A Forward Genetic Screen Identifies Mutants Deficient for Mitochondrial Complex I Assembly in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii.

in Genetics (2011)

Mitochondrial Complex I is the largest multimeric enzyme of the respiratory chain. The lack of a model system with facile genetics has limited the molecular dissection of Complex I assembly. Using ... [more ▼]

Mitochondrial Complex I is the largest multimeric enzyme of the respiratory chain. The lack of a model system with facile genetics has limited the molecular dissection of Complex I assembly. Using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as an experimental system to screen for Complex I defects, we isolated, via forward genetics, amc1 to 7 nuclear mutants (for assembly of mitochondrial complex I) displaying reduced or no Complex I activity. BN-PAGE and immunoblot analyses revealed that amc3 and amc4 accumulate reduced levels of the Complex I holoenzyme (950 kDa) while all other amc mutants fail to accumulate a mature complex. In amc1, 2, 5, 6, 7, the detection of a 700 kDa subcomplex retaining NADH dehydrogenase activity indicates an arrest in the assembly process. Genetic analyses established that amc5 and amc7 are alleles of the same locus while amc1 to 4 and amc6 define distinct complementation groups. The locus defined by the amc5 and amc7 alleles corresponds to the NUOB10 gene, encoding PDSW, a subunit of the membrane arm of Complex I. This is the first report of a forward genetic screen yielding the isolation of Complex I mutants. This work illustrates the potential of using Chlamydomonas as a genetically-tractable organism to decipher Complex I manufacture. [less ▲]

A hidden markov model combining linkage and linkage disequilibrium information for haplotype reconstruction and quantitative trait locus fine mapping.

in Genetics (2010), 184(3), 789-98

Faithful reconstruction of haplotypes from diploid marker data (phasing) is important for many kinds of genetic analyses, including mapping of trait loci, prediction of genomic breeding values, and ... [more ▼]

Faithful reconstruction of haplotypes from diploid marker data (phasing) is important for many kinds of genetic analyses, including mapping of trait loci, prediction of genomic breeding values, and identification of signatures of selection. In human genetics, phasing most often exploits population information (linkage disequilibrium), while in animal genetics the primary source of information is familial (Mendelian segregation and linkage). We herein develop and evaluate a method that simultaneously exploits both sources of information. It builds on hidden Markov models that were initially developed to exploit population information only. We demonstrate that the approach improves the accuracy of allele phasing as well as imputation of missing genotypes. Reconstructed haplotypes are assigned to hidden states that are shown to correspond to clusters of genealogically related chromosomes. We show that these cluster states can directly be used to fine map QTL. The method is computationally effective at handling large data sets based on high-density SNP panels. [less ▲]

Fine mapping of quantitative trait loci affecting female fertility in dairy cattle on BTA03 using a dense single-nucleotide polymorphism map.

in Genetics (2008), 178(4), 2227-35

Fertility quantitative trait loci (QTL) are of high interest in dairy cattle since insemination failure has dramatically increased in some breeds such as Holstein. High-throughput SNP analysis and SNP ... [more ▼]

Fertility quantitative trait loci (QTL) are of high interest in dairy cattle since insemination failure has dramatically increased in some breeds such as Holstein. High-throughput SNP analysis and SNP microarrays give the opportunity to genotype many animals for hundreds SNPs per chromosome. In this study, due to these techniques a dense SNP marker map was used to fine map a QTL underlying nonreturn rate measured 90 days after artificial insemination previously detected with a low-density microsatellite marker map. A granddaughter design with 17 Holstein half-sib families (926 offspring) was genotyped for a set of 437 SNPs mapping to BTA3. Linkage analysis was performed by both regression and variance components analysis. An additional analysis combining both linkage analysis and linkage-disequilibrium information was applied. This method first estimated identity-by-descent probabilities among base haplotypes. These probabilities were then used to group the base haplotypes in different clusters. A QTL explaining 14% of the genetic variance was found with high significance (P < 0.001) at position 19 cM with the linkage analysis and four sires were estimated to be heterozygous (P < 0.05). Addition of linkage-disequilibrium information refined the QTL position to a set of narrow peaks. The use of the haplotypes of heterozygous sires offered the possibility to give confidence in some peaks while others could be discarded. Two peaks with high likelihood-ratio test values in the region of which heterozygous sires shared a common haplotype appeared particularly interesting. Despite the fact that the analysis did not fine map the QTL in a unique narrow region, the method proved to be able to handle efficiently and automatically a large amount of information and to refine the QTL position to a small set of narrow intervals. In addition, the QTL identified was confirmed to have a large effect (explaining 13.8% of the genetic variance) on dairy cow fertility as estimated by nonreturn rate at 90 days. [less ▲]

Rmd9p controls the processing/stability of mitochondrial mRNAs and its overexpression compensates for a partial deficiency of oxa1p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

in Genetics (2007), 175(3), 1105-15

Oxa1p is a key component of the general membrane insertion machinery of eukaryotic respiratory complex subunits encoded by the mitochondrial genome. In this study, we have generated a respiratory ... [more ▼]

Oxa1p is a key component of the general membrane insertion machinery of eukaryotic respiratory complex subunits encoded by the mitochondrial genome. In this study, we have generated a respiratory-deficient mutant, oxa1-E65G-F229S, that contains two substitutions in the predicted intermembrane space domain of Oxa1p. The respiratory deficiency due to this mutation is compensated for by overexpressing RMD9. We show that Rmd9p is an extrinsic membrane protein facing the matrix side of the mitochondrial inner membrane. Its deletion leads to a pleiotropic effect on respiratory complex biogenesis. The steady-state level of all the mitochondrial mRNAs encoding respiratory complex subunits is strongly reduced in the Deltarmd9 mutant, and there is a slight decrease in the accumulation of two RNAs encoding components of the small subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome. Overexpressing RMD9 leads to an increase in the steady-state level of mitochondrial RNAs, and we discuss how this increase could suppress the oxa1 mutations and compensate for the membrane insertion defect of the subunits encoded by these mRNAs. [less ▲]

No accelerated rate of protein evolution in male-biased Drosophila pseudoobscura genes.

in Genetics (2006), 174(1), 411-20

Sexually dimorphic traits are often subject to diversifying selection. Genes with a male-biased gene expression also are probably affected by sexual selection and have a high rate of protein evolution. We ... [more ▼]

Sexually dimorphic traits are often subject to diversifying selection. Genes with a male-biased gene expression also are probably affected by sexual selection and have a high rate of protein evolution. We used SAGE to measure sex-biased gene expression in Drosophila pseudoobscura. Consistent with previous results from D. melanogaster, a larger number of genes were male biased (402 genes) than female biased (138 genes). About 34% of the genes changed the sex-related expression pattern between D. melanogaster and D. pseudoobscura. Combining gene expression with protein divergence between both species, we observed a striking difference in the rate of evolution for genes with a male-biased gene expression in one species only. Contrary to expectations, D. pseudoobscura genes in this category showed no accelerated rate of protein evolution, while D. melanogaster genes did. If sexual selection is driving molecular evolution of male-biased genes, our data imply a radically different selection regime in D. pseudoobscura. [less ▲]

The role of the bovine growth hormone receptor and prolactin receptor genes in milk, fat and protein production in Finnish Ayrshire dairy cattle.

in Genetics (2006), 173(4), 2151-64

We herein report new evidence that the QTL effect on chromosome 20 in Finnish Ayrshire can be explained by variation in two distinct genes, growth hormone receptor (GHR) and prolactin receptor (PRLR). In ... [more ▼]

We herein report new evidence that the QTL effect on chromosome 20 in Finnish Ayrshire can be explained by variation in two distinct genes, growth hormone receptor (GHR) and prolactin receptor (PRLR). In a previous study in Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle an F279Y polymorphism in the transmembrane domain of GHR was found to be associated with an effect on milk yield and composition. The result of our multimarker regression analysis suggests that in Finnish Ayrshire two QTL segregate on the chromosomal region including GHR and PRLR. By sequencing the coding sequences of GHR and PRLR and the sequence of three GHR promoters from the pooled samples of individuals of known QTL genotype, we identified two substitutions that were associated with milk production traits: the previously reported F-to-Y substitution in the transmembrane domain of GHR and an S-to-N substitution in the signal peptide of PRLR. The results provide strong evidence that the effect of PRLR S18N polymorphism is distinct from the GHR F279Y effect. In particular, the GHR F279Y has the highest influence on protein percentage and fat percentage while PRLR S18N markedly influences protein and fat yield. Furthermore, an interaction between the two loci is suggested. [less ▲]

Molecular dissection of a quantitative trait locus: a phenylalanine-to-tyrosine substitution in the transmembrane domain of the bovine growth hormone receptor is associated with a major effect on milk yield and composition.

in Genetics (2003), 163(1), 253-66

We herein report on our efforts to improve the mapping resolution of a QTL with major effect on milk yield and composition that was previously mapped to bovine chromosome 20. By using a denser chromosome ... [more ▼]

We herein report on our efforts to improve the mapping resolution of a QTL with major effect on milk yield and composition that was previously mapped to bovine chromosome 20. By using a denser chromosome 20 marker map and by exploiting linkage disequilibrium using two distinct approaches, we provide strong evidence that a chromosome segment including the gene coding for the growth hormone receptor accounts for at least part of the chromosome 20 QTL effect. By sequencing individuals with known QTL genotype, we identify an F to Y substitution in the transmembrane domain of the growth hormone receptor gene that is associated with a strong effect on milk yield and composition in the general population. [less ▲]

Mosaicism of Solid Gold supports the causality of a noncoding A-to-G transition in the determinism of the callipyge phenotype.

in Genetics (2003), 163(1), 453-6

To identify the callipyge mutation, we have resequenced 184 kb spanning the DLK1-, GTL2-, PEG11-, and MEG8-imprinted domain and have identified an A-to-G transition in a highly conserved dodecamer motif ... [more ▼]

To identify the callipyge mutation, we have resequenced 184 kb spanning the DLK1-, GTL2-, PEG11-, and MEG8-imprinted domain and have identified an A-to-G transition in a highly conserved dodecamer motif between DLK1 and GTL2. This was the only difference found between the callipyge (CLPG) allele and a phylogenetically closely related wild-type allele. We report that this SNP is in perfect association with the callipyge genotype. The demonstration that Solid Gold-the alleged founder ram of the callipyge flock-is mosaic for this SNP virtually proves the causality of this SNP in the determinism of the callipyge phenotype. [less ▲]

Molecular dissection of a quantitative trait locus: A phenylalanine-to-tyrosine substitution in the transmembrane domain of the bovine growth hormone receptor is associated with a major effect on milk yield and composition

in Genetics (2003), 163(1), 253-266

We herein report on our efforts to improve the mapping resolution of a QTL with major effect on milk yield and composition that was previously mapped to bovine chromosome 20. By using a denser chromosome ... [more ▼]

We herein report on our efforts to improve the mapping resolution of a QTL with major effect on milk yield and composition that was previously mapped to bovine chromosome 20. By using a denser chromosome 20 marker map and by exploiting linkage disequilibrium using two distinct approaches, we provide strong evidence that a chromosome segment including the gene coding for the growth hormone receptor accounts for at least part of the chromosome 20 QTL effect. By sequencing individuals with known QTL genotype, we identify an F to Y substitution in the transmembrane domain of the growth hormone receptor gene that is associated with a strong effect on milk yield and composition in the general population. [less ▲]

Mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii deficient in mitochondrial complex I: Characterization of two mutations affecting the nd1 coding sequence

in Genetics (2001), 158(3), 1051-60

The mitochondrial rotenone-sensitive NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) comprises more than 30 subunits, the majority of which are encoded by the nucleus. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, only five ... [more ▼]

The mitochondrial rotenone-sensitive NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) comprises more than 30 subunits, the majority of which are encoded by the nucleus. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, only five components of complex I are coded for by mitochondrial genes. Three mutants deprived of complex I activity and displaying slow growth in the dark were isolated after mutagenic treatment with acriflavine. A genetical analysis demonstrated that two mutations (dum20 and dum25) affect the mitochondrial genome whereas the third mutation (dn26) is of nuclear origin. Recombinational analyses showed that dum20 and dum25 are closely linked on the genetic map of the mitochondrial genome and could affect the nd1 gene. A sequencing analysis confirmed this conclusion: dum20 is a deletion of one T at codon 243 of nd1; dum25 corresponds to a 6-bp deletion that eliminates two amino acids located in a very conserved hydrophilic segment of the protein. [less ▲]