Evidence for parallel evolution of a gene involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis.
Proc Biol Sci
; 284(1855)2017 May 31.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28539513
ABSTRACT
PHD finger protein 7 (Phf7) is a male germline specific gene in Drosophila melanogaster that can trigger the male germline sexual fate and regulate spermatogenesis, and its human homologue can rescue fecundity defects in male flies lacking this gene. These findings prompted us to investigate conservation of reproductive strategies through studying the evolutionary origin of this gene. We find that Phf7 is present only in select species including mammals and some insects, whereas the closely related G2/M-phase specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (G2e3) is in the genome of most metazoans. Interestingly, phylogenetic analyses showed that vertebrate and insect Phf7 genes did not evolve from a common Phf7 ancestor but rather through independent duplication events from an ancestral G2e3 This is an example of parallel evolution in which a male germline factor evolved at least twice from a pre-existing template to develop new regulatory mechanisms of spermatogenesis.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Spermatogenesis
/
Homeodomain Proteins
/
Evolution, Molecular
/
Drosophila Proteins
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Proc Biol Sci
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
Year:
2017
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Taiwan
Country of publication:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM