Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
07:55
A Deep-sequencing-assisted, Spontaneous Suppressor Screen in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Published on: March 7, 2019
Lineage-specific loss and divergence of functionally linked genes in eukaryotes
L Aravind1, H Watanabe, D J Lipman
1National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
Summary
Baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae lost ~300 genes and significantly diverged others compared to fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This gene loss includes functional groups, impacting systems like the spliceosome and potentially driving genome evolution.
Area of Science:
- Comparative genomics
- Yeast evolution
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae diverged from a common ancestor.
- Comparative genomic analysis can reveal evolutionary gene loss and divergence patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify genes conserved in S. pombe and non-fungal eukaryotes but lost or diverged in S. cerevisiae.
- Investigate the functional implications of coordinated gene loss in yeast evolution.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of 4,344 S. pombe protein sequences against eukaryotic sequences.
- Identification of genes missing or highly diverged in S. cerevisiae.
Main Results:
- Approximately 300 genes were lost, and 300 more diverged significantly in S. cerevisiae.
- Coelimination of functionally linked protein groups, including signalosome and spliceosome components, was observed.
- Prediction of coelimination for posttranscriptional gene-silencing system components.
Conclusions:
- Gene loss in S. cerevisiae is not random but involves coordinated elimination of functional systems.
- Loss of posttranscriptional gene silencing may have led to retrotransposition, intron loss, and spliceosome component reduction.
- Systematic analysis of coordinated gene loss can predict novel functional components and complexes.
Related Concept Videos
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
01:57Gene Families
Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
02:54Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
02:37Gene Duplication and Divergence
The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
02:32Exon Recombination
The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes.
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...