The evolutionary fate of the genes encoding the purine catabolic enzymes in hominoids, birds, and reptiles.

ABSTRACT: Gene loss has been proposed to play a major role in adaptive evolution, and recent studies are beginning to reveal its importance in human evolution. However, the potential consequence of a single gene-loss event upon the fates of functionally interrelated genes is poorly understood. Here, we use the purine metabolic pathway as a model system in which to explore this important question. The loss of urate oxidase (UOX) activity, a necessary step in this pathway, has occurred independently in the hominoid and bird/reptile lineages. Because the loss of UOX would have removed the functional constraint upon downstream genes in this pathway, these downstream genes are generally assumed to have subsequently deteriorated. In this study, we used a comparative genomics approach to empirically determ

SUBMITTER: Keebaugh AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2877996 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature