Adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates, a gene involved in male reproduction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genes involved in male reproduction are often the targets of natural and/or sexual selection. <it>SCML1 </it>is a recently identified X-linked gene with preferential expression in testis. To test whether <it>SCML1 &...

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Main Authors: Wu Hai-hui, Su Bing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-07-01
Series:BMC Evolutionary Biology
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/8/192
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author Wu Hai-hui
Su Bing
author_facet Wu Hai-hui
Su Bing
author_sort Wu Hai-hui
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genes involved in male reproduction are often the targets of natural and/or sexual selection. <it>SCML1 </it>is a recently identified X-linked gene with preferential expression in testis. To test whether <it>SCML1 </it>is the target of selection in primates, we sequenced and compared the coding region of <it>SCML1 </it>in major primate lineages, and we observed the signature of positive selection in primates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analyzed the molecular evolutionary pattern of <it>SCML1 </it>in diverse primate species, and we observed a strong signature of adaptive evolution which is caused by Darwinian positive selection. When compared with the paralogous genes (<it>SCML2 and SCMH1</it>) of the same family, <it>SCML1 </it>evolved rapidly in primates, which is consistent with the proposed adaptive evolution, suggesting functional modification after gene duplication. Gene expression analysis in rhesus macaques shows that during male sexual maturation, there is a significant expression change in testis, implying that <it>SCML1 </it>likely plays a role in testis development and spermatogenesis. The immunohistochemical data indicates that <it>SCML1 </it>is preferentially expressed in germ stem cells of testis, therefore likely involved in spermatogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates provides a new case in understanding the evolutionary process of genes involved in primate male reproduction.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-de1b13481fa14b118f4d4eb7ac36aa932022-12-22T04:07:27ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482008-07-018119210.1186/1471-2148-8-192Adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates, a gene involved in male reproductionWu Hai-huiSu Bing<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genes involved in male reproduction are often the targets of natural and/or sexual selection. <it>SCML1 </it>is a recently identified X-linked gene with preferential expression in testis. To test whether <it>SCML1 </it>is the target of selection in primates, we sequenced and compared the coding region of <it>SCML1 </it>in major primate lineages, and we observed the signature of positive selection in primates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analyzed the molecular evolutionary pattern of <it>SCML1 </it>in diverse primate species, and we observed a strong signature of adaptive evolution which is caused by Darwinian positive selection. When compared with the paralogous genes (<it>SCML2 and SCMH1</it>) of the same family, <it>SCML1 </it>evolved rapidly in primates, which is consistent with the proposed adaptive evolution, suggesting functional modification after gene duplication. Gene expression analysis in rhesus macaques shows that during male sexual maturation, there is a significant expression change in testis, implying that <it>SCML1 </it>likely plays a role in testis development and spermatogenesis. The immunohistochemical data indicates that <it>SCML1 </it>is preferentially expressed in germ stem cells of testis, therefore likely involved in spermatogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates provides a new case in understanding the evolutionary process of genes involved in primate male reproduction.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/8/192
spellingShingle Wu Hai-hui
Su Bing
Adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates, a gene involved in male reproduction
BMC Evolutionary Biology
title Adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates, a gene involved in male reproduction
title_full Adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates, a gene involved in male reproduction
title_fullStr Adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates, a gene involved in male reproduction
title_full_unstemmed Adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates, a gene involved in male reproduction
title_short Adaptive evolution of <it>SCML1 </it>in primates, a gene involved in male reproduction
title_sort adaptive evolution of it scml1 it in primates a gene involved in male reproduction
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/8/192
work_keys_str_mv AT wuhaihui adaptiveevolutionofitscml1itinprimatesageneinvolvedinmalereproduction
AT subing adaptiveevolutionofitscml1itinprimatesageneinvolvedinmalereproduction