The hard clam genome reveals massive expansion and diversification of inhibitors of apoptosis in Bivalvia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs) are critical regulators of programmed cell death that are essential for development, oncogenesis, and immune and stress responses. However, available knowledge regarding IAP is largely biased toward humans and model species, while the distribution, function, and evolutionary novelties of this gene family remain poorly understood in many taxa, including Mollusca, the second most speciose phylum of Metazoa.

Results

Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of an economically significant bivalve, the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria, which reveals an unexpected and dramatic expansion of the IAP gene family to 159 members, the largest IAP gene repertoire observed in any metazoan. Comparative genome analysis reveals that this mas

SUBMITTER: Song H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7831173 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature