Ribosomal DNA evolution   

The genomes of eukaryotes contain many DNA sequences that are repeated hundreds or thousands of times. Such groups of sequences are known as multigene families. It has been observed that sequence similarity among the members of a multigene family is high within species relative to similarity between copies from different species. This phenomenon is known as "concerted evolution".  

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is an important multigene family that codes for the structural RNA molecules that make up ribosomes: the site of protein synthesis. One unit of rDNA consists of three genes encoding ribosomal RNA (rRNA) separated by intergenic spacers. The spacers contain sequences that control transcription of the rRNA genes, but they tend to diverge between species very rapidly, as do some regions of the rRNA genes called expansion segments.Despite this rapid evolution, these sequences maintain their function and they evolve in concert.   

Due to variation in the rate of evolution in different parts of the same repeat unit, rDNA is an excellent model system with which to study the interaction between the molecular processes that cause concerted evolution, and natural selection to maintain the structure and function of the molecule.  I primarily use freshwater crustaceans in the genusDaphnia as a model organism to study rDNA evolution as they contain unusually long expansion segments, and show variation in breeding system with some populations reproducing by cyclic and others by obligate parthenogenesis.In addition, a transposable element,Pokey, has been found to insert in a specific region of the rDNA repeat inDaphnia.Moreover,Pokey differs from other rDNA-specific elements in that it is a DNA transposon (the others are non-LTR retrotransposons), and also occupies genomic sites outside of rDNA.

My current research program involves several related areas.

Evolution of rDNA in natural populations of Daphnia.

The relationship between rDNA copy number and Pokey copy number in natural populations of Daphnia. 

The impact of breeding system and genomic location on the evolution of Pokey.

Rates of Pokey transposition.

Evolution of rDNA in natural populations of Daphnia

Rates of concerted evolution depend on recombination rate as well as rDNA copy number. We are studying the relationship between these parameters and their effect on rDNA sequence homogeneity in multiple species of Daphnia. We are also testing predictions based on the hypothesis that natural selection is acting on length variation in rRNA expansion segments, which evolve much more rapidly than core regions .  Back to list

The relationship between rDNA copy number and Pokey copy number in natural populations of Daphnia.

The occurrence of Pokey elements in rRNA genes renders them non-functional, and thus, a minimum number of insert-free genes is required for organism viability. However, it is not known if Pokey is able to occupy all available rRNA genes, and if levels of Pokey insertion are correlated with rDNA copy number. We are using a qPCR based approach to study the relationship between Pokey insertion level and rDNA copy number, and to determine the impact of breeding system on this relationship. In addition, we are studying the interaction of Pokey elements in rDNA and the rest of the genome. For example, do they represent distinct element subfamilies, or do elements regularly move between rDNA and other genomic locations? Back to list

The impact of breeding system and genomic location on

the evolution of Pokey elements.

It has been observed that transposons are less active in asexual organisms than in their close sexual relatives. Moreover, transposons are expected to occur less frequently in the protein-coding genes of asexual organisms due to interclonal selection. We are comparing the frequency of full-length, potentially active, Pokey elements to the frequency of degraded and inactive elements in Daphnia populations that do (cyclic) and do not (obligate) reproduce sexually. We are also comparing the location of Pokey elements throughout the genomes of Daphnia populations with different breeding systems to test the hypothesis that transposons are less active and less likely to be deleterious in asexual than in sexual hosts. This work is facilitated by the recent release of the Daphnia pulex genome sequence. Back to list

Rates of Pokey transposition.

The long term persistence of Pokey elements in Daphnia rDNA indicates that they have remained active. We are using yeast one-hybrid and yeast excision assays to determine what aspects of element and transposase sequences are minimally required for transposition. We can also test the ability of the transposase from one Daphnia species to mobilize elements from other Daphnia species and determine the relative activity of transposases from different species.  Back to list

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