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08:57
Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin
Published on: August 14, 2018
The evolution of ultraconserved elements with different phylogenetic origins
Taewoo Ryu1, Loqmane Seridi, Timothy Ravasi
1Integrative Systems Biology Lab, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. taewoo.ryu@kaust.edu.sa
BMC Evolutionary Biology
|December 11, 2012
Summary
Ultraconserved DNA elements are ancient, found across diverse species, and crucial for fundamental cellular functions beyond development. These elements were inherited from early metazoan ancestors, highlighting their evolutionary significance.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ultraconserved DNA elements are found in both vertebrate and invertebrate genomes.
- These elements play roles in developmental processes, but their evolutionary origins and broader cellular functions remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize ultraconserved DNA elements across a wide range of species.
- To investigate the functional associations and evolutionary patterns of these conserved elements.
Main Methods:
- Comparative genomics to identify conserved DNA sequences across diverse taxa.
- Bioinformatic analysis to assess gene associations, clustering patterns, and transcription factor binding sites.
Main Results:
- Identified numerous ultraconserved elements shared between distant species, including novel ones in fruit flies and humans.
- Found strong associations between ultraconserved elements and genes involved in essential cellular functions like epigenetic regulation, apoptosis, and immunity.
- Observed sequence similarity-driven clustering of ultraconserved elements with lineage-specific patterns and enrichment of developmental transcription factor binding sites.
Conclusions:
- Ultraconserved elements are widespread across distant species and likely originated before major taxa divergence.
- These elements are ancient, inherited from metazoan ancestors, and involved in fundamental cellular processes.
- The findings expand the known roles of ultraconserved elements beyond development.
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