Duplication and positive selection among hominin-specific PRAME genes.

The physiological and phenotypic differences between human and chimpanzee are largely specified by our genomic differences. We have been particularly interested in recent duplications in the human genome as examples of relatively large-scale changes to our genome. We performed an in-depth evolutiona...

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Main Authors: Birtle, Z, Goodstadt, L, Ponting, C
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2005
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author Birtle, Z
Goodstadt, L
Ponting, C
author_facet Birtle, Z
Goodstadt, L
Ponting, C
author_sort Birtle, Z
collection OXFORD
description The physiological and phenotypic differences between human and chimpanzee are largely specified by our genomic differences. We have been particularly interested in recent duplications in the human genome as examples of relatively large-scale changes to our genome. We performed an in-depth evolutionary analysis of a region of chromosome 1, which is copy number polymorphic among humans, and that contains at least 32 PRAME (Preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma) genes and pseudogenes. PRAME-like genes are expressed in the testis and in a large number of tumours, and are thought to possess roles in spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Using nucleotide substitution rate estimates for exons and introns, we show that two large segmental duplications, of six and seven human PRAME genes respectively, occurred in the last 3 million years. These duplicated genes are thus hominin-specific, having arisen in our genome since the divergence from chimpanzee. This cluster of PRAME genes appears to have arisen initially from a translocation approximately 95-85 million years ago. We identified multiple sites within human or mouse PRAME sequences which exhibit strong evidence of positive selection. These form a pronounced cluster on one face of the predicted PRAME protein structure. We predict that PRAME genes evolved adaptively due to strong competition between rapidly-dividing cells during spermatogenesis and oogenesis. We suggest that as PRAME gene copy number is polymorphic among individuals, positive selection of PRAME alleles may still prevail within the human population.
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spelling oxford-uuid:51e2b02d-ce75-4412-ba1b-c26f99119cbc2022-03-26T16:22:21ZDuplication and positive selection among hominin-specific PRAME genes.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:51e2b02d-ce75-4412-ba1b-c26f99119cbcEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2005Birtle, ZGoodstadt, LPonting, CThe physiological and phenotypic differences between human and chimpanzee are largely specified by our genomic differences. We have been particularly interested in recent duplications in the human genome as examples of relatively large-scale changes to our genome. We performed an in-depth evolutionary analysis of a region of chromosome 1, which is copy number polymorphic among humans, and that contains at least 32 PRAME (Preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma) genes and pseudogenes. PRAME-like genes are expressed in the testis and in a large number of tumours, and are thought to possess roles in spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Using nucleotide substitution rate estimates for exons and introns, we show that two large segmental duplications, of six and seven human PRAME genes respectively, occurred in the last 3 million years. These duplicated genes are thus hominin-specific, having arisen in our genome since the divergence from chimpanzee. This cluster of PRAME genes appears to have arisen initially from a translocation approximately 95-85 million years ago. We identified multiple sites within human or mouse PRAME sequences which exhibit strong evidence of positive selection. These form a pronounced cluster on one face of the predicted PRAME protein structure. We predict that PRAME genes evolved adaptively due to strong competition between rapidly-dividing cells during spermatogenesis and oogenesis. We suggest that as PRAME gene copy number is polymorphic among individuals, positive selection of PRAME alleles may still prevail within the human population.
spellingShingle Birtle, Z
Goodstadt, L
Ponting, C
Duplication and positive selection among hominin-specific PRAME genes.
title Duplication and positive selection among hominin-specific PRAME genes.
title_full Duplication and positive selection among hominin-specific PRAME genes.
title_fullStr Duplication and positive selection among hominin-specific PRAME genes.
title_full_unstemmed Duplication and positive selection among hominin-specific PRAME genes.
title_short Duplication and positive selection among hominin-specific PRAME genes.
title_sort duplication and positive selection among hominin specific prame genes
work_keys_str_mv AT birtlez duplicationandpositiveselectionamonghomininspecificpramegenes
AT goodstadtl duplicationandpositiveselectionamonghomininspecificpramegenes
AT pontingc duplicationandpositiveselectionamonghomininspecificpramegenes