Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
09:37
An Integrated Approach for Microprotein Identification and Sequence Analysis
Published on: July 12, 2022
Tuning in to the signals: noncoding sequence conservation in vertebrate genomes
1School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK. g.elgar@qmul.ac.uk <g.elgar@qmul.ac.uk>
Trends in Genetics : TIG
|June 3, 2008
Summary
Comparing genomic sequences reveals conserved elements crucial for development. However, many functional regulatory elements show low conservation, challenging our understanding of sequence evolution and function.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Genomic sequence alignment aids in identifying functional regions.
- Ultraconserved elements (UCEs) in vertebrates are linked to early development control.
- The extent to which conservation reflects regulatory function is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between noncoding sequence conservation and function.
- To explore the evolution of regulatory sequences.
- To determine if highly conserved elements represent a specific class of regulatory element.
Main Methods:
- Comparative genomics across species (human, rodent, pufferfish, zebrafish).
- Analysis of gene regions, including the zebrafish phox2b gene.
- Leveraging data from large-scale projects like the ENCODE project.
Main Results:
- Ultraconserved sequence elements have been identified through cross-species genome comparisons.
- Evidence suggests that many functional regulatory elements are not highly conserved.
- The ENCODE project and specific gene studies indicate a broader landscape of regulatory elements beyond UCEs.
Conclusions:
- High sequence conservation may not be a universal indicator of regulatory function.
- The evolution of regulatory sequences is complex, with both conserved and non-conserved elements playing roles.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the link between noncoding conservation and regulatory element evolution.
Related Concept Videos
02:51Multi-species Conserved Sequences
Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved DNA...
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...
02:05Gene 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...
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...
01:49Conserved Binding Sites
Many proteins’ biological role depends on their interactions with their ligands, small molecules that bind to specific locations on the protein known as ligand-binding sites. Ligand-binding sites are often conserved among homologous proteins as these sites are critical for protein function.
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally analyses the...
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally analyses the...
01:49Conserved Binding Sites
Many proteins’ biological role depends on their interactions with their ligands, small molecules that bind to specific locations on the protein known as ligand-binding sites. Ligand-binding sites are often conserved among homologous proteins as these sites are critical for protein function.
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally analyses the...
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally analyses the...