Phylogenetic significance of the characteristics of simple sequence repeats at the genus level based on the complete chloroplast genome sequences of Cyatheaceae.

The simple sequence repeats (SSRs) of plant chloroplasts show considerable genetic variation and have been widely used in species identification and phylogenetic relationship determination. Whether chloroplast genome SSRs can be used to classify Cyatheaceae species has not yet been studied. Therefore, the chloroplast genomes of eight Cyatheaceae species were sequenced, and their SSR characteristics were compared and statistically analyzed.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of (Asteraceae), a noxious invasive weed to South China.

It is the first report on complete chloroplast genome of (Asteraceae), a noxious invasive weed to South China. The genome is a circular molecule of 152,092 bp in length with 37.58% average GC content, and includes a large single copy region (83,793 bp), a small single copy region (18,287 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (25,006 bp).

Plastome sequences of Lygodium japonicum and Marsilea crenata reveal the genome organization transformation from basal ferns to core leptosporangiates.

Previous studies have shown that core leptosporangiates, the most species-rich group of extant ferns (monilophytes), have a distinct plastid genome (plastome) organization pattern from basal fern lineages. However, the details of genome structure transformation from ancestral ferns to core leptosporangiates remain unclear because of limited plastome data available. Here, we have determined the complete chloroplast genome sequences of Lygodium japonicum (Lygodiaceae), a member of schizaeoid ferns (Schizaeales), and Marsilea crenata (Marsileaceae), a representative of heterosporous ferns (Salviniales).

Microsatellite loci for an old rare species, Pseudotaxus chienii, and transferability in Taxus wallichiana var. mairei (Taxaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite loci were developed for Pseudotaxus chienii, an old rare species endemic to China, and which provided a useful tool for investigating the patterns of population genetic structure, phylogeography, evolutionary history, and adaptive potential. Transferability was assayed in the related species, Taxus wallichiana var. mairei.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Cephalotaxus oliveri (Cephalotaxaceae): evolutionary comparison of cephalotaxus chloroplast DNAs and insights into the loss of inverted repeat copies in gymnosperms.

We have determined the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of Cephalotaxus oliveri. The genome is 134,337 bp in length, encodes 113 genes, and lacks inverted repeat (IR) regions. Genome-wide mutational dynamics have been investigated through comparative analysis of the cp genomes of C.

Molecular evolution of psbA gene in ferns: unraveling selective pressure and co-evolutionary pattern.

Background: The photosynthetic oxygen-evolving photo system II (PS II) produces almost the entire oxygen in the atmosphere. This unique biochemical system comprises a functional core complex that is encoded by psbA and other genes. Unraveling the evolutionary dynamics of this gene is of particular interest owing to its direct role in oxygen production.

AFLP genome scan to detect genetic structure and candidate loci under selection for local adaptation of the invasive weed Mikania micrantha.

Why some species become successful invaders is an important issue in invasive biology. However, limited genomic resources make it very difficult for identifying candidate genes involved in invasiveness. Mikania micrantha H.

Development of microsatellite loci for Cephalotaxus oliveri (Cephalotaxaceae) and cross-amplification in Cephalotaxus.

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite loci were developed for Cephalotaxus oliveri, an endemic and endangered conifer in China, which will allow assessment of the levels of genetic diversity and a means to understand the genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation.

Methods And Results: Using the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences COntaining (FIASCO) Repeats protocol, 19 microsatellite loci were identified in C. oliveri, 13 of which were polymorphic within a sample of 52 individuals representing five natural populations.

Molecular evolution of rbcL in three gymnosperm families: identifying adaptive and coevolutionary patterns.

Background: The chloroplast-localized ribulose-1, 5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), the primary enzyme responsible for autotrophy, is instrumental in the continual adaptation of plants to variations in the concentrations of CO2. The large subunit (LSU) of Rubisco is encoded by the chloroplast rbcL gene. Although adaptive processes have been previously identified at this gene, characterizing the relationships between the mutational dynamics at the protein level may yield clues on the biological meaning of such adaptive processes.

Evolution of the rpoB-psbZ region in fern plastid genomes: notable structural rearrangements and highly variable intergenic spacers.

Background: The rpoB-psbZ (BZ) region of some fern plastid genomes (plastomes) has been noted to go through considerable genomic changes. Unraveling its evolutionary dynamics across all fern lineages will lead to clarify the fundamental process shaping fern plastome structure and organization.

Results: A total of 24 fern BZ sequences were investigated with taxon sampling covering all the extant fern orders.

[Phylogenetic analysis and detection of selective pressure on the CVNH domains].

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N) is a novel protein with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. Its homologs constitute a protein family known as CVNH (Cyanovirin-N homology), which possess the evolutionarily conserved anti-HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) domain. In this study, more details about the patchy organism distribution of CVNH domain were explored by reconstructing gene trees.

Complete chloroplast genome sequence of a tree fern Alsophila spinulosa: insights into evolutionary changes in fern chloroplast genomes.

Background: Ferns have generally been neglected in studies of chloroplast genomics. Before this study, only one polypod and two basal ferns had their complete chloroplast (cp) genome reported. Tree ferns represent an ancient fern lineage that first occurred in the Late Triassic.

[A study of the wild and captive green peafowl(Pavo muticus) by random-amplified polymorphic DNA].

Random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to investigate the genetic diversity of the population of 14 wild green peafowl and 18 captive green peafowl (Pavo muticus). Total of 161 and 166 bands were obtained respectively, and 23 random primers were used to amplify the genomic DNA of the wild and captive green peafowls. The average relative hereditary distance of the wild and captive green peafowls is 0.

Genetic differentiation of relictual populations of Alsophila spinulosa in southern China inferred from cpDNA trnL-F noncoding sequences.

The genetic differentiation and phylogeographical pattern of 11 relictual populations of Alsophila spinulosa distributed across Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi in southern China were inferred from sequence variations of trnL-F noncoding regions of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA). The length of trnL-F noncoding sequences varied from 863 to 940 bp. The A + T content was 62.

Genetic structure and variation in the relict populations of Alsophila spinulosa from southern China based on RAPD markers and cpDNA atpB-rbcL sequence data.

RAPD markers and sequences of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) atpB-rbcL intergenic spacers were used to characterize the pattern of genetic variation and the phylogenetic relationships of the relict populations of Alsophila spinulosa located in Jian Feng Ling (JFL) and Diao Luo Shan (DLS), Hainan, and Tang Lang Shan (TLS), Ding Hu Shan (DHS), and Da Xi Shan (DXS), Guangdong, of southern China. 28 random primers generated 118 bands, out of which 26 (22.03%) were polymorphic loci, distinguishing 17 different RAPD phenotypes.