Rapid sequence evolution of transcription factors controlling neuron differentiation in Caenorhabditis.

ABSTRACT: Whether phenotypic evolution proceeds predominantly through changes in regulatory sequences is a controversial issue in evolutionary genetics. Ample evidence indicates that the evolution of gene regulatory networks via changes in cis-regulatory sequences is an important determinant of phenotypic diversity. However, recent experimental work suggests that the role of transcription factor (TF) divergence in developmental evolution may be underestimated. In order to help understand what levels of constraints are acting on the coding sequence of developmental regulatory genes, evolutionary rates were investigated among 48 TFs required for neuronal development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Allelic variation was then sampled for 28 of these genes within a population of the related species Caenorhabd

SUBMITTER: Jovelin R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2766936 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature