A Continuum of Evolving De Novo Genes Drives Protein-Coding Novelty in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Orphan genes, lacking detectable homologs in outgroup species, typically represent 10-30% of eukaryotic genomes. Efforts to find the source of these young genes indicate that de novo emergence from non-coding DNA may in part explain their prevalence. Here, we investigate the roots of orphan gene emergence in the Drosophila genus. Across the annotated proteomes of twelve species, we find 6297 orphan genes within 4953 taxon-specific clusters of orthologs. By inferring the ancestral DNA as non-coding for between 550 and 2467 (8.7-39.2%) of these genes, we describe for the first time how de novo emergence contributes to the abundance of clade-specific Drosophila genes. In support of them having functional roles, we show that de novo genes have robust expression and translational support. Howev

SUBMITTER: Heames B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7162840 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature