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Related Concept Videos

Multi-species Conserved Sequences02:51

Multi-species Conserved Sequences

Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale  studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...
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Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
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Cis-regulatory Sequences02:02

Cis-regulatory Sequences

Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
Cis-regulatory Sequences02:02

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Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
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Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins

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An Integrated Approach for Microprotein Identification and Sequence Analysis
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Published on: July 12, 2022

Evolutionary conservation of UTR intron boundaries in Cryptococcus.

Scott William Roy1, David Penny, Daniel E Neafsey

  • 1Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. scottwroy@gmail.com

Molecular Biology and Evolution
|March 22, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Untranslated region (UTR) intron splicing is conserved by purifying selection in Cryptococcus, suggesting functional importance. This finding challenges the notion of UTR splicing as mere spliceosomal noise.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The functional and evolutionary significance of untranslated regions (UTRs) in eukaryotic transcripts is largely unknown.
  • The presence of spliceosomal introns within UTRs is particularly enigmatic, as their splicing is not required for coding sequence integrity.
  • It remains unclear whether UTR intron splicing serves a crucial function or represents random spliceosomal activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary conservation of UTR intron splicing.
  • To determine if UTR intron splicing is under selective pressure.
  • To compare UTR splicing patterns across different eukaryotic lineages.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of evolutionary conservation of UTR intron boundary sequences.
  • Comparative genomics across four species within the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex.
  • Estimation of the proportion of splice boundaries maintained by selection.

Main Results:

  • High conservation of UTR intron boundary sequences was observed in the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex.
  • An estimated 50-90% of UTR splice boundaries appear to be maintained by purifying selection.
  • Donor sites and 5' UTR splicing boundaries exhibited higher conservation than acceptor sites and 3' UTRs, respectively.
  • Distinct patterns of UTR splicing were identified in Cryptococcus compared to animals and plants.

Conclusions:

  • UTR intron splicing is conserved by purifying selection, indicating a functional role.
  • The findings challenge the hypothesis that UTR intron splicing is simply spliceosomal noise.
  • The study highlights the importance of UTRs and deepens the mystery surrounding UTR intron splicing mechanisms and functions.