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Chronicles of a switch hunt: gcm genes in development
1Institut für Biochemie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Fahrstrasse 17, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. M.Wegner@biochem.uni-erlangen.de
Trends in Genetics : TIG
|May 4, 2001
Summary
Glial cells missing (gcm) genes share structural similarities across species but exhibit divergent functions. This suggests that gene structure and function can evolve independently, challenging evolutionary conservation principles.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Developmental biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Co-conservation of sequence and function is a key evolutionary principle, where related genes often retain similar functions across species.
- The 'glial cells missing' (gcm) gene family encodes transcription factors with conserved DNA-binding properties and domain structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary conservation of function among glial cells missing (gcm) genes.
- To explore the relationship between conserved gene structure and potentially divergent functions in different species.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of gcm gene families across species.
- Review of existing literature on gcm gene function in Drosophila and mammals.
Main Results:
- Drosophila gcm is crucial for nervous system development, acting as a master regulator of gliogenesis.
- Mammalian gcm genes are involved in placental morphogenesis and parathyroid gland development, distinct from Drosophila's role.
Conclusions:
- Despite conserved structural features, gcm genes exhibit functionally divergent roles in evolutionarily distant species.
- This divergence highlights instances where gene structure and function can evolve separately.