Mitochondrial genome dynamics in plants and animals: convergent gene fusions of a MutS homologue

Ricardo V Abdelnoor; Alan C Christensen; Saleem Mohammed; Bryan Munoz-Castillo; Hideaki Moriyama; Sally A Mackenzie

doi:10.1007/s00239-005-0226-9

Mitochondrial genome dynamics in plants and animals: convergent gene fusions of a MutS homologue

J Mol Evol. 2006 Aug;63(2):165-73. doi: 10.1007/s00239-005-0226-9. Epub 2006 Jul 7.

Authors

Ricardo V Abdelnoor¹, Alan C Christensen, Saleem Mohammed, Bryan Munoz-Castillo, Hideaki Moriyama, Sally A Mackenzie

Affiliation

¹ Plant Science Initiative, Beadle Center for Genetics Research, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0660, USA.

PMID: 16830098
DOI: 10.1007/s00239-005-0226-9

Abstract

Mitochondrial processes influence a broad spectrum of physiological and developmental events in higher eukaryotes, and their aberrant function can lead to several familiar disease phenotypes in mammals. In plants, mitochondrial genes directly influence pollen development and the occurrence of male sterility in natural plant populations. Likewise, in animal systems evidence accumulates to suggest important mitochondrial functions in spermatogenesis and reproduction. Here we present evidence for a convergent gene fusion involving a MutS-homologous gene functioning within the mitochondrion and designated Msh1. In only plants and soft corals, the MutS homologue has fused with a homing endonuclease sequence at the carboxy terminus of the protein. However, the endonuclease domains in the plants and the soft corals are members of different groups. In plants, Msh1 can influence mitochondrial genome organization and male sterility expression. Based on parallels in Msh1 gene structure shared by plants and corals, and their similarities in reproductive behavior, we postulate that this convergent gene fusion might have occurred in response to coincident adaptive pressures on reproduction.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cloning, Molecular
DNA Repair Enzymes / chemistry
DNA Repair Enzymes / genetics*
DNA Repair Enzymes / metabolism
DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
Endonucleases / genetics
Endonucleases / metabolism
Evolution, Molecular*
Gene Fusion / genetics
Mitochondria / genetics
Mitochondria / metabolism
Mitochondrial Proteins / chemistry
Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism
Molecular Sequence Data
MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein / chemistry
MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein / genetics*
MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein / metabolism
Phylogeny
Plant Proteins / chemistry
Plant Proteins / genetics
Plant Proteins / metabolism
Plants / genetics*
Plants / metabolism
Protein Structure, Tertiary
Protein Transport
Sequence Alignment
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

DNA, Mitochondrial
Mitochondrial Proteins
Plant Proteins
Endonucleases
Adenosine Triphosphatases
MutS DNA Mismatch-Binding Protein
DNA Repair Enzymes

Associated data

GENBANK/AY191303
GENBANK/AY795558
GENBANK/AY856369
GENBANK/AY856370
GENBANK/AY866434