Navegando por Palavras-chave "molecular evolution"
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- ItemAcesso aberto (Open Access)Changes in G+C content of a neutrally evolving gene under a non-reversible dynamics measured by computer simulations based on experimental evolution data(Sociedade Brasileira de Genética, 2004-01-01) Brunstein, Adriana [UNIFESP]; Varuzza, Leonardo; Sanson, Gerdine F. O. [UNIFESP]; Briones, Marcelo Ribeiro da Silva [UNIFESP]; Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP); Universidade de São Paulo (USP)To evaluate the effects of non-reversibility on compositional base changes and the distribution of branch lengths along a phylogeny, we extended, by means of computer simulations, our previous sequential PCR in vitro evolution experiment. In that study a 18S rRNA gene evolved neutrally for 280 generations and a homogeneous non-stationary model of base substitution based on a non-reversible dynamics was built from the in vitro evolution data to describe the observed pattern of nucleotide substitutions. Here, the process was extended to 840 generations without selection, using the model parameters calculated from the in vitro evolution experiment. We observed that under a non-reversible model the G+C content of the sequences significantly increases when compared to simulations with a reversible model. The values of mean and variance of the branch lengths are reduced under a non-reversible dynamics although they follow a Poisson distribution. We conclude that the major implication of non-reversibility is the overall decrease of branch lengths, although no transition from a stochastic to an ordered process is observed. According to our model the result of this neutral process will be the increase in the G+C content of the descendant sequences with an overall decrease in the frequency of substitutions.
- ItemSomente MetadadadosCorrelated mutation analyses on very large sequence families(Wiley-Blackwell, 2002-10-04) Oliveira, Laerte [UNIFESP]; Paiva, Antonio Cechelli de Mattos [UNIFESP]; Vriend, Gerrit; KUN; Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)The 'omics era' (the era of genomics, proteomics, and so forth) is marked by a flood of data that need to be interpreted to become useful information. Thanks to genome sequencing projects, large I numbers of sequence families with more than a thousand members each are now available. Novel analytical techniques are needed to ideal with this avalanche of sequence data. Sequence entropy is a measure of the information present in an alignment, whereas sequence variability represents the mutational flexibility at a particular position. Entropy versus variability plots can reveal the roles of groups of residues in the overall function of a protein. Such roles can be as part of the main active site, part of a modulator binding site, or transduction of a signal between those sites. Residues that are involved in a common function tend to stay conserved as a group, but when they mutate, they tend to mutate together. Correlated mutation analysis can detect groups of residue positions that show this behaviour. the combination of entropy, variability and correlation is a powerful tool to convert sequence data into useful information. This analysis can, for example, detect the key residues involved in cooperativity in globins, the switch regions in ras-like proteins and the calcium binding and signalling residues in serine proteases. We have extrapolated from these three classes of structurally and functionally well-described proteins to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We can detect the residues in the main functional site in GPCRs that are responsible for G-protein coupling, the residues in the endogenous agonist binding site, and the residues in between that transduce the signal to and fro between these sites. the results are discussed in the light of a simple two-step evolutionary model for the development of functional proteins.
- ItemSomente MetadadadosExperimental Phylogeny of neutrally evolving DNA sequences generated by a bifurcate series of nested polymerase chain reactions(Soc Molecular Biology Evolution, 2002-02-01) Sanson, Gerdine Ferreira de Oliveira [UNIFESP]; Kawashita, Silvia Yukie [UNIFESP]; Brunstein, Adriana [UNIFESP]; Briones, Marcelo Ribeiro da Silva [UNIFESP]; Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)A known phylogeny was generated using a four-step serial bifurcate PCR method. The ancestor sequence (SSU rDNA) evolved in vitro for 280 nested PCR cycles, and the resulting 15 ancestor and 16 terminal sequences (2,238 hp each) were determined. Parsimony, distance, and maximum likelihood analysis of the terminal sequences reconstructed the topology of the real phylogeny and branch lengths accurately. Divergence dates and ancestor sequences were estimated with very small error, particularly at the base of the phylogeny, mostly due to insertion and deletion changes. The substitution patterns along the known phylogeny are not described by reversible models, and accordingly, the probability substitution matrix, based on the observed substitutions from ancestor to terminal nodes along the known phylogeny, was calculated. This approach is an extension of previous studies using bacteriophage serial propagation, because here mutations were allowed to occur neutrally rather than by addition of a mutagenic agent, which produced biased mutational changes. These results provide for the first time biochemical experimental support for phylogenies, divergence date estimates, and all irreversible substitution model based on neutrally evolving DNA sequences. The substitution preferences observed here (A to G and T to C) are consistent with the high G+C content of the Thermus aquaticus genome. This suggests, at least in part, that the method here described, which explores, the high Taq DNA polymerase error rate, simulates the evolution of a DNA segment in a thermophilic organism. These organisms include the bacterial rod T. aquaticus and several Archaea, and thus, the method and data set described here may well contribute new insights about the genome evolution of these organisms.
- ItemAcesso aberto (Open Access)Viral diseases and human evolution(Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, 2000-01-01) Leal, Elcio de Souza [UNIFESP]; Zanotto, Paolo Marinho de Andrade [UNIFESP]; Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)The interaction of man with viral agents was possibly a key factor shaping human evolution, culture and civilization from its outset. Evidence of the effect of disease, since the early stages of human speciation, through pre-historical times to the present suggest that the types of viruses associated with man changed in time. As human populations progressed technologically, they grew in numbers and density. As a consequence different viruses found suitable conditions to thrive and establish long-lasting associations with man. Although not all viral agents cause disease and some may in fact be considered beneficial, the present situation of overpopulation, poverty and ecological inbalance may have devastating effets on human progress. Recently emerged diseases causing massive pandemics (eg., HIV-1 and HCV, dengue, etc.) are becoming formidable challenges, which may have a direct impact on the fate of our species.