Rapid birth-death evolution and positive selection in detoxification-type glutathione S-transferases in mammals.

ABSTRACT: Glutathione S-Transferases (GSTs) are phase II detoxification enzymes that may have evolved in response to changes of environmental substrates. GST genes formed a multigene family and in mammals, there are six classes known as Alpha, Mu, Omega, Pi, Theta, and Zeta. Recent studies in phase I detoxification system specifically the cytochrome P450s provided a general explanation on why genes from a common origin such as those in a multigene family have both phylogenetically stable and unstable genes. Genes that participate in core functions of organisms such as development and physiology are stable whereas genes that play a role in detoxification are unstable and evolve in a process known as birth-death evolution, which is characterised by frequent gene gains and losses. The generality of the

SUBMITTER: Tan HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6306238 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature