Multiple gains of spliceosomal introns in a superfamily of vertebrate protease inhibitor genes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intron gains reportedly are very rare during evolution of vertebrates, and the mechanisms underlying their creation are largely unknown. Previous investigations have shown that, during metazoan radiation, the exon-intron patterns of serpin superfamily genes were subject to massive changes, in contrast to many other genes.

Results

Here we investigated intron dynamics in the serpin superfamily in lineages pre- and postdating the split of vertebrates. Multiple intron gains were detected in a group of ray-finned fishes, once the canonical groups of vertebrate serpins had been established. In two genes, co-occurrence of non-standard introns was observed, implying that intron gains in vertebrates may even happen concomitantly or in a rapidly consecutive manner. DNA brea

SUBMITTER: Ragg H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2746811 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature