Evolution of C2H2-zinc finger genes and subfamilies in mammals: species-specific duplication and loss of clusters, genes and effector domains.

ABSTRACT:

Background

C2H2 zinc finger genes (C2H2-ZNF) constitute the largest class of transcription factors in humans and one of the largest gene families in mammals. Often arranged in clusters in the genome, these genes are thought to have undergone a massive expansion in vertebrates, primarily by tandem duplication. However, this view is based on limited datasets restricted to a single chromosome or a specific subset of genes belonging to the large KRAB domain-containing C2H2-ZNF subfamily.

Results

Here, we present the first comprehensive study of the evolution of the C2H2-ZNF family in mammals. We assembled the complete repertoire of human C2H2-ZNF genes (718 in total), about 70% of which are organized into 81 clusters across all chromosomes. Based on an analysis of their N-termin

SUBMITTER: Tadepally HD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2443715 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature