Evolutionary rate patterns of genes involved in the Drosophila Toll and Imd signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To survive in a hostile environment, insects have evolved an innate immune system to defend against infection. Studies have shown that natural selection may drive the evolution of immune system-related proteins. Yet, how network architecture influences protein sequence evolution remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the molecular evolutionary patterns of genes in the Toll and Imd innate immune signaling pathways across six Drosophila genomes within the context of a functional network.

Results

Based on published literature, we identified 50 genes that are directly involved in the Drosophila Toll and Imd signaling pathways. Of those genes, only two (Sphinx1 and Dnr1) exhibited signals of positive selection. There existed a negative correlation between the strength of p

SUBMITTER: Han M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3826850 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature