Dynamic molecular evolution of mammalian homeobox genes: duplication, loss, divergence and gene conversion sculpt PRD class repertoires

The majority of homeobox genes are highly conserved across animals, but the eutherian-specific ETCHbox genes, embryonically expressed and highly divergent duplicates of CRX, are a notable exception. Here we compare the ETCHbox genes of 34 mammalian species, uncovering dynamic patterns of gene loss a...

पूर्ण विवरण

ग्रंथसूची विवरण
मुख्य लेखकों: Lewin, TD, Royall, AH, Holland, PWH
स्वरूप: Journal article
भाषा:English
प्रकाशित: Springer 2021
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author Lewin, TD
Royall, AH
Holland, PWH
author_facet Lewin, TD
Royall, AH
Holland, PWH
author_sort Lewin, TD
collection OXFORD
description The majority of homeobox genes are highly conserved across animals, but the eutherian-specific ETCHbox genes, embryonically expressed and highly divergent duplicates of CRX, are a notable exception. Here we compare the ETCHbox genes of 34 mammalian species, uncovering dynamic patterns of gene loss and tandem duplication, including the presence of a large tandem array of LEUTX loci in the genome of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Despite extensive gene gain and loss, all sampled species possess at least two ETCHbox genes, suggesting their collective role is indispensable. We find evidence for positive selection and show that TPRX1 and TPRX2 have been the subject of repeated gene conversion across the Boreoeutheria, homogenising their sequences and preventing divergence, especially in the homeobox region. Together, these results are consistent with a model where mammalian ETCHbox genes are dynamic in evolution due to functional overlap, yet have collective indispensable roles.
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spelling oxford-uuid:af5f8ef3-c2c0-4095-a69a-e0fe5390a8d22022-03-27T03:49:16ZDynamic molecular evolution of mammalian homeobox genes: duplication, loss, divergence and gene conversion sculpt PRD class repertoiresJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:af5f8ef3-c2c0-4095-a69a-e0fe5390a8d2EnglishSymplectic ElementsSpringer2021Lewin, TDRoyall, AHHolland, PWHThe majority of homeobox genes are highly conserved across animals, but the eutherian-specific ETCHbox genes, embryonically expressed and highly divergent duplicates of CRX, are a notable exception. Here we compare the ETCHbox genes of 34 mammalian species, uncovering dynamic patterns of gene loss and tandem duplication, including the presence of a large tandem array of LEUTX loci in the genome of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Despite extensive gene gain and loss, all sampled species possess at least two ETCHbox genes, suggesting their collective role is indispensable. We find evidence for positive selection and show that TPRX1 and TPRX2 have been the subject of repeated gene conversion across the Boreoeutheria, homogenising their sequences and preventing divergence, especially in the homeobox region. Together, these results are consistent with a model where mammalian ETCHbox genes are dynamic in evolution due to functional overlap, yet have collective indispensable roles.
spellingShingle Lewin, TD
Royall, AH
Holland, PWH
Dynamic molecular evolution of mammalian homeobox genes: duplication, loss, divergence and gene conversion sculpt PRD class repertoires
title Dynamic molecular evolution of mammalian homeobox genes: duplication, loss, divergence and gene conversion sculpt PRD class repertoires
title_full Dynamic molecular evolution of mammalian homeobox genes: duplication, loss, divergence and gene conversion sculpt PRD class repertoires
title_fullStr Dynamic molecular evolution of mammalian homeobox genes: duplication, loss, divergence and gene conversion sculpt PRD class repertoires
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic molecular evolution of mammalian homeobox genes: duplication, loss, divergence and gene conversion sculpt PRD class repertoires
title_short Dynamic molecular evolution of mammalian homeobox genes: duplication, loss, divergence and gene conversion sculpt PRD class repertoires
title_sort dynamic molecular evolution of mammalian homeobox genes duplication loss divergence and gene conversion sculpt prd class repertoires
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