Parallel evolution of conserved non-coding elements that target a common set of developmental regulatory genes from worms to humans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The human genome contains thousands of non-coding sequences that are often more conserved between vertebrate species than protein-coding exons. These highly conserved non-coding elements (CNEs) are associated with genes that coordinate development, and have been proposed to act as transcriptional enhancers. Despite their extreme sequence conservation in vertebrates, sequences homologous to CNEs have not been identified in invertebrates.

Results

Here we report that nematode genomes contain an alternative set of CNEs that share sequence characteristics, but not identity, with their vertebrate counterparts. CNEs thus represent a very unusual class of sequences that are extremely conserved within specific animal lineages yet are highly divergent between lineages. Nema

SUBMITTER: Vavouri T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1852409 | biostudies-literature | 2007

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature