The differential expression of ribosomal 18S RNA paralog genes from the chaetognath Spadella cephaloptera

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters

Pierre Pontarotti¹  Roxane-Marie Barthélémy³  Jean-Paul Casanova³  Michel Grino²  Eric Faure³ 

[1] Phylogenomic Laboratory, EA Evolution Biologique 3781, Université de Provence, Marseille cedex 3, France$$;Inserm UMR 626, UFR de Medecine secteur Timone, Marseille cedex 5, France$$;Biodiversity and Environment, Université de Provence, Marseille cedex 3, France$$

关键词: 18S;    Chaetognath;    Duplication;    Expression pattern;    rRNA paralogs;   

DOI  :  10.2478/s11658-007-0026-x

学科分类：分子生物学，细胞生物学和基因

来源: Uniwersytet Wroclawski * Wydzial Biotechnologii / University of Wroclaw, Faculty of Biotechnology

【 摘 要 】

Chaetognaths constitute a small marine phylum of approximately 120 species. Two classes of both 18S and 28S rRNA gene sequences have been evidenced in this phylum, even though significant intraindividual variation in the sequences of rRNA genes is unusual in animal genomes. These observations led to the hypothesis that this unusual genetic characteristic could play one or more physiological role(s). Using in situ hybridization on the frontal sections of the chaetognath Spadella cephaloptera, we found that the 18S Class I genes are expressed in the whole body, with a strong expression throughout the gut epithelium, whereas the expression of the 18S Class II genes is restricted to the oocytes. Our results could suggest that the paralog products of the 18S Class I genes are probably the “housekeeping” 18S rRNAs, whereas those of class II would only be essential in specific tissues. These results provide support for the idea that each type of 18S paralog is important for specific cellular functions and is under the control of selective factors.

【 授权许可】

Unknown