Open Access


  • Rui-Jiang Wang1, 2,
  • Chiao-Lei Cheng2,
  • Ching-Chun Chang3,
  • Chun-Lin Wu2,
  • Tian-Mu Su2 and
  • Shu-Miaw Chaw2Email author
Contributed equally
BMC Evolutionary Biology20088:36

DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-8-36

Received: 15 July 2007

Accepted: 31 January 2008

Published: 31 January 2008









Typically the cpDNAs of land plants contain two identical segments, the inverted repeats (IRs: IRA and IRB), separated by two single copy (SC) sequences, the large single copy (LSC) region and the small single copy (SSC) region [1, 2]. Thus four junctions, termed JLA, JSA, JSB, JLB, are between the two IRs and the SC regions [3, 4]. A major constraint on cpDNA is its organization into large clusters of polycistronically transcribed genes [57]. As a result, large structural changes in cpDNA, such as segmental duplication or deletion and mutation in gene order, are relatively rare and evolutionarily useful in making phylogenetic inferences [8].

In land plants, the sizes of rRNA gene-containing IRs are notably variable, ranging from 10 kb in liverworts to 20–25 kb in most angiosperms [2, 9, 10], and up to 76 kb in Pelargonium (a eudicot) [11]. Successive IR expansions, either within angiosperms or between non-vascular plants and angiosperms, have led to floating of JLA and JLB [12] and have evolutionary significance [1315]. Several models concerning the expansion and contraction of IR regions have been proposed to explain the possible mechanisms that result in shift of the IR-LSC junctions. For example, the unusual triple-sized expansion of the Geranium IR was hypothesized as an outcome of inversion due to recombination between homologous dispersed repeats [16]. Similarly, the at least 4 kb expansion of the IR in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) cpDNA was also considered to be associated with an inversion [17].

Goulding et al. [15] found that in most Nicotiana species IR regions have both expanded and contracted with slight variations in length during the evolution of the genus. The exception is N. acuminata, which underwent a large IR expansion of over 12 kb. Goulding et al. [15] proposed two mechanisms of IR expansion: (i) gene conversion to account for the small IR expansion or movements in most species of the genus, and (ii) a DNA double-strand break (DSB) to explain the extensive incorporation of the LSC region into the IR of N. acuminata. Perry et al. [18] analyzed the endpoint sequence of a large 78 kb rearrangement in adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) and concluded that the unusual organization was caused by a two-step process of expansion and contraction of the IR, rather than a large inversion.

Recent phylogenetic studies using various molecular markers have yielded robust support for the hypothesis of either Amborella alone or Amborella- Nymphaeales together as the basal-most clade of angiosperms [13, 1926], and the genus Acorus has been identified as the earliest splitting lineage in monocots. However, the sister group of monocots is still unclear [26].

Monocots include about one-fourth of the world's flowering plants and represent one of the oldest angiosperm lineages [27]. However, no comparative study has been conducted to investigate the diversity and evolutionary dynamics at the IR-LSC junctions of cpDNAs in basal angiosperms and monocots as a whole. Goulding et al. [15] found that each IR in rice and maize (Poaceae) contains a fully duplicated trnH-rps19 gene cluster. Chang et al. [20] further discovered that the IRs of two other remote monocot taxa, Acorus and Orchidaceae, also include trnH and rps19 (although the 3' region of rps19 was truncated in Acorus), and speculated that the clustering of rps19 and trnH was probably duplicated before the diversification of extant monocot lineages.

As a result of expansion and contraction, the IRs in the cpDNA of angiosperms have been suggested as an evolutionary marker for elucidating relationships among some taxa [14, 28]. To improve understanding of the dynamics and evolution of IR-LSC junctions from basal angiosperms to the emergence and diversification of monocots (assuming that this evolutionary course is correct), we sampled 52 key species and determined the sequences of the two regions spanning JLA (Fig. 1, between the 3' end of rpl2 and the 5' end of psb A) and JLB (Fig. 1, between the 3' end of rpl2 and the 5' end of rpl22). A total of 123 representative angiosperms, including 12 basal angiosperms, 16 magnoliids, 62 eudicots, and 33 monocots (see the additional file 1), were analyzed. Three types of gene arrangements flanking the JLA and JLB regions were recognized and mapped onto the angiosperm phylogeny. In order to explain this arrangements we propose two alternative hypotheses concerning the evolutionary history of the flux of IR-LSC. Furthermore, to verify the transcriptional status of the duplicated trnH-rps19 gene cluster near the IRA junctions the activity of two operons in Asparagus densiflorus, S10 A and psbA, was investigated.
Figure 1

Classification of IR-LSC junction types based on the organization of genes flanking JLB and JLA in angiosperms. Triangles coded by different colors and letters indicate various locations of IR-LSC junctions in corresponding angiosperm lineages. Shaded boxes denote protein-coding genes, and boxes with broken margins and gradient color stand for genes that are variable in length. Relationships of major non-monocot (A) and monocot (B) lineages followed the phylogenetic trees of Soltis et al. (2005) [27]. (A) In type I the IR-LSC junction is located downstream of rpl2 and upstream of rps19 . In type II rps19 is located downstream of rpl2 in IRA. (B) In type III each IR has a copy of the trnH-rps19 cluster, although in the IRA regions the rps19 genes are variously truncated at the 3' regions in sampled taxa. The blue gradient on the right side of the monocot phylogenetic tree denotes the progressively expanded IRs.


Several terms used in this section are briefly explained here. Types of IR-LSC junction are based on the organization of genes flanking JLB and JLA in angiosperms. Type I is found in most non-monocot angiosperms. It refers to an intact trnH gene being located directly downstream of the rpl2 sequence in IRA and an intact rps19 gene being located directly downstream of the rpl2 sequence in IRB. No full-length rps19 or trnH sequence is present in IRA or IRB respectively. Type II refers to a partial sequence of rps19 being located directly between rpl2 and trnH in IRA. Type II pattern is only found in some eudicots while type III characterizes the IRs of most monocots, in which each IR contains a trnH-rps19 cluster. The letters a, a', c, ... and g used in the text and in Figure 1 refer to the IR-LSC junctions found in cpDNAs of sampled angiosperms.

In non-monocot angiosperms IR-LSC junctions of IRB are largely located between rpl2 and rps19

Figure 1 shows that the IR-LSC junctions in 90 non-monocot angiosperms usually drift around position b (data shown in the additional file 1). In these cases, designated as type I, an intact trnH gene is always present near the JLA but absent from the JLB. In Chloranthus oldhami, C. spicatus, Sarcandra glabra (Chloranthales), Canella winterana (Canellales), Ranunculus japonica and R. macranthus (eudicot), a partial trnH sequence is found extending to position c in IRB (Fig. 1A, additional file 1). The IR-LSC junctions were located upstream of position c' (i.e. upstream of trnH) in Nuphar advena (Nymphaeaceae) and Elaeagnus formosana (Elaeagnaceae, eudicot), at position a in Kadsura japonica (Schisandraceae, Austrobaileyales), and at position a' in Calycanthus fertilis and C. floridus (Calycanthaceae, Laurales, [29, 30]) (Fig. 1A). However, Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae, eudicot) showed a complete loss of rpl2 near JLA [31].

The Winteraceae (Canellales), exemplified by Zygogynum pauciflorum and Drimys granadensis [29], were exceptional in that the organization of the genes flanking the IR-LSC junctions resembled the one found in most monocots, rather than the organization seen in other non-monocot angiosperms. Notably, each of their IRs contained a trnH-rps19 cluster and their IR-LSC junctions were located within the 5' portion of rps19 (position d, Fig. 1).

Type II IR-LSC junctions were found in Schisandra arisanensis (Schisandraceae; Austrobaileyales) and some 41 representative eudicots (Fig. 1A; additional file 1). Unlike type I, the JLA of type II shifted to the 5' end of the truncated rps19 in IRA (position e and e', Fig. 1A, additional file 1).

IRs of monocots generally contain trnH-rps19 clusters

In contrast to basal angiosperms and eudicots, most monocots (Fig. 1B) had trnH-rps19 clusters present in each of the two IRs, and the IR-LSC junctions were generally at position f (Arecales, Dasypogonaceae, Asparagus densiflorus [Liliales], Poales and Zingiberales) or g (in Asparagales and Commelinales) (Fig. 1B). This type of gene organization was classified as type III. In addition, IR-LSC junctions of some monocots were located downstream of rpl2 (position b; in Araceae, most Alismataceae, and Hydrocharitaceae), of trnH (position c' in Potamogetonaceae and Dioscoreaceae), or within rps19 (position d, Fig. 1; in Acorales, Lilium formosamum [Liliales] and Panadanales). When the IR-LSC junction was at position d, the rps19 sequence in IRA was found to be partially truncated most of the times.

Sequences flanking IR-LSC junctions are more variable in monocots than in non-monocot angiosperms

Figure 2 illustrates alignment of the sequences flanking the JLA regions in some representatives of basal angiosperms and eudicots (A) and monocots (B). Of particular interest is the observation that the IR-LSC junctions of basal angiosperms, eudicots and monocots are commonly found at either polyA tract or A-rich regions (Fig. 2). We also found that the dicot IR sequences near the IR-LSC junctions varied little and could be aligned among orders having the same or different IR-LSC junction types, while in monocots the corresponding regions were very different and difficult to align across different orders (Fig. 2B). Moreover, within the sampled angiosperm families the sequences flanking the JLAregions were very similar.
Figure 2

Alignment of sequences flanking JLA regions in some basal angiosperms, Magnoliids, and eudicots (type I at position b, and type II at position e), and the sequences within the JLA in some monocots (type III at position f or g). Dashed lines denote gaps. Grey segments and the arrow lines above indicate coding regions and transcriptional directions of specified genes, respectively. (A) Grey box denotes degenerate rps19 genes (5' segment) found in the IRA of the type II (position e) pattern. (B) A degenerate rpl22 gene (boxed sequences) found in the IRA of type III (position g). "//" stands for abbreviated base pairs in the sequences of Oncidium and Dendrobium.

Transcription of monocot trnH-rps19 of IRA is regulated by both chloroplast S10 A and psbA promoters

Among the chloroplast operons, the S10 ribosomal protein operon is the largest. It contains genes encoding both small (rps) and large (rpl) ribosomal protein subunits that are organized into a polycistronic transcription unit conserved in known cpDNAs [32]. In angiosperms, the 5' end of the S10 operon is initiated within the IR, but only in IRB does the operon extend into the LSC region, and the S10 operon is only partially in IRA (viz. the S10 A operon). However, a second operon in IRA, the psbA operon, is transcribed from LSC towards IRA [32] and opposite to the S10 A operon.

In the Winteraceae and a majority of monocots, the trnH-rps19 cluster of IRA is included in both the S10 and psbA operons. Therefore, this gene cluster may be regulated by two opposing promoters, the S10 A and the psbA (Fig. 3A). In monocots, if the trnH in IRA is indeed regulated by the above-mentioned two opposing promoters, the function of the trnH gene may be repressed because antisense-trnH RNAs would be generated by both the S10 A and S10 B promoters. To verify this possibility, we conducted RT-PCR assays using specific primers for a type III representative, Asparagus densiflorus, with the IR-LSC junction located at position f (Fig. 1B).
Figure 3

Transcription analysis of the S10 and psbA operons in a monocot representative, Asparagus densiflorus. (A) The relative position of the S10 and psbA operons at the flanking region of the IRA-LSC junction. An arrow line denotes the transcriptional direction. One-side arrow lines indicate primers. (B) Transcripts obtained by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Lane M, 100 bp ladder; lane C, negative control using the same RNA as the template in lanes 1 and 2; lane 1, RT-PCR with the primer pair trnH-rev and rpl2-psbA- F3; lane 2, RT-PCR with the primer pair trnH-psbA-F1 and rpl2-psbA- R2.

Our results indicate that expression of the trnH gene in IRA is regulated by both the S10 A and psbA promoters. This suggests that the duplicated trnH gene located in the IRB region of most monocots and in some non-monocots has different fates (i.e. functional or degenerate in different lineages; see Fig. 1). Figure 3B shows that two RT-PCR products, a 250 bp and a 700 bp fragment, respectively, were generated when specific primer pairs for each were used (Fig. 3A). The former fragment was amplified from the transcripts made by the psbA promoter, and the latter by the S10 promoter. This result confirms that the trnH-rps19 cluster of IRA is regulated by two opposing promoters (Fig. 3B), indicating that the transcription machinery in IRs of monocots may differ from that of basal angiosperms and eudicots.


Two evolutionary hypotheses for the flux of IR-LSC junctions in monocots

As shown in Figure 1A, IR-LSC junctions of the Amborella + Nymphaeales are mainly located at position b, but junctions of monocots are further expanded to encompass LSC genes and are located at positions f or g. Since the two IRs of monocots usually include the trnH-rps19 cluster (position f or g, further downstream of rpl2; Fig. 1B), we hypothesize that at least two duplication events are required to explain the expansion of IRs in monocots during the course of IR evolution from an Amborella-like ancestor to present-day monocots. If this hypothesis is correct, it is expected that an intermediate junction type could be traceable in the cpDNAs of some early divergent monocot lineages between the two duplication events.

Narayanan et al. [33] have recently presented a model of gene amplification in eukaryotes that argues strongly for the involvement of hairpin-capped DSBs in the initiation. Based on this model and our observations, we propose two hypotheses to account for the evolution of IR expansions in monocots (Fig. 4). In hypothesis A, a DSB event (Fig. 4, red arrowhead in step 1) occurs first within the IRB of an Amborella-like ancestor, and then the free 3' end of the broken strand is repaired against the homologous sequence in IRA. The repaired sequence extends over the original IR-LSC junction and reaches the area downstream of trnH (Fig. 4, step 1), so that duplication of a trnH gene in the newly repaired IRB is achieved. Similarly, a second DSB event occurs in IRA adjacent to the IRA-LSC junction (Fig. 4, red arrowhead at step 2) so that duplication of rps19 at IRA can be initiated, and a trnH-rps19 cluster nearby JLB (Fig. 4, step 2) is created. The newly formed IRs might cover the trnH-rps19 cluster and extend further into the intergenic spacer between rps19 and rpl22 (Fig. 4, step 1 to step 2). Furthermore, if one additional DSB event took place within the intergenic spacer located between rps19 and rpl22 in the LSC region, a partial rpl22 gene would be duplicated at IRA using the rpl22 sequence of LSC as a template, and from then on the repaired IRs might have expanded towards the 5' region of the rpl22 (Fig. 4, step 2 to step 3). The exceptionally long IRs observed in the Orchidaceae and Commelinales are likely to have been generated by this process. The same outcomes could also result if the process proceeded directly from step 1 to step 3 without step 2 (Fig. 4, path indicated by green dashed arrow).
Figure 4

Two hypotheses for the evolutionary derivation of the trnH-rps19 cluster in IRs of monocots from an Amborella- like ancestor. Arrow lines coded by different colors indicate distinct evolutionary pathways. Arrowheads denote possible breakpoints when DSB events occurred (different DSB colors are associated with different IR expansions). The light blue arrow line refers to a scenario in which a type II IR-LSC junction was established (see Fig. 1) in some eudicots (note that the rps19 residue is situated between rpl2 and trnH in IRA). The grey area in each cpDNA molecule highlights the IRs at all evolutionary stages.

Hypothesis B, on the other hand, assumes that rps19 would be duplicated or converted prior to the duplication of trnH through a DSB event that takes place at IRA first (Fig. 4; blue arrowhead of step 1). A second DSB event (Fig. 4; blue arrowhead of step 2) then would take place within the IRB region through a similar repair process to the one mentioned before, so that a duplicated trnH is generated at IRB. Finally, the IRs expand downstream of rps19. In hypothesis B subsequent extension of IRs is assumed to resemble step 3 of hypothesis A.

Duplication of a partial or complete rps19 gene was also observed in some eudicots and Schisandraceae (type II) with their respective IR-LSC junctions located at position e or e' (additional file 1; Fig. 1). However, these duplicated rps19 genes (both partial and complete) are situated between the rpl2 and trnH genes of the IRA (refer to type II in Fig. 1A and Fig. 4 [see the light blue line at the right side leading to eudicots]) rather than downstream of trnH or upstream of psbA (refer to step (2) and (3) of hypothesis A in Figure 4). Therefore, the gene arrangement flanking the IRA-LSC of type II deviates from that of type I, suggesting that duplication of rps19 genes in type II must have a distinct evolutionary history.

Based on comparisons of aligned rpl2-trnH and trnH-rps19 intergenic spacer sequences from representatives of major monocot orders (Figure 5A, B), it is apparent that these two spacer sequences are separately highly similar across the sampled monocot orders. These data give strong support to hypothesis A that in monocots expansion and inclusion of trnH-rps19 gene cluster in IRs might require at least two common DSBs (please refer to steps 1 to 3 of hypothesis A in Figure 4): one occurring within IRB (refer to Fig. 4, step 1), and the within IRA (refer to Fig, 4 step 2 or 3).
Figure 5

Comparisons of sequences that flank JLA regions in angiosperms. (A) Alignment of rpl2-trnH intergenic spacers in representative basal angiosperms, magnoliids, monocots, and eudicots. Grey regions and the arrow lines above indicate locations and transcriptional directions of rpl2 and trnH, respectively. (B) Alignment of the trnH-rps19 intergenic spacer sequences at IRA strand among representatives of major monocot orders. Grey regions with arrow lines indicate locations and transcriptional directions of trnH and rps19, respectively.

However, we did not discover any inverted repeats that might have led to the formation of hairpins in the monocot intergenic spacers of trnH and rps19. Therefore, we are inclined to conclude that the expansions of monocot IRs took the path depicted in hypothesis A.

IR expansion may be initiated by DSB and end in the nearby polyA region in angiosperms

Goulding et al. [15] proposed two models to account for two kinds of IR expansion: (1) small and random IR expansions, caused by gene conversion (viz. single strand break); and (2) large IR expansions, like those found in the Nicotiana species, rice and maize, generated via DSB events. Narayanan et al. [33] further demonstrated that DSBs can trigger gene amplification through a variety of mechanisms, and that breakage at the inverted repeats of chromosomes can cause gene amplification.

After a critical comparison of genes or sequences adjacent to the IR-LSC junctions in 33 major orders and 8 families of angiosperms (following the classification system proposed by Soltis et al. 2005 [27]), we hypothesize that IR expansions resulted principally from the DSB events that occurred during IR evolution from the Amborella-like ancestor to monocots. This hypothesis is founded on the following 5 observations: (1) the length of IR expansion from basal angiosperms to monocots is large (more than 100 bp); (2) trnH and rps19 are situated downstream of IRA and IRB, respectively, in all sampled basal angiosperms (Fig. 1A). This type of gene arrangement might represent the ancestral gene pattern in basal angiosperms; (3) IRs of several basal angiosperms (e.g. Schisandraceae, Chloranthales and Magnoliales, Winteraceae) and eudicots (Fig. 1A) have partially or completely duplicated trnH genes located at IRB; (4) in comparison with other angiosperms, monocot IRs have expanded further to include a duplicated rps19 in IRA, and this expansion should have occurred before the diversification of major monocot orders; and (5) the IRs of advanced monocots (from Asparagales to Poales) have expanded to encompass more LSC sequences or genes (Fig. 1B). Nevertheless, the latter expansions did not apparently result from another common DSB event but from independent ones, because among sampled monocot orders the downstream regions of rps19 genes have low sequence similarity (Fig. 2). At the infra-order level of angiosperms, gene conversion might occur frequently at meiosis and cause small IR expansion or contraction during evolution, as found in Apiaceae [14] and Nicotiana [15].

Studies on the IR-LSC junctions of Nicotiana species [15] and Apiaceous plants [14] have indicated that short repeats or "polyA tract" sequences associated with tRNAs at the IR-LSC boundaries might be likely hotspots for recombination. We also observed that polyA tract sequences are commonly present near the IR-LSC junctions in all the basal angiosperms, eudicots and monocots examined (Fig. 2), indicating that such sequences are closely linked with the dynamics of IR-LSC junctions and expansion of IRs. In this regard, we further propose that IR expansion may initiate at the DSBs and finish at the polyA tract regions, where recombination may actively occur, and that the recombination mechanism in cpDNA may resemble that reported for nuclear genomes by Narayanan et al. [33].

According to our hypothesis, DSBs within IRs must have been frequent during angiosperm evolution. However, only those which led to successful IR expansions, and have subsequently been retained in the extant taxa, are detectable. Based on our observations, it is evident that the type of IR-LSC junction appears to be informative, at least at the level of order, and is therefore useful for inferring phylogenetic relationships at this rank and above.

Expansion of monocot IRs is correlated with the divergence pattern of monocot phylogeny

As shown in Figure 1B, IR-LSC junctions of basal monocots including Acorales, Pandanales and Liliales are usually located at position d. This type might represent a primitive state. In contrast, IR-LSC junctions of the derived monocots, such as Asparagales and Poales, have generally expanded to position f or g. This trend in IR expansion seems to correlate well with the divergence pattern of monocot lineages in the multigene tree of Soltis et al. [27, 34], which shows Acorales to be a sister group to other monocots. This correlation connotes the ancient status of the order and the continuous IR expansion experienced by the more terminal and derived lineages, viz. Asparagales, Commelinales, Zingiberales, Arecales, Dasypogonaceae and Poales.

It is worth mentioning that in some monocots (e.g. Pandanales and Liliales) the IR-LSC junctions are located at position d, with a truncated rps19 gene at IRA. According to hypothesis A (Fig. 4), duplication of rps19 at IRA was due to a second DSB event in IRA (Fig. 4, red arrowhead at step 2), followed by a sequence repair supposed to have been terminated within or downstream of the rps19 gene. Duplication of the rps19 gene will lead to a shift of the IR-LSC junction to position d or f (Fig. 1B). However, in Pandanales and Liliales, the rps19 sequences of IRA are incomplete or degraded. We considered these common degradations likely to be secondary rather than primary, since the majority of monocot orders have the trnH-rps19 clusters (Fig. 1B). Moreover, among the major monocot orders (except Alismatales) the intergenic spacer sequences within the trnH-rps19 cluster (Fig. 5B) have a high degree of similarity, suggesting that among the sampled monocots a common DSB event might have taken place adjacent to the trnH gene. Therefore, the IRs in Acorales, Pandanales and Liliales are likely to have contracted, causing a shift of the IR-LSC junctions from around position f to position d.

A comparison of the downstream non-coding or spacer sequences of the rps19 genes in monocots reveals that the sequences do not have a common origin (Fig. 2B), as they are highly variable and a reliable sequence alignment is impossible except between closely related con-ordinal taxa (e.g. Zingiberales and Asparagales). This indicates that these spacer sequences had diverse origins and are likely to have resulted from independent DSB events occurring at different points within the IRs.

In contrast, it appears that expansion of IR-LSC junctions did not parallel the evolutionary diversification of basal angiosperms and eudicot lineages (Fig. 1A). In type I (Fig. 1), IR expansion downstream of rps19 is extremely rare in eudicots, with the exception of Adzuki bean (Perry et al. [18]) and a Pelargonium species (Palmer et al. [16], Chumley et al. [11]). According to our hypothesis A (Fig. 4), the scenario of IR expansion in these two eudicots may have different origins from those of monocots and other eudicots (i.e. type II, Fig. 1), with IRs that have expanded downstream of rps19 genes. Similarly, significant IR contractions in the basal angiosperm Illicium oligandrum (about 1 kb), coriander (4 kb) [13, 14], and Cuscuta reflexa (about 700 bp to 8 kb) [35] seem to be separate events in their respective lineages.

Implications of sequences flanking IR-LSC junctions for angiosperm phylogeny

In extant angiosperms, the relationships among the remaining 5 lineages (magnoliids, monocots, eudicots, Chloranthaceae and Ceratophyllum) are unresolved [19, 26, 27]. To what extent the dicot lineage is a sister group of monocots remains uncertain, probably a reflection of the rapid radiation and extinction of early angiosperms soon after they originated [36, 37].

Recent phylogenetic analyses based on plastid sequence data have suggested that monocots and eudicots are sister taxa (Graham et al. [38] and Cai et al. [39]), but with low bootstrap support (67% and 72%, respectively). In addition, several lines of evidence have indicated that Ceratophyllaceae could be the sister group of monocots [4044].

Here we present an alternative view on this issue. As illustrated in Figure 1, an intact trnH is duplicated in IRB of all monocots, one basal angiosperm (Nuphar advena, position c'), and two winteraceous magnoliid species (Zygogynum paucifolum and Drimys granadensis, position d) [29]. Sequence comparison revealed that only Winteraceae and monocots have highly similar spacer sequences between the rpl2 and trnH genes (Fig. 5B), suggesting that duplication of trnH gene in IRB of the two taxa might be common or similar (viz. convergent). On the other hand, Acorales (the most basal lineage in monocots, [27]) has its IR endpoint at position d, suggesting that those lineages with IR-LSC junctions at position b and c' (most Alismatales and Dioscoreales) might have resulted from separate, independent contractions. Our alternative view on the relationships among monocots and their relatives is preliminary, as it is only based on comparison of genic organizations at IR-LSC junctions. Additional molecular and morphological data are required to improve our understanding of monocot phylogeny.

The presence of two anti-sense strands of trnH in monocot IRs is mysterious

The presence of a trnH-rps19 cluster in the IRs appears to be a common feature in monocots other than some Alismatids (additional file 1, Fig. 1), in which IR-LSC junctions are located at position b and strongly resemble those of most non-monocot angiosperms. However, alignment of the intergenic spacers between rpl2 and trnH in some Alismatales (e.g. Alocasia odora) and other monocots, basal angiosperms and eudicots (Fig. 5) reveals that sequences of the Alismatids are more similar to other monocots than to non-monocot angiosperms. This implies that IR expansions in some Alismatids might share evolutionary scenarios similar to those proposed for other monocots, and that the short IRs (or IR contraction) in some other Alismatids are likely due to either an early termination of the repair-extension reaction after the first DSB in step 1 of hypothesis A (Fig. 4), or to a contraction after this step.

In monocots, each IR usually contains a trnH gene, while in most basal angiosperms and eudicots the gene is rarely present in IRB (see Fig. 1A: type I and type II). Why is the duplicated trnH gene able to survive in IRB of most monocots but is absent, degraded or truncated in most non-monocot angiosperms? In two studied eudicots, Lotus japonicus [18] and Spinacea oleracea [45], the transcriptional activity of S10 A dropped significantly because of either the high transcription levels of the psbA and trnH genes or the termination of S10 A proximal to JLA [32]. Therefore, in non-monocot angiosperms, trnH-encoded mRNA molecules constitute only one sense strand, transcribed solely by the psbA operon rather than by the S10 A operon. Because anti-sense RNA molecules may interfere with the normal function of the sense RNA molecules [32], in monocots the mechanism by which anti-sense trnH is regulated by two S10 A promoters is mysterious. Further study on the evolution and survival of the duplicated trnH gene in IRB of monocots is desirable.


Extensive comparisons of the genic organizations flanking the IR-LSC junctions in 123 diversified angiosperm lineages revealed that monocots and non-monocot angiosperms generally have different IR-LSC junction types. Notably, IRs expanded more progressively in monocots than in non-monocot angiosperms, with more LSC genes being converted into IRs. With the exceptions of Alismatales and a few Acorales, the monocot IRA regions either encompass a trnH-rps19 cluster or extend as far as the 5' portion of the rpl22 gene, which is typically situated at the LSC region in non-monocot angiosperms. Various expansions of IRs in monocots have resulted in corresponding fluxes of IR-LSC junctions. Our results further indicate that the IR expansions in angiosperms can be explained by initiation of a DSB event and ending at a polyA tract region.

We proposed two hypotheses to explain the evolutionary derivation of the trnH-rps19 cluster in the IRs of monocots from an Amborella- like ancestor (Fig. 4). Hypothesis A proposes that a DSB event occurs first within the IRB of an Amborella-like ancestor, and then the free 3' end of the broken strand is repaired against the homologous sequence in IRA. The repaired sequence extends and results in the duplication of a trnH gene in the newly repaired IRB. A subsequent DSB event may occur in IRA so that the rps19 at IRA is duplicated, whereby a trnH-rps19 cluster is created. Hypothesis B assumes that rps19 is duplicated or converted before the duplication of trnH via a DSB event that occurs at IRA.

It is worth noting that IR expansions in monocots appear to correlate well with the divergence pattern of monocot phylogeny. The present study highlights the use of sequences flanking the IR-LSC junctions to address the evolutionary dynamics of IRs from basal angiosperms to monocots. Taken together with the evidence from the IR-LSC junctions, we conclude that (i) monocots may be closely related to the Winteraceae (magnoliids) than to other basal angiosperms or eudicots, (ii) the shorter IRs in Alismatids are probably due to either an early termination of repair-extension after the first DSB, or to a contraction after this step, and (iii) the duplicated trnH genes in the IRB of most monocots and non-monocot angiosperms have distinct fates, which are likely regulated by different expression levels of S10 A and S10 B promoters. Further study is needed to unravel the evolutionary significance or advantage of the presence of an additional trnH in monocot IRs, and of IR expansion in more recently diverged monocots.


Plant materials and DNA preparation

Species sampled in this study were listed in the additional file 1. Total cellular DNA was extracted using the method of Saghai-Maroof et al. [46]. The extracted DNAs were used directly for PCR amplification.

PCR amplification

Primer design was based on published sequence data for conserved regions flanking the IR-LSC junctions. The JLA regions were amplified with the primer pair rpl2-psbA- F3 and rpl2-psbA- R2, which correspond to the 3' end of rpl2 and the 5' end of psbA respectively (Fig. 1). The JLB region was amplified using two forward primers, rps3-F1 and rps3-F2, that respectively pair with a reverse primer rps3-rpl2-R2. The sequences of these primers are listed in Table 1. Amplicons were cleaned using the Gel Extraction System (Viogene, Taipei) and cloned into a pGEM T-Easy vector (Promega, Fitchsburg). Plasmid DNAs were purified using the Plasmid DNA Miniprep System (Viogene) and sequenced on an ABI 3730 automated sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City). For each species two independent PCR clones were sequenced. Sequence alignments were made using GeneDoc (Ver. 2.6.02.)
Table 1

Primers used for analyses of IR-LSC junctions and in RT-PCR

Primer number




























































Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Assay

To verify the transcription of trnH-rps19 that flanks the IRA region, total RNAs were extracted and purified by RNeasy® Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden). The resulting RNAs were reversely transcribed to synthesize cDNA with Superscript II reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen, Indianapolis) and a specific primer (either trnH-psbA-F1 or trnH-rev), according to the manufacturer's protocol. The two synthesized cDNAs were then used with the primer pair trnH-psbA-F1 and rpl2-psbA-R2 to amplify a 674 bp fragment, and the primer pair trnH-rev and rpl2-psbA-F3 to amplify a 298 bp fragment. Each of the two reactions was conducted under the following conditions: 94°C for 5 min, followed by 30 cycles of 94°C for 30s, 55°C for 30s, and 72°C for 30s, and ending with an extension of 72°C for 10 min.




chloroplast genome


inverted repeat


small single copy


large single copy


base pair


junction between LSC and IRA


junction between LSC and IRB


double-strand break


reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.



This work was supported by a research grant from the Research Center for Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, to SMC, and in part by a grant from Guangzhou Forestry Administration to RJW. We thank Yin-Long Qiu for providing DNA of some basal angiosperms, and the staff of the RBG Kew DNA Bank for some plant genomic DNA materials. We gratefully acknowledge the critical reading of the manuscript by Pablo Bolanos-Villegas and Yu-Ting Lai and the valuable comments by three anonymous reviewers.

Authors’ Affiliations

South China Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Research Center for Biodiversity, Academia Sinica
Institute of Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University


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