Origin and evolution of a chimeric fusion gene in Drosophila subobscura, D. madeirensis and D. guanche.

ABSTRACT: An understanding of the mutational and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the emergence of novel genes is critical to studies of phenotypic and genomic evolution. Here we describe a new example of a recently formed chimeric fusion gene that occurs in Drosophila guanche, D. madeirensis, and D. subobscura. This new gene, which we name Adh-Twain, resulted from an Adh mRNA that retrotransposed into the Gapdh-like gene, CG9010. Adh-Twain is transcribed; its 5' promoters and transcription patterns appear similar to those of CG9010. Population genetic and phylogenetic analyses suggest that the amino acid sequence of Adh-Twain evolved rapidly via directional selection shortly after it arose. Its more recent history, however, is characterized by slower evolution consistent with increasing functiona

SUBMITTER: Jones CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1449717 | biostudies-literature | 2005 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature