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Sponge OAS has a distinct genomic structure within the 2-5A synthetase family

Molecular Genetics and Genomics volume 280, pages 453–466 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

2′,5′-Oligoadenylate synthetases (2-5A synthetases, OAS) are enzymes that play an important role in the interferon-induced antiviral defense mechanisms in mammals. Sponges, the evolutionarily lowest multicellular animals, also possess OAS; however, their function is presently unclear. Low homology between primary structures of 2-5A synthetases from vertebrates and sponges renders their evolutionary relationship obscure. The genomic structure of vertebrate OASs has been thoroughly examined, making it possible to elucidate molecular evolution and expansion of this gene family. Until now, no OAS gene structure was available from sponges to compare it with the corresponding genes from higher organisms. In the present work, we determined the exon/intron structure of the OAS gene from the marine sponge Geodia cydonium and found it to be completely different from the strictly conserved exon/intron pattern of the OAS genes from vertebrates. This finding was corroborated by the analysis of OAS genes from another sponge, Amphimedon queenslandica, whose genome was recently sequenced. Our data suggest that vertebrate and sponge OAS genes have no direct common intron-containing ancestor and two (sub)types of OAS may be discriminated. This study opens new perspectives for understanding the phylogenesis and evolution of 2-5A synthetases as well as functional aspects of this multigene family.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the European Comission (project COOP-CT-2005, contract number 017800) and the Estonian Science Foundation (grant No. 5932).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Gene Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia

    Tõnu Reintamm, Anne Kuusksalu, Madis Metsis, Mailis Päri, Kerli Vallmann, Annika Lopp & Merike Kelve

  2. Centre for Biology of Integrated Systems, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15a, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia

    Madis Metsis

  3. Department of Molecular Biology, Aarhus University, 8000, Århus C, Denmark

    Just Justesen

Authors
  1. Tõnu Reintamm
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  2. Anne Kuusksalu
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  3. Madis Metsis
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  4. Mailis Päri
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  5. Kerli Vallmann
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  6. Annika Lopp
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  7. Just Justesen
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  8. Merike Kelve
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Correspondence to Merike Kelve.

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Abbreviations

The nomenclature of particular OASs in the present paper is based on the level of their sequence similarities. OAS1 refers to the OAS consisting of a single OAS domain. Capital letters (OAS1X) are used to differentiate between OAS1 types with sequence homologies of less than 50%; their variants are additionally marked in small letters (OASXx, sequence homology ~70 to ~95%). Labels prime and double prime denote sponge OAS1Xx gene haplotypes (sequence homology close to 100%, a few amino acid substitutions).

Communicated by S. Hohmann.

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Reintamm, T., Kuusksalu, A., Metsis, M. et al. Sponge OAS has a distinct genomic structure within the 2-5A synthetase family. Mol Genet Genomics 280, 453–466 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-008-0379-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-008-0379-5

Keywords

  • 2′,5′-Oligoadenylate synthetase
  • OAS
  • Genomic structure
  • Sponge
  • Geodia cydonium
  • Amphimedon queenslandica