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Analysis of evolutionary, biogeographical and taxonomic patterns of nucleotide composition in demosponge rRNA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2007

Dirk Erpenbeck ,
Danny F.R. Cleary ,
Oliver Voigt ,
Scott A. Nichols ,
Bernard M. Degnan ,
John N.A. Hooper  and
Gert Wörheide
Dirk Erpenbeck
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Programme, Queensland Museum, 4101 South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Department of Geobiology, Geoscience Centre Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Danny F.R. Cleary
Affiliation:
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Oliver Voigt
Affiliation:
Department of Geobiology, Geoscience Centre Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
Scott A. Nichols
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, USA
Bernard M. Degnan
Affiliation:
School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
John N.A. Hooper
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Programme, Queensland Museum, 4101 South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Gert Wörheide
Affiliation:
Department of Geobiology, Geoscience Centre Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Abstract

The ribosome is the location of protein translation and therefore a pivotal macromolecular complex for all organisms. The RNA molecules involved in the formation and functioning of the ribosome (rRNA) are partially single-stranded (loops) and partially double-stranded (helices or stems) as a result of pairing of complementary regions in either their own or other rRNA subunits. This pattern provides the rRNA with a secondary structure crucial for its functionality. The stability of these secondary structures is mediated by their base compositions: a helix rich in G-C pairs possesses a higher thermodynamic stability than an A-T rich counterpart. However, the base composition of these structures is neither homogeneous throughout the molecule nor throughout the demosponge taxa. Here, we present patterns of biased nucleotide composition in demosponge 28S rDNA. We analyse their correlation in respect to environment and taxonomy. We find significantly higher G+C contents in haplosclerid demosponges compared to other orders and investigate evidence for an association between water temperature and rRNA base composition in demosponges.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 87 , Issue 6 , December 2007 , pp. 1607 - 1614
Copyright
2007 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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