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Divergent Evolution (divergent + evolution)
Selected AbstractsConsistent spatial patterns across biogeographic gradients in temperate reef fishesECOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2008Maren Wellenreuther Biogeographic gradients may facilitate divergent evolution between populations of the same species, leading to geographic variation and possibly reproductive isolation. Previous work has shown that New Zealand triplefin species (family Tripterygiidae) have diversified in habitat use, however, knowledge about the consistency of this pattern throughout their geographic range is lacking. Here we examine the spatial habitat associations of 15 New Zealand triplefin species at nine locations on a latitudinal gradient from 35°50,S to 46°70,S to establish whether distant populations differ in habitat use. Triplefin diversity and density varied between locations, as did habitat variables such as percentage cover of the substratum, onshore-offshore location, microposition, depth and exposure. Canonical discriminant analysis identified specific species-habitat combinations, and when habitat was statistically partialled from location, most species exhibited consistent habitat associations throughout their range. However, the density of a few species at some locations was lower or higher than expected given the habitat availability. This indicates that the habitat variables recorded were not the sole predictors of assemblage structure, and it is likely that factors influencing larval dispersal (e.g. the low salinity layer in Fiordland and geographic isolation of the Three Kings Islands) play an additional role in structuring assemblage composition. Together these results suggest that New Zealand triplefin species show strong and consistent habitat use across potential biogeographical barriers, but this pattern appears to be modified by variation in larval supply and survival. This indicates that species with broad geographic distributions do not necessarily show phenotypic variation between populations. [source] CONVERGENCE AND THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL NICHEEVOLUTION, Issue 2 2005Luke J. Harmon Abstract Convergent evolution has played an important role in the development of the ecological niche concept. We investigated patterns of convergent and divergent evolution of Caribbean Anolis lizards. These lizards diversified independently on each of the islands of the Greater Antilles, producing the same set of habitat specialists on each island. Using a phylogenetic comparative framework, we examined patterns of morphological convergence in five functionally distinct sets of morphological characters: body size, body shape, head shape, lamella number, and sexual size dimorphism. We find evidence for convergence among members of the habitat specialist types for each of these five datasets. Furthermore, the patterns of convergence differ among at least four of the five datasets; habitat specialists that are similar for one set of characters are often greatly different for another. This suggests that the habitat specialist niches into which these anoles have evolved are multidimensional, involving several distinct and independent aspects of morphology. [source] Role of electrostatics in the interaction between plastocyanin and photosystem I of the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosumFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 23 2002Beatrix G. Schlarb-Ridley The interactions between photosystem I and five charge mutants of plastocyanin from the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum were investigated in vitro. The dependence of the overall rate constant of reaction, k2, on ionic strength was investigated using laser flash photolysis. The rate constant of the wild-type reaction increased with ionic strength, indicating repulsion between the reaction partners. Removing a negative charge on plastocyanin (D44A) accelerated the reaction and made it independent of ionic strength; removing a positive charge adjacent to D44 (K53A) had little effect. Neutralizing and inverting the charge on R93 slowed the reaction down and increased the repulsion. Specific effects of MgCl2 were observed for mutants K53A, R93Q and R93E. Thermodynamic analysis of the transition state revealed positive activation entropies, suggesting partial desolvation of the interface in the transition state. In comparison with plants, plastocyanin and photosystem I of Phormidium laminosum react slowly at low ionic strength, whereas the two systems have similar rates in the range of physiological salt concentrations. We conclude that in P. laminosum, in contrast with plants in vitro, hydrophobic interactions are more important than electrostatics for the reactions of plastocyanin, both with photosystem I (this paper) and with cytochrome f[Schlarb-Ridley, B.G., Bendall, D.S. & Howe, C.J. (2002) Biochemistry41, 3279,3285]. We discuss the implications of this conclusion for the divergent evolution of cyanobacterial and plant plastocyanins. [source] Evolution of peptidoglycan biosynthesis under the selective pressure of antibiotics in Gram-positive bacteriaFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 2 2008Jean-Luc Mainardi Abstract Acquisition of resistance to the two classes of antibiotics therapeutically used against Gram-positive bacteria, the glycopeptides and the ,-lactams, has revealed an unexpected flexibility in the peptidoglycan assembly pathway. Glycopeptides select for diversification of the fifth position of stem pentapeptides because replacement of d -Ala by d -lactate or d -Ser at this position prevents binding of the drugs to peptidoglycan precursors. The substitution is generally well tolerated by the classical d,d -transpeptidases belonging to the penicillin-binding protein family, except by low-affinity enzymes. Total elimination of the fifth residue by a d,d -carboxypeptidase requires a novel cross-linking enzyme able to process the resulting tetrapeptide stems. This enzyme, an l,d -transpeptidase, confers cross-resistance to ,-lactams and glycopeptides. Diversification of the side chain of the precursors, presumably in response to the selective pressure of peptidoglycan endopeptidases, is controlled by aminoacyl transferases of the Fem family that redirect specific aminoacyl-tRNAs from translation to peptidoglycan synthesis. Diversification of the side chains has been accompanied by a parallel divergent evolution of the substrate specificity of the l,d -transpeptidases, in contrast to the d,d -transpeptidases, which display an unexpected broad specificity. This review focuses on the role of antibiotics in selecting or counter-selecting diversification of the structure of peptidoglycan precursors and their mode of polymerization. [source] P1 Regionalisation of the brain as an evolutionarily conserved developmental mechanism.JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 1-2 2001E. GALE Comparative studies of chordate neural connectivity and gene families have provided evidence for evolutionary conservation of the patterning mechanisms in brain development (review Holland & Holland, Curr. Opin. Neurobiol.9, 1999). Based on expression patterns of ascidian and amphioxus homologues of the Otx gene and the Hox1 gene and of the ascidian Pax-2/5/8, the chordate brain has been suggested to have tripartite development (Wada et al., Development125, 1998; Kozmik et al., Development126, 1999). Primitively, the chordates have regions homologous to the vertebrate forebrain, anterior midbrain and posterior hindbrain while the posterior midbrain/anterior hindbrain region seems to be a vertebrate innovation. The extent of the homologies within each of these regions between the vertebrates and their ancestors is not fully determined but the similarity of Hox gene expression patterns suggests organisational constants over evolutionary time within the posterior hindbrain region. Identification of the posterior hindbrain region as a developmental unit in vertebrates is demonstrated in the retinoid-deficient quail. Embryos laid by quails fed a retinoid-deficient diet have no posterior hindbrain while the anterior hindbrain is specified normally. Through DiI cell lineage tracing and a temporal analysis of gene expression characteristic of this region (Krox-20, Hoxb-1, mafB, and fgf3), we have followed the development of this region of cells. From the initial formation of the neural plate phenotype in the retinoid-deficient quail, there is no evidence of a posterior hindbrain. This region is never specified and all the cells of the hindbrain participate in an anterior hindbrain fate. A single retinoid injection in ovo during early development completely rescues the posterior hindbrain ensuring that the phenotype was the result of a single stimulus. Therefore cells from the posterior hindbrain respond in a coordinated regional manner to the presence or absence of a single gene inducer, retinoic acid. We present evidence of regionalisation of the vertebrate head that is up stream of segment specification. In combination with data from amphioxus and ascidians, this may represent a common mechanism for head development throughout chordate evolution. Interestingly, regional deletion with enlargement of the adjacent region is very reminiscent of the gap gene phenotype in Drosophila. It would be disregarding millions of years of divergent evolution to suggest that vitamin A is identical to a Drosophila gap gene inducer; nevertheless this data supports the hypothesis of common underlying regulation of axial regionalisation and gene hierarchies. [source] Sexually antagonistic coevolution in insects is associated with only limited morphological diversityJOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006W. Eberhard Abstract Morphological traits involved in male,female sexual interactions, such as male genitalia, often show rapid divergent evolution. This widespread evolutionary pattern could result from sustained sexually antagonistic coevolution, or from other types of selection such as female choice or selection for species isolation. I reviewed the extensive but under-utilized taxonomic literature on a selected subset of insects, in which male,female conflict has apparently resulted in antagonistic coevolution in males and females. I checked the sexual morphology of groups comprising 500,1000 species in six orders for three evolutionary trends predicted by the sexually antagonistic coevolution hypothesis: males with species-specific differences and elaborate morphology in structures that grasp or perforate females in sexual contexts; corresponding female structures with apparently coevolved species-specific morphology; and potentially defensive designs of female morphology. The expectation was that the predictions were especially likely to be fulfilled in these groups. A largely qualitative overview revealed several surprising patterns: sexually antagonistic coevolution is associated with frequent, relatively weak species-specific differences in males, but male designs are usually relatively simple and conservative (in contrast to the diverse and elaborate designs common in male structures specialized to contact and hold females in other species, and also in weapons such as horns and pincers used in intra-specific battles); coevolutionary divergence of females is not common; and defensive female divergence is very uncommon. No cases were found of female defensive devices that can be facultatively deployed. Coevolutionary morphological races may have occurred between males and females of some bugs with traumatic insemination, but apparently as a result of female attempts to control fertilization, rather than to reduce the physical damage and infections resulting from insertion of the male's hypodermic genitalia. In sum, the sexually antagonistic coevolution that probably occurs in these groups has generally not resulted in rapid, sustained evolutionary divergence in male and female external sexual morphology. Several limitations of this study, and directions for further analyses are discussed. [source] The evolution of teleost pigmentation and the fish-specific genome duplicationJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2008I. Braasch Teleost fishes have evolved a unique complexity and diversity of pigmentation and colour patterning that is unmatched among vertebrates. Teleost colouration is mediated by five different major types of neural-crest derived pigment cells, while tetrapods have a smaller repertoire of such chromatophores. The genetic basis of teleost colouration has been mainly uncovered by the cloning of pigmentation genes in mutants of zebrafish Danio rerio and medaka Oryzias latipes. Many of these teleost pigmentation genes were already known as key players in mammalian pigmentation, suggesting partial conservation of the corresponding developmental programme among vertebrates. Strikingly, teleost fishes have additional copies of many pigmentation genes compared with tetrapods, mainly as a result of a whole-genome duplication that occurred 320,350 million years ago at the base of the teleost lineage, the so-called fish-specific genome duplication. Furthermore, teleosts have retained several duplicated pigmentation genes from earlier rounds of genome duplication in the vertebrate lineage, which were lost in other vertebrate groups. It was hypothesized that divergent evolution of such duplicated genes may have played an important role in pigmentation diversity and complexity in teleost fishes, which therefore not only provide important insights into the evolution of the vertebrate pigmentary system but also allow us to study the significance of genome duplications for vertebrate biodiversity. [source] Homology versus analogy: possible evolutionary relationship of immunoglobulins, cupredoxins, and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutaseJOURNAL OF MOLECULAR RECOGNITION, Issue 1 2008Fred J. Stevens Abstract The ,immunoglobulin-like' fold is one of most common structural motifs observed in proteins. This topology is found in more than 80 superfamilies of proteins, including Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cupredoxin. Evolutionary relationships have not been identified, but may exist. The challenge remains, therefore, of resolving the issue of whether the diverse distribution of the fold is accounted for by divergent evolution of function or convergent evolution of structure following multiple independent origins of function. Since the early studies that revealed conformational similarity of immunoglobulins and other proteins, the number of primary structures available for comparison has dramatically increased and new computational approaches for analysis of sequences have been developed. It now appears that a hypothesis of a common evolutionary origin for cupredoxins, Cu,Zn-SOD, and immunoglobulins may be credible. The distinction between protein homology and protein analogy is fundamental. The immunoglobulin-like fold may represent a robust system within which to examine again the issue of protein homology versus analogy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Orchid mycorrhiza: implications of a mycophagous life styleOIKOS, Issue 3 2009Hanne N. Rasmussen Orchid mycorrhiza probably affects about 25,000 plant species and thus roughly one tenth of all higher plants. Histologically, this symbiosis resembles other kinds of endomycorrhiza, the fungal hyphae growing within living plant cells. Considerable evidence, however, suggests that it is not a two-way exchange relationship and thus not potentially mutualistic, such as the wide-spread endomycorrhiza between plants and Glomalean fungi, known as arbuscular mycorrhiza. During the achlorophyllous seedling stage orchids are obligately dependent on the fungi; some species remain so through life, while others establish photosynthesis but to varying degrees remain facultatively dependent of /responsive to fungal infection as adults. None of the fungi involved are so far known to depend on the symbiosis with orchids. Transfer of organic carbon compounds from hyphae to the orchid has been demonstrated repeatedly, but it is not clear to what extent this takes place during a biotrophic phase while the intracellular hyphae remain intact, or during the subsequent extensive degradation of the hyphal coils. The advantage of viewing orchid mycorrhiza basically as a unilateral mycophagous relationship, in spite of hypothetical beneficial spin-offs to the mycobiont, is that it provides a conceptual framework similar to that of other parasitic or fungivore relationships; mechanisms known in such relationships could be searched for in future studies of the orchid,fungus symbiosis. These could include mechanisms for recognition, attraction and selection of fungi, physiological regulation of internal hyphal growth, breakdown, and material transfer, nutritional consequences of the plant's preference(s) and trophic changes, fungal avoidance mechanisms, and consequences at population and ecosystem levels. A whole range of possible life strategies becomes apparent that could support divergent evolution and lead to the proliferation of species that has indeed occurred in the orchid family. We outline some of the possible physiological mechanisms and ecological implications of this approach. [source] Protein stability indicates divergent evolution of PD-(D/E)XK type II restriction endonucleasesPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 8 2002Monika Fuxreiter SC, stabilization center; PDB, Protein Data Bank Abstract Type II restriction endonucleases recognize 4,8 base-pair-long DNA sequences and catalyze their cleavage with remarkable specificity. Crystal structures of the PD-(DE)XK superfamily revealed a common ,/, core motif and similar active site. In contrast, these enzymes show little sequence similarity and use different strategies to interact with their substrate DNA. The intriguing question is whether this enzyme family could have evolved from a common origin. In our present work, protein structure stability elements were analyzed and compared in three parts of PD-(DE)XK type II restriction endonucleases: (1) core motif, (2) active-site residues, and (3) residues playing role in DNA recognition. High correlation was found between the active-site residues and those stabilization factors that contribute to preventing structural decay. DNA recognition sites were also observed to participate in stabilization centers. It indicates that recognition motifs and active sites in PD-(DE)XK type II restriction endonucleases should have been evolutionary more conserved than other parts of the structure. Based on this observation it is proposed that PD-(DE)XK type II restriction endonucleases have developed from a common ancestor with divergent evolution. [source] Structure of the cerebral cortex of the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae (Cetacea, Mysticeti, Balaenopteridae)THE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Patrick R. Hof Abstract Cetaceans diverged from terrestrial mammals between 50 and 60 million years ago and acquired, during their adaptation to a fully aquatic milieu, many derived features, including echolocation (in odontocetes), remarkable auditory and communicative abilities, as well as a complex social organization. Whereas brain structure has been documented in detail in some odontocetes, few reports exist on its organization in mysticetes. We studied the cerebral cortex of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in comparison to another balaenopterid, the fin whale, and representative odontocetes. We observed several differences between Megaptera and odontocetes, such as a highly clustered organization of layer II over the occipital and inferotemporal neocortex, whereas such pattern is restricted to the ventral insula in odontocetes. A striking observation in Megaptera was the presence in layer V of the anterior cingulate, anterior insular, and frontopolar cortices of large spindle cells, similar in morphology and distribution to those described in hominids, suggesting a case of parallel evolution. They were also observed in the fin whale and the largest odontocetes, but not in species with smaller brains or body size. The hippocampal formation, unremarkable in odontocetes, is further diminutive in Megaptera, contrasting with terrestrial mammals. As in odontocetes, clear cytoarchitectural patterns exist in the neocortex of Megaptera, making it possible to define many cortical domains. These observations demonstrate that Megaptera differs from Odontoceti in certain aspects of cortical cytoarchitecture and may provide a neuromorphologic basis for functional and behavioral differences between the suborders as well as a reflection of their divergent evolution. Anat Rec, 290:1,31, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||