Gene turnover in the avian globin gene families and evolutionary changes in hemoglobin isoform expression.

ABSTRACT: The apparent stasis in the evolution of avian chromosomes suggests that birds may have experienced relatively low rates of gene gain and loss in multigene families. To investigate this possibility and to explore the phenotypic consequences of variation in gene copy number, we examined evolutionary changes in the families of genes that encode the α- and β-type subunits of hemoglobin (Hb), the tetrameric α2β2 protein responsible for blood-O2 transport. A comparative genomic analysis of 52 bird species revealed that the size and membership composition of the α- and β-globin gene families have remained remarkably constant during approximately 100 My of avian evolution. Most interspecific variation in gene content is attributable to multiple independent inactivations of the α(D)-globin gene, wh

SUBMITTER: Opazo JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4379397 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature