Biomaterial Database

Genome Analysis of Programmed DNA Elimination in Parasitic Nematodes. 2021

Jianbin Wang

Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA. jianbin.wang@utk.edu.

Two distinct groups of parasitic nematodes use programmed DNA elimination to silence germline-expressed genes in the somatic cells (ascarids) or for sex determination (Strongyloides spp.). In the ascarids, DNA is lost only in pre-somatic cells during early embryogenesis, leading to a reduced somatic genome compared to the intact germ cell genome. Comparative genome analysis has provided information on the retained vs. eliminated sequences, DNA breaks, a full chromosome view on DNA elimination, and the evolutionary conservation of DNA elimination among ascarids. These studies have revealed novel insights into the functions and mechanisms of DNA elimination and provided a reference for in-depth molecular analysis of DNA elimination. Here, I describe the genomics methods we used to study programmed DNA elimination, focusing on the parasitic nematode Ascaris.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009348	Nematoda	A phylum of unsegmented helminths with fundamental bilateral symmetry and secondary triradiate symmetry of the oral and esophageal structures. Many species are parasites.	Phasmidia,Secernentea,Sipunculida
D002875	Chromosomes	In a prokaryotic cell or in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, a structure consisting of or containing DNA which carries the genetic information essential to the cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Chromosome
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D005854	Germ Cells	The reproductive cells in multicellular organisms at various stages during GAMETOGENESIS.	Gamete,Gametes,Germ-Line Cells,Germ Line,Cell, Germ,Cell, Germ-Line,Cells, Germ,Cells, Germ-Line,Germ Cell,Germ Line Cells,Germ Lines,Germ-Line Cell
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016678	Genome	The genetic complement of an organism, including all of its GENES, as represented in its DNA, or in some cases, its RNA.	Genomes