Significant comparative characteristics between orphan and nonorphan genes in the rice (Oryza sativa L.) genome.

ABSTRACT: Microsatellites are short tandem repeats of one to six bases in genomic DNA. As microsatellites are highly polymorphic and play a vital role in gene function and recombination, they are an attractive subject for research in evolution and in the genetics and breeding of animals and plants. Orphan genes have no known homologs in existing databases. Using bioinformatic computation and statistical analysis, we identified 19,26 orphan genes in the rice (Oryza sativa ssp. Japanica cv. Nipponbare) proteome. We found that a larger proportion of orphan genes are expressed after sexual maturation and under environmental pressure than nonorphan genes. Orphan genes generally have shorter protein lengths and intron size, and are faster evolving. Additionally, orphan genes have fewer PROSITE patterns wi

SUBMITTER: Guo WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2216055 | biostudies-literature | 2007

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature