Inventing an arsenal: adaptive evolution and neofunctionalization of snake venom phospholipase A2 genes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gene duplication followed by functional divergence has long been hypothesized to be the main source of molecular novelty. Convincing examples of neofunctionalization, however, remain rare. Snake venom phospholipase A2 genes are members of large multigene families with many diverse functions, thus they are excellent models to study the emergence of novel functions after gene duplications.

Results

Here, I show that positive Darwinian selection and neofunctionalization is common in snake venom phospholipase A2 genes. The pattern of gene duplication and positive selection indicates that adaptive molecular evolution occurs immediately after duplication events as novel functions emerge and continues as gene families diversify and are refined. Surprisingly, adaptive evol

SUBMITTER: Lynch VJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1783844 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature