Sexual selection drives weak positive selection in protamine genes and high promoter divergence, enhancing sperm competitiveness.

ABSTRACT: Phenotypic adaptations may be the result of changes in gene structure or gene regulation, but little is known about the evolution of gene expression. In addition, it is unclear whether the same selective forces may operate at both levels simultaneously. Reproductive proteins evolve rapidly, but the underlying selective forces promoting such rapid changes are still a matter of debate. In particular, the role of sexual selection in driving positive selection among reproductive proteins remains controversial, whereas its potential influence on changes in promoter regions has not been explored. Protamines are responsible for maintaining DNA in a compacted form in chromosomes in sperm and the available evidence suggests that they evolve rapidly. Because protamines condense DNA within the sperm

SUBMITTER: Martin-Coello J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2690471 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature