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Evolution of the globin gene family in deuterostomes: lineage-specific patterns of diversification and attrition.

ABSTRACT: In the Metazoa, globin proteins display an underlying unity in tertiary structure that belies an extraordinary diversity in primary structures, biochemical properties, and physiological functions. Phylogenetic reconstructions can reveal which of these functions represent novel, lineage-specific innovations, and which represent ancestral functions that are shared with homologous globin proteins in other eukaryotes and even prokaryotes. To date, our understanding of globin diversity in deuterostomes has been hindered by a dearth of genomic sequence data from the Ambulacraria (echinoderms + hemichordates), the sister group of chordates, and the phylum Xenacoelomorpha, which includes xenoturbellids, acoelomorphs, and nemertodermatids. Here, we report the results of a phylogenetic and comparative genomic analysis of the globin gene repertoire of deuterostomes. We first characterized the globin genes of the acorn worm, Saccoglossus kowalevskii, a representative of the phylum Hemichordata. We then integrated genomic sequence data from the acorn worm into a comprehensive analysis of conserved synteny and phylogenetic relationships among globin genes from representatives of the eight lineages that comprise the superphylum Deuterostomia. The primary aims were 1) to unravel the evolutionary history of the globin gene superfamily in deuterostomes and 2) to use the estimated phylogeny to gain insights into the functional evolution of deuterostome globins. Results of our analyses indicate that the deuterostome common ancestor possessed a repertoire of at least four distinct globin paralogs and that different subsets of these ancestral genes have been retained in each of the descendant organismal lineages. In each major deuterostome group, a different subset of ancestral precursor genes underwent lineage-specific expansions of functional diversity through repeated rounds of gene duplication and divergence. By integrating results of the phylogenetic analysis with available functional data, we discovered that circulating oxygen-transport hemoglobins evolved independently in several deuterostome lineages and that intracellular nerve globins evolved independently in chordates and acoelomorph worms.

SUBMITTER: Hoffmann FG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3375472 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Evolution of the globin gene family in deuterostomes: lineage-specific patterns of diversification and attrition.

Hoffmann Federico G FG Opazo Juan C JC Hoogewijs David D Hankeln Thomas T Ebner Bettina B Vinogradov Serge N SN Bailly Xavier X Storz Jay F JF

Molecular biology and evolution 20120124 7

In the Metazoa, globin proteins display an underlying unity in tertiary structure that belies an extraordinary diversity in primary structures, biochemical properties, and physiological functions. Phylogenetic reconstructions can reveal which of these functions represent novel, lineage-specific innovations, and which represent ancestral functions that are shared with homologous globin proteins in other eukaryotes and even prokaryotes. To date, our understanding of globin diversity in deuterostom ...[more]

PMID: 22319164

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Project description:The alpha- and beta-globin gene families of jawed vertebrates have diversified with respect to both gene function and the developmental timing of gene expression. Phylogenetic reconstructions of globin gene family evolution have provided suggestive evidence that the developmental regulation of hemoglobin synthesis has evolved independently in multiple vertebrate lineages. For example, the embryonic beta-like globin genes of birds and placental mammals are not 1:1 orthologs. Despite the similarity in developmental expression profiles, the genes are independently derived from lineage-specific duplications of a beta-globin pro-ortholog. This suggests the possibility that other vertebrate taxa may also possess distinct repertoires of globin genes that were produced by repeated rounds of lineage-specific gene duplication and divergence. Until recently, investigations into this possibility have been hindered by the dearth of genomic sequence data from nonmammalian vertebrates. Here, we report new insights into globin gene family evolution that were provided by a phylogenetic analysis of vertebrate globins combined with a comparative genomic analysis of three key sauropsid taxa: a squamate reptile (anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis), a passeriform bird (zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata), and a galliform bird (chicken, Gallus gallus). The main objectives of this study were 1) to characterize evolutionary changes in the size and membership composition of the alpha- and beta-globin gene families of tetrapod vertebrates and 2) to test whether functional diversification of the globin gene clusters occurred independently in different tetrapod lineages. Results of our comparative genomic analysis revealed several intriguing patterns of gene turnover in the globin gene clusters of different taxa. Lineage-specific differences in gene content were especially pronounced in the beta-globin gene family, as phylogenetic reconstructions revealed that amphibians, lepidosaurs (as represented by anole lizard), archosaurs (as represented by zebra finch and chicken), and mammals each possess a distinct independently derived repertoire of beta-like globin genes. In contrast to the ancient functional diversification of the alpha-globin gene cluster in the stem lineage of tetrapods, the physiological division of labor between early- and late-expressed genes in the beta-globin gene cluster appears to have evolved independently in several tetrapod lineages.

Project description:BackgroundGlobin isoforms with variant properties and functions have been found in the pseudocoel, body wall and cuticle of various nematode species and even in the eyespots of the insect-parasite Mermis nigrescens. In fact, much higher levels of complexity exist, as shown by recent whole genome analysis studies. In silico analysis of the genome of Caenorhabditis elegans revealed an unexpectedly high number of globin genes featuring a remarkable diversity in gene structure, amino acid sequence and expression profiles.ResultsIn the present study we have analyzed whole genomic data from C. briggsae, C. remanei, Pristionchus pacificus and Brugia malayi and EST data from several other nematode species to study the evolutionary history of the nematode globin gene family. We find a high level of conservation of the C. elegans globin complement, with even distantly related nematodes harboring orthologs to many Caenorhabditis globins. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis resolves all nematode globins into two distinct globin classes. Analysis of the globin intron-exon structures suggests extensive loss of ancestral introns and gain of new positions in deep nematode ancestors, and mainly loss in the Caenorhabditis lineage. We also show that the Caenorhabditis globin genes are expressed in distinct, mostly non-overlapping, sets of cells and that they are all under strong purifying selection.ConclusionOur results enable reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the globin gene family in the nematode phylum. A duplication of an ancestral globin gene occurred before the divergence of the Platyhelminthes and the Nematoda and one of the duplicated genes radiated further in the nematode phylum before the split of the Spirurina and Rhabditina and was followed by further radiation in the lineage leading to Caenorhabditis. The resulting globin genes were subject to processes of subfunctionalization and diversification leading to cell-specific expression patterns. Strong purifying selection subsequently dampened further evolution and facilitated fixation of the duplicated genes in the genome.

Project description:BACKGROUND:The lancelet amphioxus (Cephalochordata) is a close relative of vertebrates and thus may enhance our understanding of vertebrate gene and genome evolution. In this context, the globins are one of the best studied models for gene family evolution. Previous biochemical studies have demonstrated the presence of an intracellular globin in notochord tissue and myotome of amphioxus, but the corresponding gene has not yet been identified. Genomic resources of Branchiostoma floridae now facilitate the identification, experimental confirmation and molecular evolutionary analysis of its globin gene repertoire. RESULTS:We show that B. floridae harbors at least fifteen paralogous globin genes, all of which reveal evidence of gene expression. The protein sequences of twelve globins display the conserved characteristics of a functional globin fold. In phylogenetic analyses, the amphioxus globin BflGb4 forms a common clade with vertebrate neuroglobins, indicating the presence of this nerve globin in cephalochordates. Orthology is corroborated by conserved syntenic linkage of BflGb4 and flanking genes. The kinetics of ligand binding of recombinantly expressed BflGb4 reveals that this globin is hexacoordinated with a high oxygen association rate, thus strongly resembling vertebrate neuroglobin. In addition, possible amphioxus orthologs of the vertebrate globin X lineage and of the myoglobin/cytoglobin/hemoglobin lineage can be identified, including one gene as a candidate for being expressed in notochord tissue. Genomic analyses identify conserved synteny between amphioxus globin-containing regions and the vertebrate ?-globin locus, possibly arguing against a late transpositional origin of the ?-globin cluster in vertebrates. Some amphioxus globin gene structures exhibit minisatellite-like tandem duplications of intron-exon boundaries ("mirages"), which may serve to explain the creation of novel intron positions within the globin genes. CONCLUSIONS:The identification of putative orthologs of vertebrate globin variants in the B. floridae genome underlines the importance of cephalochordates for elucidating vertebrate genome evolution. The present study facilitates detailed functional studies of the amphioxus globins in order to trace conserved properties and specific adaptations of respiratory proteins at the base of chordate evolution.

Project description:Globins are small heme-proteins that reversibly bind oxygen. Their most prominent roles in vertebrates are the transport and storage of O2 for oxidative energy metabolism, but recent research has suggested alternative, non-respiratory globin functions. In the species-rich and ecologically highly diverse taxon of arthropods, the copper-containing hemocyanin is considered the main respiratory protein. However, recent studies have suggested the presence of globin genes and their proteins in arthropod taxa, including model species like Drosophila. To systematically assess the taxonomic distribution, evolution and diversity of globins in arthropods, we systematically searched transcriptome and genome sequence data and found a conserved, widespread occurrence of three globin classes in arthropods: hemoglobin-like (HbL), globin X (GbX), and globin X-like (GbXL) protein lineages. These globin types were previously identified in protostome and deuterostome animals including vertebrates, suggesting their early ancestry in Metazoa. The HbL genes show multiple, lineage-specific gene duplications in all major arthropod clades. Some HbL genes (e.g., Glob2 and 3 of Drosophila) display particularly fast substitution rates, possibly indicating the evolution of novel functions, e.g., in spermatogenesis. In contrast, arthropod GbX and GbXL globin genes show high evolutionary stability: GbXL is represented by a single-copy gene in all arthropod groups except Brachycera, and representatives of the GbX clade are present in all examined taxa except holometabolan insects. GbX and GbXL both show a brain-specific expression. Most arthropod GbX and GbXL proteins, but also some HbL variants, include sequence motifs indicative of potential N-terminal acylation (i.e., N-myristoylation, 3C-palmitoylation). All arthropods except for the brachyceran Diptera harbor at least one such potentially acylated globin copy, confirming the hypothesis of an essential, conserved globin function associated with the cell membrane. In contrast to other animals, the fourth ancient globin lineage, represented by neuroglobin, appears to be absent in arthropods, and the putative arthropod orthologs of the fifth metazoan globin lineage, androglobin, lack a recognizable globin domain. Thus, the remarkable evolutionary stability of some globin variants is contrasted by occasional dynamic gene multiplication or even loss of otherwise strongly conserved globin lineages in arthropod phylogeny.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Understanding the origins of genome content has long been a goal of molecular evolution and comparative genomics. By examining genome evolution through the guise of lineage-specific evolution, it is possible to make inferences about the evolutionary events that have given rise to species-specific diversification. Here we characterize the evolutionary trends found in chordate species using The Adaptive Evolution Database (TAED). TAED is a database of phylogenetically indexed gene families designed to detect episodes of directional or diversifying selection across chordates. Gene families within the database have been assessed for lineage-specific estimates of dN/dS and have been reconciled to the chordate species to identify retained duplicates. Gene families have also been mapped to the functional pathways and amino acid changes which occurred on high dN/dS lineages have been mapped to protein structures. RESULTS:An analysis of this exhaustive database has enabled a characterization of the processes of lineage-specific diversification in chordates. A pathway level enrichment analysis of TAED determined that pathways most commonly found to have elevated rates of evolution included those involved in metabolism, immunity, and cell signaling. An analysis of protein fold presence on proteins, after normalizing for frequency in the database, found common folds such as Rossmann folds, Jelly Roll folds, and TIM barrels were overrepresented on proteins most likely to undergo directional selection. A set of gene families which experience increased numbers of duplications within short evolutionary times are associated with pathways involved in metabolism, olfactory reception, and signaling. An analysis of protein secondary structure indicated more relaxed constraint in β-sheets and stronger constraint on alpha Helices, amidst a general preference for substitutions at exposed sites. Lastly a detailed analysis of the ornithine decarboxylase gene family, a key enzyme in the pathway for polyamine synthesis, revealed lineage-specific evolution along the lineage leading to Cetacea through rapid sequence evolution in a duplicate gene with amino acid substitutions causing active site rearrangement. CONCLUSION:Episodes of lineage-specific evolution are frequent throughout chordate species. Both duplication and directional selection have played large roles in the evolution of the phylum. TAED is a powerful tool for facilitating this understanding of lineage-specific evolution.

Dataset Information

Evolution of the globin gene family in deuterostomes: lineage-specific patterns of diversification and attrition.

Publications

Evolution of the globin gene family in deuterostomes: lineage-specific patterns of diversification and attrition.

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