Phylogeny of lobose amoebae based on actin and small-subunit ribosomal RNA genes

Mol Biol Evol. 2003 Nov;20(11):1881-6. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msg201. Epub 2003 Aug 29.

Abstract

Lobose amoebae are abundant free-living protists and important pathogenic agents, yet their evolutionary history and position in the universal tree of life are poorly known. Molecular data for lobose amoebae are limited to a few species, and all phylogenetic studies published so far lacked representatives of many of their taxonomic groups. Here we analyze actin and small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences of a broad taxon sampling of naked, lobose amoebae. Our results support the existence of a monophyletic Amoebozoa clade, which comprises all lobose amoebae examined so far, the amitochondriate pelobionts and entamoebids, and the slime molds. Both actin and SSU rRNA phylogenies distinguish two well-defined clades of amoebae, the "Gymnamoebia sensu stricto" and the Archamoebae (pelobionts + entamoebids), and one weakly supported and ill-resolved group comprising some naked, lobose amoebae and the Mycetozoa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / chemistry
  • Actins / genetics*
  • Amoeba / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Genes, rRNA*
  • Models, Genetic
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Actins
  • RNA, Ribosomal