Genetic diversity of fluorescent protein genes generated by gene duplication and alternative splicing in reef-building corals.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Reef-building corals (Scleractinia) exhibit various colors, of which fluorescent proteins (FPs) are a major determinant. Gene duplication is considered a major mechanism in the generation of the FP gene family and color diversity. Examining gene duplication events and subsequent evolution may improve our understanding of FP gene family diversity.

Results

We isolated a novel FP gene family from one individual of Montipora sp., which we named monGFP (GFP gene from Montipora sp.). This gene family consists of at least four genes that produce at least six different cDNA sequences. The sequences were categorized into two types based on the length of cDNA; this difference is attributed to alternative splicing. Although the amino acid sequences were different, the emis

SUBMITTER: Takahashi-Kariyazono S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4657232 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature