Evolution of the NANOG pseudogene family in the human and chimpanzee genomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The NANOG gene is expressed in mammalian embryonic stem cells where it maintains cellular pluripotency. An unusually large family of pseudogenes arose from it with one unprocessed and ten processed pseudogenes in the human genome. This article compares the NANOG gene and its pseudogenes in the human and chimpanzee genomes and derives an evolutionary history of this pseudogene family.

Results

The NANOG gene and all pseudogenes except NANOGP8 are present at their expected orthologous chromosomal positions in the chimpanzee genome when compared to the human genome, indicating that their origins predate the human-chimpanzee divergence. Analysis of flanking DNA sequences demonstrates that NANOGP8 is absent from the chimpanzee genome.

Conclusion

Based on the most

SUBMITTER: Fairbanks DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1457002 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature