Comparative genomics of chemosensory protein genes reveals rapid evolution and positive selection in ant-specific duplicates.

ABSTRACT: Gene duplications can have a major role in adaptation, and gene families underlying chemosensation are particularly interesting due to their essential role in chemical recognition of mates, predators and food resources. Social insects add yet another dimension to the study of chemosensory genomics, as the key components of their social life rely on chemical communication. Still, chemosensory gene families are little studied in social insects. Here we annotated chemosensory protein (CSP) genes from seven ant genomes and studied their evolution. The number of functional CSP genes ranges from 11 to 21 depending on species, and the estimated rates of gene birth and death indicate high turnover of genes. Ant CSP genes include seven conservative orthologous groups present in all the ants, and a

SUBMITTER: Kulmuni J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3656642 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature