Abstract
We report the complete DNA sequences of the protamine P1 gene and flanking regions for 13 species of the marsupial family Dasyuridae. The structure of the protamine locus is conserved in dasyurids and consists of two exons (of lengths 142–151 and 47 bp) separated by an intron (208–240 bp). A key feature of the dasyund intron is a 38–40 by duplication found in all species examined to date. This duplication apparently predates the radiation of modern dasyurid lineages and may be homologous to a similar feature in the marsupial mole (Notoryctes). Sequences from a species of Planigale demonstrate that this genus is unique among marsupials in possessing cysteine residues in its protamine P1 molecules. Cysteines may provide enhanced chemical stability for condensed sperm nuclei, a physiological feature that would converge on the common eutherian pattern. Phylogenetic analysis of the protamine genes yields a tree that is largely congruent with previous molecular systematic studies in two areas: (1) There are three main dasyurid lineages corresponding to the Sminthopsinae, Dasyurinae, and Phascogalinae; (2) Dasyurinae and Phascogalinae are sister groups. This study is the first estimate of dasyurid relationships based on a nuclear DNA sequence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Archer M (1982) Review of the dasyurid (Marsupialia) fossil record, integration of data bearing on phylogenetic interpretation and suprageneric classification. In: Archer M (ed) Carnivorous marsupials. Roy Zool Soc NSW, Mossman, pp 397–443
Archer M (1984) The Australian marsupial radiation. In: Archer M, Clayton G (eds) Vertebrate zoogeography and evolution in Australia. Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp 633–708
Baverstock PR, Archer M, Adams M, Richardson BJ (1982) Genetic relationships among 32 species of Australian dasyurid marsupials. In: Archer M (ed) Carnivorous marsupials. Roy Zool Soc NSW, Mossman, pp 641–650
Baverstock PR, Krieg M, Birrell J (1990) Evolutionary relationships among Australian marsupials as assessed by albumin immunology. Aust J Zool 37:273–287
Eernisse DJ, Kluge AG (1993) Taxonomic congruence versus total evidence, and amniote phylogeny inferred from fossils, molecules, and morphology. Mol Biol Evol 10:1170–1195
Felsenstein J (1988) Phylogenies from molecular sequences: inference and reliability. Annu Rev Genet 22:521–565
Felsenstein J (1992) PHYLIP (phylogeny inference package) version 3.5. Distributed by the author. Department of Genetics, Univ Washington, Seattle
Fitch WM, Margoliash E (1967) Construction of phylogenetic trees. Science 155:279–284
Genetics Computer Group (1991) Program manual for GCG package, version 7, April 1991. 575 Science Drive, Madison, WI 53711
Johnson PA, Peschon JJ, Yelick PC, Palmiter RD, Hecht NB (1988) Sequence homologies in the mouse protamine 1 and 2 genes. Biochim Biophys Acta 950:45–53
Kimura M (1980) A simple method for estimating evolutionary rate of base substitution through comparative studies of nucleotide sequences. J Mol Evol 16:111–120
Kirsch JAW, Krajewski C, Springer MS, Archer M (1990) DNA/DNA hybridization studies of carnivorous marsupials. II: relationships among dasyurids (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Aust J Zool 38:673–696
Krajewski C, Driskell AC, Baverstock PR, Braun MJ (1992) Phylogenetic relationships of the thylacine (Marsupialia: Thylacinidae) among dasyuroid marsupials: evidence from cytochrome-b DNA sequences. Proc R Soc Lond[Biol] 250:19–27
Krajewski C, Painter J, Buckley L, Westerman M (1994) Phylogenetic structure of the marsupial family Dasyuridae. J Mammalian Evol 2:25–35
Retief JD, Krajewski C, Westerman M, Winkfein RJ, Dixon GH (1995) The phylogeny of marsupials based on protamine PI DNA sequences. Proc Roy Soc Lond B 259:7–14
Retief JD, Rees JS, Westerman M, Dixon GH Convergent evolution of cysteine residues in sperm protamines of one genus of marsupials, the planigales. MBE (in press)
Retief JD, Dixon GH (1993) Evolution of pro-protamine P2 genes in primates. Eur J Biochem 214:609–615
Retief JD, Winkfein RJ, Dixon GH (1993a) Evolution of the monotremes: the sequences of the protamine PI genes of platypus and echidna. Eur J Biochem 218: 57–461
Retief JD, Winkfein RJ, Dixon GH, Adroer R, Queralt R, Ballabuga R, Oliva R (1993b) Evolution of protamine P1 genes in primates. J Mol Evol 37:426–434
Saitou N, Nei M (1987) The neighbor-joining method: a new method for reconstructing phylogenetic trees. Mol Biol Evol 4:406–425
Swofford DL (1991) When are phylogeny estimates from molecular and morphological data incongruent? In: Miyamoto MM, Cracraft J (eds) Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences. Academic Press, New York, pp 295–333
Winkfein RJ, Nishikawa S, Connor W, Dixon GH (1993) Characterization of a sperm protamine gene and its transcripts from the North American opossum (Didelphis marsupialis). Eur J Biochem 215: 63–72
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Correspondence to: J.D. Retief
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Retief, J.D., Krajewski, C., Westerman, M. et al. The evolution of protamine P1 genes in dasyurid marsupials. J Mol Evol 41, 549–555 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175812
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175812