmic beta- and gamma-actins). Rat spleen DNA digested by the EcoRI restriction enzyme contains at least 12 different fragments with actin-like sequences but only one which hybridized, in very stringent conditions, with the skeletal muscle cloned cDNA probe. Here we describe the sequence of the actin gene in that fragment. The nucleotide sequence codes for two amino acids, Met-Cys, preceding the known N-terminal Asp of the mature protein. There are five small introns in the coding region and a large intron in the 5'-untranslated region. Comparison of the structure of the rat skeletal muscle actin gene with available data on actin genes from other organisms shows that while the sequenced actin genes from Drosophila and yeast have introns at different locations, introns located at codons specifying amino acids 41, 121, 204 and 267 have been preserved at least from the echinoderm to the vertebrates. A similar analysis has been done by Davidson. An intron at codon 150 is common to a plant actin gene and the skeletal muscle acting gene.     

反思达尔文

Ｃａｉｒｎｓ提出，Ｌｕｒｉａ和Ｄｅｌｌｂｒｕｃｋ的波动试验只是产了随机突变－－选择留存机制，并不能否定有定向突变存在，天然遗传工程的存在则表明，生物在进化 过程中并不总是被动地承受选择，有时也会主动地改变自己的遗传结构以适应环境，这些新成果表明，自然选择不是驱动生物进化的唯一动力，再者，无论是定向突变还是自然选择，它们解释的都是适应性进化，而适应性进化则只是生物进化中的一种非本质形式，事实上，解释     

The codon CUG is read as serine in an asporogenic yeast Candida cylindracea

Deviations from the universal genetic code have been reported for several microorganisms. Termination codons are used for coding some amino acids in Paramecium, Mycoplasma or Tetrahymena, and in Escherichia coli, the UGA termination codon is used to code for selenocysteine. In mitochondria, the changes of sense codons to termination codons or to codons encoding other amino acids have also been reported. Here we report another example of divergence from the universal code, this time in a non-spore-forming yeast Candida cylindracea, in which the universal codon for leucine, CUG, is used to code for serine. This conclusion is based on the observations that: (1) the amino-acid composition and the partial amino-acid sequences of an extracellular lipase from this yeast agreed with those deduced from the complementary DNA if CUG was assumed to specify serine; and (2) serine, but not leucine, was incorporated into a polypeptide in a cell-free translation system from this yeast in the presence of a synthetic CUG oligomer.