Evolutionary rates of mammalian telomere-stability genes correlate with karyotype features and female germline expression.

ABSTRACT: Telomeres protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and are essential for cell viability. In mammals, telomere dynamics vary with life history traits (e.g. body mass and longevity), suggesting differential selection depending on physiological characteristics. Telomeres, in analogy to centromeric regions, also represent candidate meiotic drivers and subtelomeric DNA evolves rapidly. We analyzed the evolutionary history of mammalian genes implicated in telomere homeostasis (TEL genes). We detected widespread positive selection and we tested two alternative hypotheses: (i) fast evolution is driven by changes in life history traits; (ii) a conflict with selfish DNA elements at the female meiosis represents the underlying selective pressure. By accounting for the phylogenetic relationships amo

SUBMITTER: Pontremoli C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6101625 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature