Natural selection and convergent evolution of the HOX gene family in Carnivora
HOX genes play a central role in the development and regulation of limb patterns. For mammals in the order Carnivora, limbs have evolved in different forms, and there are interesting cases of phenotypic convergence, such as the pseudothumb of the giant and red pandas, and the flippers or specialized...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1107034/full |
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| author | Wenxue Fang Wenxue Fang Kexin Li Kexin Li Shuai Ma Shuai Ma Fuwen Wei Fuwen Wei Fuwen Wei Yibo Hu Yibo Hu Yibo Hu |
| author_facet | Wenxue Fang Wenxue Fang Kexin Li Kexin Li Shuai Ma Shuai Ma Fuwen Wei Fuwen Wei Fuwen Wei Yibo Hu Yibo Hu Yibo Hu |
| author_sort | Wenxue Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | HOX genes play a central role in the development and regulation of limb patterns. For mammals in the order Carnivora, limbs have evolved in different forms, and there are interesting cases of phenotypic convergence, such as the pseudothumb of the giant and red pandas, and the flippers or specialized limbs of the pinnipeds and sea otter. However, the molecular bases of limb development remain largely unclear. Here, we studied the molecular evolution of the HOX9 ~ 13 genes of 14 representative species in Carnivora and explored the molecular evolution of other HOX genes. We found that only one limb development gene, HOXC10, underwent convergent evolution between giant and red pandas and was thus an important candidate gene related to the development of pseudothumbs. No signals of amino acid convergence and natural selection were found in HOX9 ~ 13 genes between pinnipeds and sea otter, but there was evidence of positive selection and rapid evolution in four pinniped species. Overall, few HOX genes evolve via natural selection or convergent evolution, and these could be important candidate genes for further functional validation. Our findings provide insights into potential molecular mechanisms of the development of specialized pseudothumbs and flippers (or specialized limbs). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:14:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8acb621ca0c04e5ca1a45194cd02f312 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:14:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-8acb621ca0c04e5ca1a45194cd02f3122023-03-16T06:35:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2023-03-011110.3389/fevo.2023.11070341107034Natural selection and convergent evolution of the HOX gene family in CarnivoraWenxue Fang0Wenxue Fang1Kexin Li2Kexin Li3Shuai Ma4Shuai Ma5Fuwen Wei6Fuwen Wei7Fuwen Wei8Yibo Hu9Yibo Hu10Yibo Hu11CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCenter for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCenter for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, ChinaHOX genes play a central role in the development and regulation of limb patterns. For mammals in the order Carnivora, limbs have evolved in different forms, and there are interesting cases of phenotypic convergence, such as the pseudothumb of the giant and red pandas, and the flippers or specialized limbs of the pinnipeds and sea otter. However, the molecular bases of limb development remain largely unclear. Here, we studied the molecular evolution of the HOX9 ~ 13 genes of 14 representative species in Carnivora and explored the molecular evolution of other HOX genes. We found that only one limb development gene, HOXC10, underwent convergent evolution between giant and red pandas and was thus an important candidate gene related to the development of pseudothumbs. No signals of amino acid convergence and natural selection were found in HOX9 ~ 13 genes between pinnipeds and sea otter, but there was evidence of positive selection and rapid evolution in four pinniped species. Overall, few HOX genes evolve via natural selection or convergent evolution, and these could be important candidate genes for further functional validation. Our findings provide insights into potential molecular mechanisms of the development of specialized pseudothumbs and flippers (or specialized limbs).https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1107034/fullHOXCarnivorapseudothumbflipperadaptive evolution |
| spellingShingle | Wenxue Fang Wenxue Fang Kexin Li Kexin Li Shuai Ma Shuai Ma Fuwen Wei Fuwen Wei Fuwen Wei Yibo Hu Yibo Hu Yibo Hu Natural selection and convergent evolution of the HOX gene family in Carnivora Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution HOX Carnivora pseudothumb flipper adaptive evolution |
| title | Natural selection and convergent evolution of the HOX gene family in Carnivora |
| title_full | Natural selection and convergent evolution of the HOX gene family in Carnivora |
| title_fullStr | Natural selection and convergent evolution of the HOX gene family in Carnivora |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natural selection and convergent evolution of the HOX gene family in Carnivora |
| title_short | Natural selection and convergent evolution of the HOX gene family in Carnivora |
| title_sort | natural selection and convergent evolution of the hox gene family in carnivora |
| topic | HOX Carnivora pseudothumb flipper adaptive evolution |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1107034/full |
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