Whole-genome duplications spurred the functional diversification of the globin gene superfamily in vertebrates.

ABSTRACT: It has been hypothesized that two successive rounds of whole-genome duplication (WGD) in the stem lineage of vertebrates provided genetic raw materials for the evolutionary innovation of many vertebrate-specific features. However, it has seldom been possible to trace such innovations to specific functional differences between paralogous gene products that derive from a WGD event. Here, we report genomic evidence for a direct link between WGD and key physiological innovations in the vertebrate oxygen transport system. Specifically, we demonstrate that key globin proteins that evolved specialized functions in different aspects of oxidative metabolism (hemoglobin, myoglobin, and cytoglobin) represent paralogous products of two WGD events in the vertebrate common ancestor. Analysis of conserve

SUBMITTER: Hoffmann FG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3245541 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature