Genomic organization of selected genes in the small monogonont rotifer, Brachionus koreanus.
Information of genome structure with its size variation may provide important clues for evolutionary processes at lower taxon level in eukaryotes. Here, we analyzed the compact genome structure of the monogonont rotifer, Brachionus koreanus in the light of transphyletic genome comparison and economic genome usage. To confirm the genome compactness of B. koreanus, we compared the genomic structure of several selected genes with those of human and pufferfish. For example, one of the large genes, DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) with dimeric protein Ku70 and Ku80, showed high similarity, even though genomic DNA lengths were quite different. The replication protein As (RPAs) as a heterotrimeric protein also showed a compact genomic structure including all the essential domains and motifs in B. koreanus. Regarding transmembrane protein-containing genes, the B. koreanus P-glycoprotein (P-gp) showed exactly the same topology of the TM domain compared to those of human and pufferfish, even though it had a compact genome structure. In addition, the gene structure of an inducible repair enzyme O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (O(6)-MGMT) of B. koreanus showed the highest compactness among the genes tested. The objective of this report is to evaluate the potential for whole genome sequencing and functional genomic research using the monogonont rotifer B. koreanus as a non-model organism that plays important roles in aquatic food-webs. Subsequently, we discussed possible reasons for compact genome structures as well as small and fewer introns from several perspectives. We conclude that the small size genome of B. koreanus would make this species potentially useful for comparative genome structure analysis of non-model species through whole genome sequencing and genetic mapping.
Department of Molecular and Environmental Bioscience, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
Jae-Sung
JS
Rhee
Ryeo-Ok
RO
Kim
Bo-Mi
BM
Kim
Hans-Uwe
HU
Dahms
Jae-Seong
JS
Lee
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000502:physiology*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D012403:Rotifera / Q000502:physiology*; D023721:Tetraodontiformes / Q000502:physiology
D015801:Helminth Proteins