Predominant clonal evolution leads to a close parity between gene expression profiles and subspecific phylogeny in Trypanosoma cruzi.
We investigated the relationships between overall phylogenetic diversity in Trypanosoma cruzi evidenced by multilocus markers (MLEE and RAPD) on the one hand, and gene expression patterns, revealed by mRNA analysis on the other hand. Nineteen laboratory-cloned stocks representative of this parasite's overall phylogenetic diversity and ecogeographical range were analyzed using random amplified differentially expressed sequences (RADES). The bat trypanosome T. cruzi marinkellei was taken as outgroup. The profiles obtained showed that RADES polymorphism cannot be considered as a simple subsample of general RAPD polymorphism. Indeed, many RADES bands were not present in general RAPD profiles, and vice versa. Phylogenies obtained from RADES on the one hand, and MLEE/RAPD on the other hand, were very similar. This suggests that in spite of the recent observation of hybrid genotypes and mosaic genes in T. cruzi, clonal evolution in this parasite has been preponderant enough on an evolutionary scale to carve the polymorphism on all types of DNA sequences, including expressed genes, although these genes are assumed to undergo natural selection pressure contrary to noncoding sequences and neutral polymorphisms.
Génétique et Evolution des Maladies Infectieuses, Unité Mixte de Recherche 2724 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Institut de Recherche pour le Développement BP64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 05, France.
Jenny
J
Telleria
Christian
C
Barnabé
Mallorie
M
Hide
Anne-Laure
AL
Bañuls
Michel
M
Tibayrenc
D000818:Animals; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004586:Electrophoresis; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D014644:Genetic Variation; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins