Origination of an X-linked testes chimeric gene by illegitimate recombination in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: The formation of chimeric gene structures provides important routes by which novel proteins and functions are introduced into genomes. Signatures of these events have been identified in organisms from wide phylogenic distributions. However, the ability to characterize the early phases of these evolutionary processes has been difficult due to the ancient age of the genes or to the limitations of strictly computational approaches. While examples involving retrotransposition exist, our understanding of chimeric genes originating via illegitimate recombination is limited to speculations based on ancient genes or transfection experiments. Here we report a case of a young chimeric gene that has originated by illegitimate recombination in Drosophila. This gene was created within the last 2-3 mill

SUBMITTER: Arguello JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1463047 | biostudies-literature | 2006 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature