Measuring transcription factor-binding site turnover: a maximum likelihood approach using phylogenies.

ABSTRACT: A major mode of gene expression evolution is based on changes in cis-regulatory elements (CREs) whose function critically depends on the presence of transcription factor-binding sites (TFBS). Because CREs experience extensive TFBS turnover even with conserved function, alignment-based studies of CRE sequence evolution are limited to very closely related species. Here, we propose an alternative approach based on a stochastic model of TFBS turnover. We implemented a maximum likelihood model that permits variable turnover rates in different parts of the species tree. This model can be used to detect changes in turnover rate as a proxy for differences in the selective pressures acting on TFBS in different clades. We applied this method to five TFBS in the fungi methionine biosynthesis pathway

SUBMITTER: Otto W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2817405 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature