| Title: | A case-by-case evolutionary analysis of four imprinted retrogenes
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| Authors: | McCole R.B., Loughran N.B., Chahal M., Fernandes L.P., Roberts R.G., Fraternali F., O'Connell M.J. and Oakey R.J., 2011 |
| Abstract: | Retroposition is a widespread phenomenon resulting in the generation of new genes that are initially related to a parent gene via very high coding sequence similarity. We examine the evolutionary fate of four retrogenes generated by such an event; mouse Inpp5f_v2, Mcts2, Nap1l5, and U2af1-rs1. These genes are all subject to the epigenetic phenomenon of parental imprinting. We first provide new data on the age of these retrogene insertions. Using codon-based models of sequence evolution, we show these retrogenes have diverse evolutionary trajectories, including divergence from the parent coding sequence under positive selection pressure, purifying selection pressure maintaining parent-retrogene similarity, and neutral evolution. Examination of the expression pattern of retrogenes shows an atypical, broad pattern across multiple tissues. Protein 3D structure modeling reveals that a positively selected residue in U2af1-rs1, not shared by its parent, may influence protein conformation. Our case-by-case analysis of the evolution of four imprinted retrogenes reveals that this interesting class of imprinted genes, while similar in regulation and sequence characteristics, follow very varied evolutionary paths. |
| ICHEC Project: | Imprinted Retrogene Evolution |
| Publication: | International Journal of Organic Evolution (2011) Published online ahead of print. |
| URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2010.01213.x |
| Keywords: | epigenetics; gene expression; imprinting; molecular evolution; retrogene |
| Status: | Published |
