Variable levels of drift in tunicate cardiopharyngeal gene regulatory elements.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mutations in gene regulatory networks often lead to genetic divergence without impacting gene expression or developmental patterning. The rules governing this process of developmental systems drift, including the variable impact of selective constraints on different nodes in a gene regulatory network, remain poorly delineated.

Results

Here we examine developmental systems drift within the cardiopharyngeal gene regulatory networks of two tunicate species, Corella inflata and Ciona robusta. Cross-species analysis of regulatory elements suggests that trans-regulatory architecture is largely conserved between these highly divergent species. In contrast, cis-regulatory elements within this network exhibit distinct levels of conservation. In

SUBMITTER: Colgan W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6790052 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature