Isolation and characterization of rad51 orthologs from Coprinus cinereus and Lycopersicon esculentum, and phylogenetic analysis of eukaryotic recA homologs

Natalie Yeager Stassen; J. M Logsdon Jr; G. J Vora; Hildo H Offenberg; Jeffrey D Palmer; M. E Zolan

doi:10.1007/s002940050189

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Isolation and characterization of rad51 orthologs from Coprinus cinereus and Lycopersicon esculentum, and phylogenetic analysis of eukaryotic recA homologs

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Isolation and characterization of rad51 orthologs from Coprinus cinereus and Lycopersicon esculentum, and phylogenetic analysis of eukaryotic recA homologs

Natalie Yeager Stassen, J. M Logsdon Jr, G. J Vora, Hildo H Offenberg, Jeffrey D Palmer and M. E Zolan

Current genetics, Vol.31(2), pp.144-157

02/1997

DOI: 10.1007/s002940050189

PMID: 9021132

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Abstract

In eubacteria, the recA gene has long been recognized as essential for homologous recombination and DNA repair. Recent work has identified recA homologs in archaebacteria and eukaryotes, thus emphasizing the universal role this gene plays in DNA metabolism. We have isolated and characterized two new recA homologs, one from the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus and the other from the angiosperm Lycopersicon esculentum. Like the RAD51 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Coprinus gene is highly induced by gamma irradiation and during meiosis. Phylogenetic analyses of eukarotic recA homologs reveal a gene duplication early in eukaryotic evolution which gave rise to two putatively monophyletic groups of recA-like genes. One group of 11 characterized genes, designated the rad51 group, is orthologous to the Saccharomyces RAD51 gene and also contains the Coprinus and Lycopersicon genes. The other group of seven genes, designated the dmc1 group, is orthologous to the Saccharomyces DMC1 gene. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis reveal extensive lineage- and gene-specific differences in rates of RecA protein evolution. Dmc1 consistently evolves faster than Rad51, and fungal proteins of both types, especially those of Saccharomyces, change rapidly, particularly in comparison to the slowly evolving vertebrate proteins. The Drosophila Rad51 protein has undergone remarkably rapid sequence divergence.

Coprinus cinereus

Gene duplication

Lycopersicon esculentum

Molecular phylogeny

RAD51 homologs

Unequal evolutionary rates

Details

Title: Subtitle: Isolation and characterization of rad51 orthologs from Coprinus cinereus and Lycopersicon esculentum, and phylogenetic analysis of eukaryotic recA homologs
Creators: Natalie Yeager Stassen - Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA IN
J. M Logsdon Jr - Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA IN
G. J Vora - Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA IN
Hildo H Offenberg - Department of Genetics, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands NL
Jeffrey D Palmer - Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA IN
M. E Zolan - Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA IN
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Current genetics, Vol.31(2), pp.144-157
DOI: 10.1007/s002940050189
PMID: 9021132
NLM abbreviation: Curr Genet
ISSN: 0172-8083
eISSN: 1432-0983
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Language: English
Date published: 02/1997
Academic Unit: Biology
Record Identifier: 9984217526202771

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