Evolutionary analyses of myosin genes in trypanosomatids show a history of expansion, secondary losses and neofunctionalization

Denise Andréa Silva De Souza,Marco Aurélio Krieger,Daniela Parada Pavoni,Adriana Ludwig

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18865-y

Denise Andréa Silva De Souza, Marco Aurélio Krieger + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-18865-y

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Abstract

Myosins are motor proteins that comprise a large and diversified family important for a broad range of functions. Two myosin classes, I and XIII, were previously assigned in Trypanosomatids, based mainly on the studies of Trypanosoma cruzi, T. brucei and Leishmania major, and important human pathogenic species; seven orphan myosins were identified in T. cruzi. Our results show that the great variety of T. cruzi myosins is also present in some closely related species and in Bodo saltans, a member of an early divergent branch of Kinetoplastida. Therefore, these myosins should no longer be considered “orphans”. We proposed the classification of a kinetoplastid-specific myosin group into a new class, XXXVI. Moreover, our phylogenetic data suggest that a great repertoire of myosin genes was present in the last common ancestor of trypanosomatids and B. saltans, mainly resulting from several gene duplications. These genes have since been predominantly maintained in synteny in some species, and secondary losses explain the current distribution. We also found two interesting genes that were clearly derived from myosin genes, demonstrating that possible redundant or useless genes, instead of simply being lost, can serve as raw material for the evolution of new genes and functions.

Highlights

Myosins are important eukaryotic molecular motor proteins that bind actin filaments and are dependent of ATP hydrolysis[1]
To understand the evolution of myosin genes, we compared their phylogenies to the known trypanosomatid phylogenetic relationships (Fig. 1)
Trypanosomatid phylogeny can be separated into two major clades, one comprising the Trypanosoma genus, and the other, which we named the Leishmania clade, that encompasses Blechomonas ayalai, Phytomonas sp. and the subfamilies Strigomonadinae and Leishmaniinae

Summary

Introduction

Myosins are important eukaryotic molecular motor proteins that bind actin filaments and are dependent of ATP hydrolysis[1]. Some species (T. grayi, T. rangeli, T. theileri and B. saltans) presented several significant hits, indicating that these species have a wide repertoire of myosin genes, similar to T. cruzi.

Results

Conclusion