Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026

De novo Identification of Actively Translated Open Reading Frames with Ribosome Profiling Data
Published on: February 18, 2022
Metazoan Ribosome Inactivating Protein encoding genes acquired by Horizontal Gene Transfer
Walter J Lapadula1, Paula L Marcet2, María L Mascotti3
1Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis, IMIBIO-SL-CONICET and Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina. wlapadula@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) are RNA N-glycosidases that depurinate a specific adenine residue in the conserved sarcin/ricin loop of 28S rRNA. These enzymes are widely distributed among plants and their presence has also been confirmed in several bacterial species. Recently, we reported for the first time in silico evidence of RIP encoding genes in metazoans, in two closely related species of insects: Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Here, we have experimentally confirmed the presence of these genes in mosquitoes and attempted to unveil their evolutionary history. A detailed study was conducted, including evaluation of taxonomic distribution, phylogenetic inferences and microsynteny analyses, indicating that mosquito RIP genes derived from a single Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) event, probably from a cyanobacterial donor species. Moreover, evolutionary analyses show that, after the HGT event, these genes evolved under purifying selection, strongly suggesting they play functional roles in these organisms.
More Related Videos
08:57Identification of Novel Genes Associated with Alginate Production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Using Mini-himar1 Mariner Transposon-mediated Mutagenesis
Published on: March 10, 2014
10:39Methodology for the Study of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: March 10, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Horizontal Gene Transfer
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms
Ribosome Profiling
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique...
Ribozymes
Ribozymes can...
Ribozymes