Structure and evolution of Apetala3, a sex-linked gene in Silene latifolia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The evolution of sex chromosomes is often accompanied by gene or chromosome rearrangements. Recently, the gene AP3 was characterized in the dioecious plant species Silene latifolia. It was suggested that this gene had been transferred from an autosome to the Y chromosome.

Results

In the present study we provide evidence for the existence of an X linked copy of the AP3 gene. We further show that the Y copy is probably located in a chromosomal region where recombination restriction occurred during the first steps of sex chromosome evolution. A comparison of X and Y copies did not reveal any clear signs of degenerative processes in exon regions. Instead, both X and Y copies show evidence for relaxed selection compared to the autosomal orthologues in S. vulgaris and S

SUBMITTER: Cegan R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3095310 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature