African signatures of recent positive selection in human FOXI1.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The human FOXI1 gene codes for a transcription factor involved in the physiology of the inner ear, testis, and kidney. Using three interspecies comparisons, it has been suggested that this may be a gene under human-specific selection. We sought to confirm this finding by using an extended set of orthologous sequences. Additionally, we explored for signals of natural selection within humans by sequencing the gene in 20 Europeans, 20 East Asians and 20 Yorubas and by analysing SNP variation in a 2 Mb region centered on FOXI1 in 39 worldwide human populations from the HGDP-CEPH diversity panel.

Results

The genome sequences recently available from other primate and non-primate species showed that FOXI1 divergence patterns are compatible with neutral evolution. Sequenc

SUBMITTER: Moreno-Estrada A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2939579 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature