Lineage-specific sequence evolution and exon edge conservation partially explain the relationship between
Stephen J Bush1, Paula X Kover1, Araxi O Urrutia1
1Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
Molecular Ecology
|May 2, 2015
Summary
Exon edge conservation and lineage-specific substitution rates influence protein evolution in plants. Accounting for these factors clarifies the link between evolutionary rates and gene expression, revealing more adaptive selection.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Rapidly evolving proteins help identify genes for adaptation, but gene structure impacts evolutionary rates.
- Exon edges in plants, near splice sites, show higher conservation, potentially masking positive selection signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate how exon edge conservation affects the relationship between dN/dS ratios and genomic/gene expression parameters in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- Utilize lineage-specific dN/dS estimates using Thellungiella parvula and Arabidopsis lyrata genomes.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed dN/dS ratios in Arabidopsis thaliana, considering exon edge conservation.
- Incorporated lineage-specific substitution estimates from related species.
- Examined correlations between dN/dS, sequence characteristics, and gene expression levels.
Main Results:
- Exon edge conservation and lineage-specific estimates partially explain the link between protein evolution rates and gene expression.
- Removing exon edges increased dN/dS estimates, suggesting more genes under adaptive selection.
Conclusions:
- Lineage-specific substitutions and exon edge conservation significantly impact dN/dS ratios.
- These factors are crucial for accurately assessing evolutionary rates and adaptive selection in plants.
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