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Published on: March 29, 2019
The chimpanzee GH locus: composition, organization, and evolution.
Antonio A Pérez-Maya1, Irám P Rodríguez-Sánchez, Pieter de Jong
1Departamento de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, NL, Mexico. bioquimicomty@gmail.com
Summary
Chimpanzees possess a growth hormone (GH) locus with five genes, similar to humans, but with distinct placental lactogen (CSH/PL) gene evolution and expression, revealing primate GH locus evolutionary divergence.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Primate Genetics
Background:
- Mammalian growth hormone (GH) genes are typically single, pituitary-expressed genes.
- Higher primates exhibit complex GH loci with multiple gene duplications, including pituitary (GH-N) and placental (chorionic somatomammotropin/placental lactogen - CSH/PL) genes.
- The chimpanzee GH locus organization and gene number were previously unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the complete sequence and organization of the chimpanzee GH locus.
- To compare the chimpanzee GH locus with the human GH locus, focusing on gene number, sequence, regulation, and evolutionary events.
- To understand the evolutionary divergence of GH and CSH/PL genes between humans and chimpanzees.
Main Methods:
- Re-examination of the chimpanzee GH locus.
- Deduction of the complete chimpanzee GH locus sequence.
- Comparative analysis of human and chimpanzee GH loci, including gene conversion events and sequence polymorphisms.
Main Results:
- The chimpanzee GH locus contains five genes, organized similarly to humans, with two GH-like genes and three CSH/PL genes.
- Significant differences exist between human and chimpanzee loci in expressed proteins, gene regulation, and gene conversion.
- One human CSH gene (hCSH-L) appears pseudogenized, while the corresponding chimpanzee gene (CSH-A1) is conserved and produces a protein similar to CSH-A2, suggesting chimpanzees produce two distinct CSHs.
- The region around the chimpanzee GH-N gene is highly polymorphic, unlike in humans.
Conclusions:
- The chimpanzee GH locus exhibits a distinct evolutionary trajectory compared to humans, particularly concerning CSH/PL gene evolution and regulation.
- Gene conversion patterns and sequence polymorphisms differ significantly between human and chimpanzee GH loci.
- These findings provide new insights into the complex evolution of the growth hormone locus in higher primates.
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