Mitochondrial Fostering: The Mitochondrial Genome May Play a Role in Plant Orphan Gene Evolution.

ABSTRACT: Plant mitochondrial genomes exhibit unique evolutionary patterns. They have a high rearrangement but low mutation rate, and a large size. Based on massive mitochondrial DNA transfers to the nucleus as well as the mitochondrial unique evolutionary traits, we propose a "Mitochondrial Fostering" theory where the organelle genome plays an integral role in the arrival and development of orphan genes (genes with no homologs in other lineages). Two approaches were used to test this theory: (1) bioinformatic analysis of nuclear mitochondrial DNA (Numts: mitochondrial originating DNA that migrated to the nucleus) at the genome level, and (2) bioinformatic analysis of particular orphan sequences present in both the mitochondrial genome and the nuclear genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. One study

SUBMITTER: O'Conner S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7793901 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature