Gene expression in a paleopolyploid: a transcriptome resource for the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The genome of Paramecium tetraurelia, a unicellular model that belongs to the ciliate phylum, has been shaped by at least 3 successive whole genome duplications (WGD). These dramatic events, which have also been documented in plants, animals and fungi, are resolved over evolutionary time by the loss of one duplicate for the majority of genes. Thanks to a low rate of large scale genome rearrangement in Paramecium, an unprecedented large number of gene duplicates of different ages have been identified, making this organism an outstanding model to investigate the evolutionary consequences of polyploidization. The most recent WGD, with 51% of pre-duplication genes still in 2 copies, provides a snapshot of a phase of rapid gene loss that is not accessible in more ancient poly

SUBMITTER: Arnaiz O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3091696 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature