Abstract
One of the features of intron-containing genes of the nxf (nuclear export factor) family in different organisms is the presence of an evolutionarily conserved exon-intron block: exon 110nt-intron-exon 37nt. The intron in this evolutionarily conserved block, which we call a “cassette” intron, can be excised or retained in alternative transcripts of nxf1. It corresponds to intron 10 -11 inthe genes that are orthologous to nxf1 in vertebrates, and intron 5 -6 inthe genes that are orthologous to nxf1 in Drosophilidae. The alignment of sequences of cassette introns in nxf1 genes in vertebrates has revealed four evolutionarily conserved sequences: 1)5’flanking sequence, 2) a region containing СТЕ (constitutive transport element), 3) third conserved sequence, and 4)3’flanking sequence. Introns 5-6 of nxf1 in Drosophilidae have no similar conserved sequences. The results of sequence alignment demonstrate a similarity between cassette introns of nxf1 in Drosophilidae in two poly(A) sequences. The prevalence of Dm nxf1 transcripts containing cassette intron 5-6 under completely spliced transcripts in the heads of adult Drosophila melanogaster suggests a functional importance of transcripts that contain a retained intron. Evolutionary conservation, which in Drosophilidae is evident in the presence of poly(A) sequences in cassette introns of the nxf1 genes, is an adaptive feature: the poly(A) sequences are capable of mimicking the 3’-end of transcripts, promote transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, or are involved in NMD control. The ability to form characteristic secondary structures is a common feature of nxf1 cassette introns.
